Our Team

Tariq Elnaga
Founder & Owner

Tariq came into the Western way of life out of passion rather than being born into it.

He took in his first rodeo at the Calgary Stampede in 2012 and has since fallen in love with the ranching and rodeo world. Determined to be on the other side of the fence, in those years since, he’s learned how to drive a tractor, combine, ride horses and rope. Since then, he now has his own cattle brand, a herd of horses and team ropes in the amateur circuit.

On the corporate side of things, Tariq has an MBA and a Bachelor’s of Engineering, and comes with a over 15 years of experience in Oil & Gas.

Perennially being the “bottom hand” on the ranch, Tariq loves taking his horses to brandings and round ups – and that’s when the idea of Bottom Hand Ranch Services struck him literally in the branding pen – ranching operations need qualified help and he’s here to help do his part in continuing Western heritage and the way of life he’s come to love.

Ashley Hygaard
Client Relations Director

Ashley Hygaard was born and raised on a small commercial cow calf operation just outside of Selkirk, Manitoba. She grew up in the horse division of 4-H and learnt the values that 4-H teaches you early on in life are so darn important. Ashley found her passion for the sport of rodeo competing through the ranks of high school rodeo, to college rodeo and into CCA and MRCA.

After Ashley completed high school she decided to further her knowledge in the horse industry in Texas where she spent several months working for a few horse trainers. Her main focus was working cow horses through cutting, team penning, and sorting.

When Ashley returned back to Canada she enrolled in the Lakeland College’s Agribusiness Diploma. After completing those two years she enrolled for a third year of Animal Science Technology. Ashley joined the Purebred Beef team in her final year to learn more about that industry. The opportunity she got to show cattle and learn a whole new world was the highlight for her.

After completing College, Ashley moved to Airdrie where she still resides today, and is a former two-time Airdrie Pro Rodeo Princess. She started working at the Calgary Stampede as a summer student, and grew her way into a full time role. Working in every aspect in the business from Heavy Horse Shows, to Cutting Futurities, to the Stock Dog Championships, she further developed her professional and technical skills.