SJS Horse Training and Sales

03/19/2025

My 5 year old, with only five months of riding—classic case of a horse trainer’s horse! 😅 His last time on the flag was in June, and after five months off due to my injury and Texas, he’s back at it. Nothing fancy, but this boy makes me happy! ❤️

02/13/2025

02/05/2025

✨ 2025 Training Availability ✨

🤍 March/April are booked
🤍 2 spots left to fill for May
🤍 3 spots June/July/August
🤍 Open from Sept-Dec

I’m excited to help you and your horse achieve your goals. With 6 years of experience training for the public, I’ve had the privilege of working with accomplished trainers across Alberta and recently learning from top professionals in the cutting horse industry in Texas. In 2024, I placed 3rd in Canada’s Wild Horse Trainers Challenge with my mustang, further enriching my approach to c**t starting, problem solving, and horsemanship.

$200 non-refundable deposit is required to book your spot.

Location
Heatherdown Hills Arena, with options for stall board with turnout or individual pens.

Training Details
• $1400/month (includes board, hay, grain, and mineral). Any extra feed must be supplied by the owner.

• C**t starting requires a minimum of 2 months, but I recommend 3 for the best results.

Horsemanship Lessons
• Bring your own horse.
• Lessons are $45/hour (+ travel and haul-in fees).

Contact Info
Call/Text: 780-966-4805
Facebook: SJS Horse Training and Sales

With a blend of experience and dedication, I’m here to help you and your horse build confidence, trust, and connection. Let’s make 2025 a year of progress!

– Sarah Sitko
SJS Horse Training and Sales

Jordy Howlett Photography

01/06/2025

It’s hard as a trainer not to get caught up in progression when horses are only here for a month. Push, push, push to get the most out of them.

Especially when starting a horse we can get caught up in them being able to do a certain amount in a months time.

Here’s a secret though, the best trainers won’t push your horse to do the “most” in a month, instead they will build your horses confidence, teach them the steps they need, and also give them the mental breaks they need.

If a horse gets something perfect when I’m working with them it’s not uncommon for me to step off and put them away right there. I recently had a horse that could NOT get his right lead, instead of trying over and over again I worked on fundamentals every day and didn’t even ask for him to lope. One day I asked for his lope to the right and he got it right away. This was only about 10 mins into our ride and I STEPPED OFF and put him away. The next ride was amazing he got his lead every time I asked.

The benefit to training this way is that you are building a mentally sounder horse. It’s really just the cliche saying “live in the present” don’t be concerned about what you need to accomplish in a certain amount of time, instead stay in the present training session. Focus on what your working on for the day and you might accomplish even more then you imagined. Pc

10/14/2024

Exciting News!

On October 30th, I’ll be heading to Weatherford, Texas, for three months to gain experience with cutting horses! I’m excited to be joining my friend Paige as we help prepare 2- and 3-year-olds for the spring while learning from top-notch trainers. We’ll also be part of the action at the futurity in Fort Worth in November, assisting behind the scenes as horses compete.

It’s both exciting and a little nerve-wracking, but I’m ready for the challenge ahead. I’ll be back and available to book client horses again in February/March, so stay tuned for updates on my schedule!

Thank you all for your support, I can’t wait to share this journey with you!

– Sarah
SJS Horse Training and Sales ❤️

09/11/2024

The spins on my young horse are coming along slowly, especially since he hasn’t been ridden much since my injury. It’s been nice having him help me ease back into riding again. I’m starting physio this week and, hopefully, I’ll be back to starting c**ts and taking client horses in 2-3 months.

08/26/2024

🌟 Exciting News from SJS Horse Training and Sales! 🌟

While I'm on a brief break from training due to my shoulder injury, I'm thrilled to offer beginner and intermediate horsemanship lessons! 🐴 Whether you're new to riding or looking to refine your skills, these lessons are a great opportunity to learn and grow with horses.

✨ **What You'll Learn:**
- Understanding horse behavior and communication
- Safe handling and groundwork techniques
- Riding basics for beginners
- Intermediate skills for confident riders
- Building trust and a strong partnership with your horse
- Problem solving with your horse

These lessons are perfect for anyone eager to deepen their horsemanship knowledge in a supportive and hands-on environment. I'll be guiding you through each step, ensuring a fun and educational experience for all!

💼 **About Me:** I have a strong background in equine sciences, business, and horse training, having spent three years at Lakeland College and working under numerous trainers, including two Canadian Cutting Horse Hall of Fame trainers. For the past three years, I have been running my own business, starting and training horses professionally.

💵 **Price:** $35 per lesson (1 hour), plus travel fees if I'm coming to you. If we use an arena, you'll also need to cover any haul-in fees as an additional charge.

🐴 **Note:** You must provide your own horse for these lessons. Having an arena isn't mandatory depending on what you want to work on—we can tailor the location to your needs!

📅 **Availability:** I'm pretty flexible over the next few weeks while I'm healing, so there are plenty of opportunities to book your lesson!

📞 **Contact:** Call or text me at 780-966-4805, or message my business page to secure your spot or to learn more about what these lessons entail.

Let's make the most of this time and continue to learn and grow together! Looking forward to sharing my passion for horsemanship with you.

See you soon in the arena!