DENZIL — Each year, cowboys and cowgirls dream of stepping onto the world rodeo stage at the Calgary Stampede. For Nikita Lantz and her horse Lou, that dream came true when it was announced that the duo would be joining the Ranch Girls team.
The Ranch Girls team consists of six to 14 female riders who carry the flags around the arena at the beginning of each rodeo performance. The pair made the trip to Calgary, Alta., for two days of tryouts, where Lantz competed against 22 other women for a spot on the team. She said she didn’t realize riders were being sent home within minutes of being in the arena to warm up.
“They only took 13 riders this year, but some of the veteran girls get offered a spot before they are offered to new girls. There were only two spots available for a new person, and I got one,” said Lantz.
The Denzil resident grew up around horses even before she was born. Her mom, the late Carolyn Lund, often rode horseback while pregnant, and Lantz continued to ride English and western style as a young girl. She participated in ranch rodeos, specifically in reining or working cow horse, ranch scrambles and two- or three-man doctoring events. She also did breakaway roping in past years before taking a break, with hopes to return.
Lantz first heard about the Ranch Girls team last year, when some of the team members reached out to her. While it was something she was interested in, Lantz was obtaining her Class 1A license.
“With the hours I needed, I could not skip those, so I told them I would come try out in 2026,” said Lantz.
When she learned she had made the team, she said she can’t wait to see what comes out of all of this.
“It’s an incredibly brand-new experience for me. I’m very used to just riding my horse in a very cowboy western setting, not flying at mock chicken speed across an arena in front of millions of people for almost two weeks straight.”
During the tryout process, Lantz kept the experience a secret, even from her family.
“I didn’t want to have to tell someone I didn’t make it, so I only told like two people. When my family found out I made the team, I got a whole bunch of phone calls congratulating me. I also got a famous comment of ‘You really just never know what Nikita is up to or what’s next!’”
Lantz and Lou, a registered Quarter horse, began preparing for the world stage. Lou needed some conditioning to get her into shape, and Lantz got her used to fireworks and flames on the ground, both of which she handled easily. The pair also ran flags for the Unity Western Days as a test run for the Stampede.
“Living out in the middle of nowhere, seeing nothing but cows every day and going to town for groceries once a month really makes you into a certain style of person. Getting thrown right into millions of crowded people, I’m hoping I don’t get too flustered by it all. I just need to really keep an eye on my social battery,” said Lantz. She also said that while she is a pretty calm and chill person, she is a tad nervous about the fighter jets going over the arena for the grand entries.
“I was warned by the other girls it's one of the bigger things your horse has to get used to.”
Being a Ranch Girl also has its perks. Riders receive VIP access to the entire event, some free tack for the horses, outfits to wear, and are well paid. Lantz also said if she chooses to sell her horse, being a part of the team is a ‘heck of a selling feature.’
“It demonstrates how calm and broke your horse has to be to perform with so much going on,” she added.
While running flags will be a part of her daily routine on the team, she will also be educating the public about the Born to Buck program, the Stampede Ranch and how bucking horses are raised and trained.
The Calgary Stampede kicked off on July 3 with a parade and will wrap up on July 12.
