SS Equine Services

06/08/2024

Sellin my horse trailer! Two horse angle haul TrailsWest. 1/2 ton towable. I will clean out the tack room and toss the saddle rack back in when it sells.

$4000. Open to reasonable offers.

Trailer has just been used for hauling shavings the last couple years.
I upgraded so no longer use it.
Motivated to sell!

- 2 horse angle haul with divider
- hauled horses up to 17hh and they were comfortable.
- Kept very clean when in use
- floorboards are in great condition
- can fit 3 ponies head to tail
- some rust but the frame is all intact
- tack room with 3 saddle rack
- lots of headstall/halter hooks
- 1/2 ton towable with ease

Located just west of Bowden for viewings.

Text 403-808-7837
Call (403) 335-4453

01/31/2024

From a little baby I saved from slaughter and raised to a 15.3hh gelding that I am starting under saddle.
Where does the time go. 🥹
First one of my own I raised that I get to ride! Willie Nelson 💜

11/29/2023

💜💜💜

🦝😍🦨

09/15/2023

Little mare was all business for her first trail ride with a group. Went straight to the front and was super excited to go and explore! ❤
Confidence is key as always! 😁

09/10/2023

Cheeka
12.2hh
Lightly started under saddle. Lots of exposure to all aspects of being a saddle horse.
Never bucked, bolted, reared etc.
At this point she has only been rode walk-trot. Leisure rides around the farm just to get her used to being rode.
Very brave as long as you are confident.
Not for beginner kids as she is still learning herself. I am listing her right now because I feel she's too small for me to finish.

Could be an awesome 4H or Pony Club project. Has been lunged over small jumps and had excellent form.

Message, text or call for more info.
403-808-7837

09/10/2023

"Jolene"
19yo QH mare
15.1hh
100% sound
No maintenance needed besides the regular stuff! (Farrier, teeth, etc.)

I have owned this lovely mare for almost 4yrs now. Pulled her from a meat pen when she was pregnant and she has given me two beautiful foals.

Incredibly sweet to be around. Loves attention, easy to catch and loves to bond with her person.
She is NOT broke to ride. I have sat on her a couple times just for fun but never started her due to being busy with client horses and c**ts.
There is no part of me that wants to part with her but unfortunately I need to downsize.

Shes great in the herd. Mid-high but not aggressive, just holds her own. Kind with the youngsters as well.

She would do great in a home on a hobby farm with at least one other horse where someone just wants to enjoy and love on her. She does like kids as well but again, not broke to ride. :)

She will go to an approved home only. There will be a very small rehoming fee (low 3 fig) to help me insure she finds a good home. It is negotiable to the right forever home though.

Text, call or message for more info or to come meet her! :)
403-808-7837

09/03/2023

I will always love starting c**ts on the right path. This girl had a lot of anxiety and even a little fear aggression to start with. Now she's so comfortable she follows me around, wants to learn and is going confidently walk/trot and starting to lope.
My method has changed so much over the years but I think I've settled on a program that works incredible with pretty much every horse (with some fine tuning for those who need it of course.) I've had literally zero blow ups in the last 3yrs with over 30 different c**ts. I'm not taking months to see progress either. I'm going w/t/l on every single horse, started on lateral movements and a solid foundation off mostly seat and leg controll at the end of 30 days as long as they weren't traumatized prior to arrival.

Horses shouldn't buck when being started.i no longer believe in turning them out when saddled the first time to "figure it out for themselves." There are times to put the pressure on and I firmly believe that being saddled should never be made into a scary situation for the horse. There's ways to do it that are no more time consuming then any other program. This also completely weeds out the guessing game as to if they are bucking from pain or from fear. So many bonuses to it for both me and the ponies. 😁

08/19/2023

I started this girls momma under saddle 5yrs ago. And now she's in for training! Such a cool full circle moment. 😄 been training long enough now that I'm training generations!

