Training and Lessons
Riding Lessons
Heatherdown Hills has guest instructors to help you with your riding lesson needs. Boarders are also welcome to bring in their own instructors.
Visit the Calendar page for information on lesson dates and times.
Two Hearts Equine
Two Hearts Equine is a beginner/intermediate English lesson program run out of Heatherdown Hills Arena in the winter months and close by in the summer months. We focus on the fundamentals of riding, horse communication, barn safety, grooming and tacking, partnership building and confidence.
Whether you are looking for a place to start, or restart to build back your confidence - this is the program for you.
Amazing lesson horses and tack are provided - you will just need to come with a properly fitted helmet, boots with a heel, a positive attitude, and an open heart!
Please feel free to call/text Jessica with any questions or to inquire about availability. Follow Two Hearts Equine on Facebook!
Combined Efforts
Sarah of Combined Efforts provides riding lessons to boarders and haul-in riders twice a week on Tuesday evenings and Sunday mornings. Sarah provides lessons for people of all levels and abilities in a fun and friendly environment.
Sarah has successfully coached students competing up to the FEI level/NAYRC, as well as non-competitive students who want to have a better relationship with their horse and continue to refine their skills.
Sarah's credentials including Diploma in Equine Sciences from Olds College; Equine Canada Competition Coach specialist - dressage, eventing, show-jumping; Equine Canada Learn to Ride Evaluator
Horse Training
Heatherdown Hills has two on-site horse trainers, Sarah and Damon. Contact them directly to discuss your horse training needs. Boarders are also welcome to bring in their own trainers.
Sarah Sitko
Sarah Sitko of SJS Horse Training and Sales provides colt starting, miles on broke/green horses, tune-ups, and halter breaking. Colt starts are a minimum of 90 days, and all other services range from 30 days and up. Horses are ridden five days per week. Sarah focuses on creating a soft feel and likes to create versatile ranch and rope horses.
Sarah has been riding since she was a young girl. From 2018-2021, she attended Lakeland College in Vermilion to study horse training, animal sciences, and agriculture business with a major in equine. She learned under the professional guidance of Ron Hoffman and Matt Rustemeier, both experienced and respected horsemen.
After college, Sarah worked for a few different trainers to expand her horse training knowledge and add to her skill set, including working for Brian Griffith of Griffith Ranch, who trains ranch horses and starts colts. She worked along side Darryn Bird, a horse trainer from New Zealand, where she learned lots of tips and tricks for starting colts.
Sarah later worked for Glen Beveridge at GD Cutting Horses to gain knowledge in the cutting horse industry. After GD, Sarah started to take on her own client horses at K and L Quarter Horses, and learned more skills under the guidance of Laura and Kent McAllister.
Although Sarah now works on her own client horses at Heatherdown Hills, she continues to take clinics from well-known horsemen, including Buck Brannaman and Dustin Sippola, to continue learning and growing in the horse training industry.
Call or text Sarah to learn more about how she can help with your horse training needs!
Damon Chase
I grew up working cattle/farming. I didn't get serious into horses until about 8 years ago after buying my first horse, a well-broke 11 year old mare. That horse gave me a lot of lessons and I have had many ups and downs with her. I've learned a lot of patience and believing in yourself goes a long way with horses.
Chase Horsemanship started in 2020 when the world stopped, but I couldn't. I have been training horses full time ever since. My program follows a lot of Clint Anderson's methods, but I have picked up a lot from many other trainers. I find my program is unique in its own way and it changes regularly as I learn more from the horses. I train with a lot of patience and allow the horse to look to me for guidance, which then builds a good trusting connection with the horse.
I start with halter breaking and getting the horse soft in all directions. Horses are exposed to machinery, dogs, indoor arena, outdoor arena, trail, lots of obstacles in and out of the arena. Horses are worked five days a week. The facility has horse-safe pipe fencing pens, high quality feed, and auto-waterer in all pens.
Colt-starting: two months minimum
Problem horses: three months minimum
Miles/tune-ups: at least 30 days
Call or text to inquire about training and pricing.
Facebook - Chase Horsemanship/Colt Starting
Instagram: Chase.horsemanship
TikTok: Horsemanship874
