Westernaires

Welcome to Westernaires

We're a non-profit organization located in Golden, Colorado, comprised of over 1,000 dedicated young people, aged 9 to 19.  Since 1949, Westernaires develops young people of character through horsemanship and family participation, fostering self-respect, responsibility, teamwork, and leadership while carrying forward the best traditions of the West.

Westernaires is a mounted precision drill organization composed of Denver-area youngsters from 9 to 19 years of age. Founded in 1949, Westernaires has provided training in western riding, precision drill riding, and horsemanship. Some members also elect to receive training in specialty acts such as trick riding, roman riding, and trick roping.

Our Mission

Since 1949, Westernaires develops young people of character through horsemanship and family participation, fostering self-respect, responsibility, teamwork, and leadership while carrying forward the best traditions of the West.

What This Means

Westernaires doesn’t just teach horseback riding. We develop confident, capable young people who:

• Take responsibility for themselves, their horses, and other people
• Work as part of a disciplined, high-performing team
• Lead with integrity, accountability, and respect
• Carry forward values rooted in Western traditions and heritage

In summary, Westernaires doesn’t just produce skilled riders.  It shapes resilient individuals.

How do we do this?

Horsemanship is the Foundation

•    Westernaires offers direct access to horses in an increasingly urbanized world where such opportunities are rare. 

•    Westernaires offers a structured, safety-first approach to working with large animals. We call this the "Westernaires Way." 

•    Westernaires offers hands-on responsibility through riding, care, and partnership with horses - without requiring ownership. 

•    Westernaires offers access to a large and diverse rental horse herd, removing significant financial and logistical barriers to participation. 

Outcome in action: Responsibility, empathy, discipline, knowledge, and confidence are earned through real-world accountability.

Structured Team Progression

•    Westernaires provides a tiered, merit-based advancement system with increasing expectations for skill, commitment, knowledge, and conduct. 

•    Classroom-style learning is part of the program: lectures from experts, diagramming drills, testing knowledge, and mastering horsemanship principles. 

•    At Westernaires, advancement is earned, not guaranteed, reinforcing accountability and resilience.

•    Westernaires provides peer-driven learning and mentorship, where riders actively mentor and support one another. 

Outcome in action: For those who elect to be a Westernaire, leadership, grit, accountability, and intrinsic motivation become a method of operation, all while having fun.

Westernaires Are a Part of the Community

•    As Westernaires advance through the program, they get a chance to participate in mounted drill performances at shows, events, and exhibitions across the region and beyond.

•    A key part of Westernaires is giving back: participation in parades and public appearances representing Westernaires in the community. 

•    Westernaires offers opportunities for performing in high-pressure, team-dependent environments requiring dedication, precision, and trust. 

Outcome in action: Confidence, composure, teamwork under pressure, and pride in the community are traits we see developing in young people.

Family Participation & Community Culture Create Meaningful Memories

•    Westernaires is a deeply volunteer-driven organization where families contribute their time, skills, and expertise. 

•    Parents and guardians organically engage across operations, from logistics to skilled trades to event support. 

•    Shared experiences between riders and families strengthen those relationships and create lasting bonds. 

•    Fort Westernaire generates a culture where participation often extends beyond a child’s tenure, with alumni families continuing to serve. 

Outcome in action:  All year round, Westernaires provides a sense of belonging, shared purpose, intergenerational connection, community ownership, and bonds with a support system outside of family.

Why does this matter? Westernaires provides something increasingly rare:

•    Direct connection to the natural world and large animals in an urbanizing society. 

•    Real responsibility with real consequences, and real rewards. 

•    A balance of discipline, teamwork, personal growth, and genuine fun.

In a world of digital distraction and low accountability, Westernaires challenges young people to do hard things, and to take pride in doing them well