05/01/2023

Bug was an absolute superstar for her very first gymkhana! Didn't balk at a single thing in the arena even though it was her first time in there. Handled all the horses, loud machinery and kids running around like an old pro. I'm beyond impressed with how well this little mare handles new experiences! ❤
She absolutely loved all the attention from the kids too.

04/27/2023

My peacock decided to help out with some desensitizing! Young horses get exposed to all kinds of different kinds of things here for sure! 😆

03/23/2023

Horse or tracking dog? I dont this this mare would ever get lost finding her way back home!

Should always practice allowing your horse to stretch. Not only is it wonderful for their topline but sometimes you even get to see some goofy personality traits while they do it! Lol.

03/01/2023

Tip for those with young horses, yearlings etc. If you are planning to send your horse off to a c**t starter, please don't saddle it at home "to get it used to it"

All I usually want to see is that they lead, handle feet and load, but untouched is completely fine as well!
Let your c**t starter do the rest. Don't saddle your babies and potentially cause a traumatizing experience. Leave it up to the professionals who know how to take them through the steps properly and confidently. It's such an important step in the training process and we see people do it incorrectly causing unnecessary problems for the young horses future! There is nothing worse then having to rehab a horse mentally back from a wreck because the owner decided to try it out to "see what would happen". You save yourself more money and your horses confidence when you make sure it is dont right the first time. 😁

Pic - Elvis showing off his smile trick.

02/26/2023

Flint settling in at his new home!
Excited for the updates on this guys future with his new momma! 😁

02/18/2023

**SOLD**
FLINT
currently stands 14hh at the wither. Should mature around 15hh.
Still has his 🥜 but can make him an appt to not have them before he goes.

QH/Morgan/TB mix according to previous owner. I have had him for a year now and done all the work on him. He stands tied, lunges, loads, walks over obstacles, super easy to catch hes normally the first one up, good for the farrier.

Flint is a gentle and brave boy who would easily excell in trail, jumping, mountian work or more. This boy is very eager to please and willing to try new experiences. I see no reason if he is trained with the proper hand why he can't be a kids horse as he is very very brave, kind and willing.

Can get more video or pics if requested.

Text or call 403-808-7837
Located west of bowden.

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02/18/2023

Bug showing off how confident she has become. ❤

02/10/2023

Ride #3 and yesterdays focus was moving out!
The biggest difference I have found with my method vs a more forceful, or even disconnected, one is that instead of getting broncy when they get unsure about something, all I get is maybe a little ear pin and at MOST a hop. This is because there is no anxiety involved in this thought process for them. Instead of wanting to get rid of me or seeing me as a the problem. Her only "issue" where is pins her ears is simply because she wants to stop. She is searching for the answer and because we have a solid connection, she respects me when I tell her its not the right one. Typical sorrel mare though shes not super fond of that idea. Lol. That being said, horses do not learn from punishment. If I was to get after her for simply having an opinion I would lose a bit of the trust we have established. Instead I just continue pressure until she figures out the right answer.
This all being said, I do not baby them, nor do I believe in babying them. I simply make sure that by the time we get to this point, if I need to use a bit extra spur to urge them on to think harder, they will not come unglued. I have shown them that even when I ask for something that might be uncomfortable, it has a purpose, and they will be rewarded whenever they search for the right answer. 😁

01/21/2023

This is why focusing your energy is so important when working horses. You might just be able to take a 4yo feral horse who was so full of fear she was dangerous and turn her into the type of horse whos so relaxed she takes naps with her eyes closed on her second time being saddled. ❤

Horses can FEEL our intentions. Try stopping mid session and taking some deep breaths, being mindful of relaxing your shoulder and jaw. Watch how your horse reacts just from you making sure that you are just as calm as you're asking them to be. I can pretty much guarantee they will do something that let's you know they can feel it. Heavy blinking, lip quivering, licking and chewing, resting a leg, etc. ☺❤

