Beautiful and rustic Liberty Stables is located in the foothills of
southwestern Alberta, 10 minutes west of the hamlet of Millarville, 15
minutes south of the town of Bragg Creek and just minutes from Kananaskis
Country. Dessa Hockley owns and operates Liberty Stables with her husband
Larry Verhulst.
Besides the rolling landscape of trees and pasture, Liberty Stables
features a beautiful indoor riding arena as well as an outdoor grass
ring and sand ring. Boarders and riding students benefit from the fresh
air, panoramic views and of course, the magnificent horses who live there.
Liberty Stables is a venue where horse enthusiasts can come and explore
their relationship with their horses in a low-key environment. Using
the horse personality information and our growing willingness and ability
to listen to horses, we are learning experientially all the time about
what makes us tick and what makes our horses tick – and what makes us
tick together!
Dessa is available to teach basic equitation for any riding discipline
focusing always on both horse and rider, emphasizing the partnership.
She has developed unique approaches to ground work including “Liberty” mirroring,
approach/retreat, drive/draw, trust and respect building. Her years
of experience competing in various equine sports and studying various
techniques and approaches, coupled with her genuine curiosity about horse
- and human - behavior and training gives her a broad, rich foundation
for teaching horse and rider.
As Dessa says, “Liberty Stables is a dream come true. Projects such
as fencing are never-ending. But I love seeing the seasons come and go
and watching the herd grazing on the hillside out my window. I learn
more from watching the horses in the herd… they are constantly teaching
me.”
Liberty Stables offers programs throughout the year on horse
personalities,
“Liberty” and more. It is also a venue for activities such as jumping,
trail riding and cow work – basically “any activity we can think of to
have fun with our horses!” according to Dessa.