01/20/2023

AWESOME DJ in his new forever home and meeting his new girlfriend. Updates like this make my heart smile. All I strive is for my horses to find homes where they will live happy and long lives. DJ will get just that. ❤

01/15/2023

First order of business out of the way! No more long toes!
They are just nipped for now so I could get all that length off. Very proud of this mares fast progress now that she's decided I am trustworthy. ❤

01/14/2023

Hard to believe this is the same mare who damn near tried to kill herself and me for an hr and a half when we first met a day prior to this photo. Flipping herself over backwards multiple times and even tried to go through 2 fences. Was in complete shut down and there wasn't anything I could to to convince her I was there to help until the very end when she finally looked to me for some guidance and realized if she stopped and thought for a minute, instead of being in full flight or flight drive, that she was given a break/release.

Only flipped herself over once during yesterday's session. My only reaction was to chase her the moment she got back up and then as soon as she showed she wanted to engage with me, I backed off, she joined up and now she's practically hooked to me like glue and hasn't even attempted to rear once. Though she still will toss her nose up, thinking about it, I just stay calm and keep the pressure on and wait for her to think and figure the correct answer out for herself.

This is why I love the "problem" horses. Their "problems" usually always come from a lack of understanding of what people want and confusion when they do try to figure it out. They are not malicious animals and NEVER act out with the intent of being an "as***le, jerk, etc". They lack the ability to communicate with us verbally, but are very willing to communicate with physical indicators if you know how to read them.

❤

12/21/2022

They know how to communicate with us. We just have to know how to listen. ❤

"If they didn't want to do it, they wouldn't."

Have you ever heard that said about horses? Horses who are asked to jump impossible fences, run at great speeds, and ride through fear, pain, and discomfort...all because, "if they really didn't want to, they wouldn't...right?"

Horses are a peacekeeping species, meaning they really are not prone to antagonistic behavior - whether that is with other horses, or with us. If you observe horses in the wild, they spend the majority of their days in the herd grazing peaceably, mutual grooming, and calmly socializing with their herdmates. They truly don't want to fight.

Then if we consider a history of domestication, selective breeding, genetics, and training based in aversive methods and suppressing the horse's voice, we can see how the horse becomes even less likely to push back.

In the occasions where the horse finally explodes, and reaches the point where it is undeniable that they don't want to do it anymore, the depth of mental and physical trauma is severe and life changing. These are the horses who come to me, broken, surrounded by harmful labels, and prone to aggressive and defensive behavior because it is the only communication that humans will listen to. For years, they have done their job, despite not wanting to, hoping that someone will listen to their more subtle forms of expression.

When a horse doesn't want to, they might tighten their muzzle, and triangulate their eyes.

They might throw their head up before bridling, or pin their ears at the saddle.

They might hesitate before a fence, or shy at the starting gate.

Yet these signs of "not wanting to" are often dismissed, and in their great patience and grace, most horses can be pushed beyond their limits, their efforts of communication ignored.

So the next time you hear "if they didn't want to, they wouldn't do it" consider this. In order to survive, our horses can be pushed far past their comfort zone. Yet in order to thrive, we must respect their thresholds, honor their voices, and listen to their whispers of communication.

12/10/2022

I feel as though being able to do this calmly is a great milestone marker for c**ts that were previously super reactive and insecure.

Good job Peewee. ❤

11/27/2022

THIS!! One million times this! Its been a long time since I've had one blow up, and for good reason. When instilling confidence is the goal first and foremost, magic can happen.

"If I had a horse buck with me now, I’m a little disappointed. It’s not the end of the world, but I’m a little disappointed if I couldn’t keep the horse out of trouble. Whereas it used to be a source of pride and now it’s sort of a source of shame if I let the horse get that lost." - Buck Brannaman.

Image of Buck is by Mindy Bower.

05/29/2022

Baby Dream. ❤

05/13/2022

Dougie going bridleless to finish up his 30 days. :)

05/08/2022

I DON’T KNOW YOUR HORSE…
…But I do know horses. Here are a few things I’ve learned that should help most horses, most of the time, with whatever problem you may be having.

DO LESS:
Whatever it is, just do less. Expect less. React less. Use less strength. Less contact. Less pressure down the rein/rope. Less pressure from the leg. Less driving from the seat. Less noise…

GIVE MORE:
More patience. More time. More benefit of the doubt. More rest breaks. More reward. More still. More quiet. More variety. More length to the neck…

DITCH YOUR EGO & LET STUFF SLIDE:
Your horse isn’t trying to get one over on you, (or if he is, ask yourself why he feels the need to). What you think is naughty behaviour is usually just an attempt to communicate something: Discomfort, distrust, uncertainty, anxiety, fear, none of which require ‘telling off’…

COUNT TO TEN:
Be in control of your own emotions before you try and control your horse’s emotions. Once you let your emotions change, the whole dialogue upon which your training is based, changes…

IT TAKES TWO TO ARGUE:
So rather than asking for something that goes against your horse, start by asking for things you’re already pretty sure the horse is going to give, and go from there. (This one takes a little figuring out but is totally worth it!) N.B.: Common sense required!…

EVERYTHING IS MADE UP OF THE BASICS:
More advanced work is simply an arrangement of the basics taken care of simultaneously…

NEVER DISCOUNT PAIN:
You can never truly ‘rule out pain’ as a cause of unwanted behaviour. No matter how much money you spend, or how good your vet is…

REST DAYS ARE AS IMPORTANT AS TRAINING DAYS: Overtraining can be just as damaging as under preparing. Horses only have so many jumps/steps in them - use them sparingly…

BREAK IT DOWN:
Most issues can be solved by taking a step back, breaking the issue down into smaller chunks, and taking care of those chunks one by one…

TAKE YOUR TIME:
You’ll get there much quicker if you do. Cutting a corner will only come back to bite you in the ass sooner or later…

ONE FINAL THING…
Horse training is subject to the same laws of physics as everything else. You can’t argue with either anatomy or physics, no matter how many medals you’ve won. Train with this in mind, because there isn’t a single instance where an unyielding or strong rein contact will benefit your training, or your horse…

02/15/2022

One of my homebred c**ts, Willie (now Voodoo) with his new momma! Wi***es mum, Jolene, was a mare I pulled from the meat pen without knowing she was pregnant, she foaled out this gorgeous boy in the spring after getting lots of TLC from me! I am so happy to have found him the perfect home! ❤

Also pictured is the day they came to meet him. They didn't quite believe me when I said my foals are raised quiet enough that you can decide to just jump on them one day and they won't care. Willie was only 1.5 in the photo so she only sat on him for a second after I gave her a leg up but all he did was keep eating. So very excited to see their adventures together!

01/29/2022

Broken finger so Honey's training has been a little delayed till now that I can move it again!
First time being saddled and she handled it like a pro. She's really starting to trust, have curiosity and want to engage with me. Such a big improvement from the unhandled, shut down mare she was when I first rescued her.

12/29/2021

Spartan **SOLD**

Please read full add and respond accordingly. I firmly believe in properly matching any of my sales horses with their new owners.
Super cute GRADE welsh pony project.
Stands 13.1hh and 8 years old.
Started western walk/trot/lope. Hasn't been rode in a while. Not for young or nervous kids as he is a quick little pony. Would do well in the jumpers or gymkhana. Has been free jumped with ease.
No buck, bolt, bite or rear.
video being rode available upon request.

If you are interested please send me a message on what you are looking to do with him and I'd be happy to let you know if I think he would be a match. Only reason for selling is ive got too many projects on the go and putting more focus into the greener horses.

Located west of Bowden.
403-808-7837
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