From your 1st ride to chasing your dreams
208-791-5517
A Bit About Me
About Me ;
Stephanie Higgins - Hamilton
" I can't remember the first time I rode a horse "
Growing up mainly in Central Oregon, but also spent a few yrs in Idaho. Stephanie was born to a love of horses. As an adult her passion for learning and teaching has taken her across the country. From the ranches of Eastern Oregon, the cattle sale barn in Madras, to cutting horse barns in GA to the jumping barns of California coast, the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse race industry of California and Oregon. She owned the premier Girl Scout Horse Camp from 2008-2011 on the Central Coast of California, sub contracting with GS running 20-30 camp horses she trained and owned.
Stephanie has never been afraid of change or a change of senary for work, she loves new place and people.
Settling in Tri Cities Washington May 2020
Stephanie has used her 20 yr long career of teaching, coaching, and training to help her students achieve their greatest goals.
Through the consistent exercise of correct horsemanship and riding techniques she is able to develop young horses into winning champions, and green riders into confident horseman. Passionate about the sport of barrel racing she demonstrates that good horsemanship wins. She provides ample focused attention to each of her students, focusing on emotional regulation, physical skills and good horsemanship above all. Stephanie's consistent focused approach shows Smooth is Fast.
Travis Hamilton born into a family of horse shoers and ropers, Travis was in the saddle before he could walk and under a horse shoeing before he could drive. He was winning ropings and driving to rodeos before he had a permit. He has had much success team roping winning buckles and saddles. He is passionate about getting and keeping horses sound, with a holistic approach to horse health and care. Travis also spent time learning the art of equine dentistry performing services for clients up and down the coast since 2005. When is not helping clients, roping or shoeing he can be found on his dirt bike, snowmobile, fishing, hunting or riding with his wife and spending time with their teen son and toddler.
Classes Offered
Get started Here or Improve Your Game
Lesson times vary with the weather, and Stephanie's schedule competing and hauling horses to events.
Please inquire about availability, for times sake include your level of experience, age,and schedule.
Riders must be under 200 pounds
Texting is the fastest way
208-791-5517
I do not offer same day lessons
I do not offer one time rides
I do not rent horses
Where Professional meets practical
Proverbs 27; 23 Know well the conditions of your flocks,and give attention to your herds
Stephanie is dedicated to equipping her students with essential skills for safely catching, grooming, saddling, warming up, and executing enjoyable rides for both horse and rider. She emphasizes the importance of proper cool down procedures and teaches various horse care techniques. Non-mounted lessons play a vital role in understanding horse management, ensuring the well-being of the horse, and safeguarding your investment in keeping horses healthy and well-trained. There's a saying in the equestrian world: "A rider will bring a horse to their level." You could invest $10,000 in a horse, but without proper skills, that horse may only be worth your investment. Avoid the hard lessons learned through hospital visits and vet bills; and preparation can significantly reduce these risks. Complacency can lead to injuries in this sport, whether trail riding, competing, or simply enjoying horses at home.
Advance horsemanship lessons with an emphasis on barrel racing with proper mechanics, and fitness. Bringing out the best in your horse and yourself.
Stallions
Select Confirmation, Select disposition, Select Pedigree
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Smooth It Over Guy
2015 AQHA 6 panel N/N
A SMOOTH GUY x Sacs Sunday Times
x Triple Image
I was honored to be a partner on " Guy" and after a year of riding him, I was able to buy my partner out of his half.
Guy came here as a 5 yr old stallion with limited rides as a younger horse.
He has proved himself a worthy sire, he's crossed well with cow & running bred mares. He is competing under Stephanie. He had an amazing 2022 season, then she was injured & had a baby and he sat for 15 months. He came right back to racing in 2024 like he never missed a day. Stephanie crawled on and went to conditioning. Guy will stand next to mares in the holding pen at races, Stephanie wears a toddler back pack, and pushes a stroller these days and he never missed a beat.
Guy stands 14.3 H
1130 lbs
Facebook, Tik Tock Showcases
both Stallions with
videos & photographs.
Facebook;
Hamilton Equine Services
Smooth It Over Guy
Tik Tock
SMGperformancehorses
My Sexy Sancho
2018 AQHA 6 panel N/N
SH JUST PLUMB SEXY X DOT MYPEPPY SAN CHEX
His pedigree is a nice cross of cow, Peppy San,and Thoroughbred way back.
Sancho's dam was one of my favorite mares, she was a ranch horse in CA prior to joining me in 2009 and then she raised my kids, lesson kids and gave me 5 beautiful babies. Sancho was her last for me at 23 yrs old.
Sancho is kind, gentle, big strided and smooth, he has the bones of an Angus bull and crosses well on hot mares.
Sancho was one of the 1st horses Stephanie rode after her accident and she rode him until she was 24 weeks pregnant. And 2.5 weeks post baby, he was not rode in between. Sancho has a great mind and is trainable. He is started very lightly on the roping sled and on barrels. Stephanie has hauled him a few times, but his training gaps at such a young age have him behind the bar. Not his fault, Stephanie is working to get him caught up in 2024-25
Sancho stands 15.2 H
1250 lbs
Training
Stephanie is accepting horses for training in 2025.
Patterning on barrels, time onlies, hauling without entering, seasoning, entering when ready. Lessons for you through out the process
Putting a stop, side passing, neck rein, opening and closing gates, riding out on real trails, not just on the ranch, hauling to new places for exposure.
Part of my training program is not creating a quiet predictable environment. I have dogs, kids, dirt bikes, ATVs we feed with and play on. Nothing is quiet, we have a train track along our property also adding another level of desensitizing.
In 2023 I purchased a Rope something sled and we have been having fun with it. Turning 2 of our lesson horses into Walla Walla Rodeo Bible camp team roping buckle recipients with our teenager. We use the sled with horses that need exposure who might be headed towards ranch work or roping with their owners. I am not training rope horses, my husband could, but he would rather work his 40 and ride his motorcycle or dirt bike.
I am offering baby boot camp, for halter breaking through basics of loading, tieing, sacking out to ponying and other basics even saddling if its appropriate.
Consignment Horses
Stephanie accepts consignment horses on a case by case basis.
Horses will be rode to a level that Stephanie professionally sees best for each horse, advertised as such, and matched to rider and home.
If your looking to find your horse a great fit, or your looking for that special horse, let Stephanie know.
Full Service Horse Blanket Wash & Repair
Drop off your blankets onsite
I saw a need in 2020 for Tri Cities, mainly caused from my own suffering through my 1st winter in the area, and nowhere accessible to drop, wash and repair horse blankets. So fall 2021 I set up shop on my ranch.
I have a system and equipment to fully wash, repair and water proof all sizes and thickness of horse blankets. They will come back feeling new.
Prices based on size of blanket and repairs needed.
Washes start at $25 go to $35
Repairs vary
Water Proofing is $8-10
Call or text me - 208-791-5517 for a drop off appointment. Pickup and drop off is scheduled only.
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together”
Vincent van Gogh
Contact Me
Get in touch today to schedule a session with Hamilton Equine Services.
208-791-5517
Upcoming Events
Spring Smooth if Fast Clinic 101May 11, 12 / PM classKennewick
Frequently Asked Questions
Serve Me a Question - I’ll Volley You an Answer
Do you offer working positions or offer work in exchange for lessons ?
I unfortunately do not offer employment positions. We keep a manageable number of horses for our family to operate. And we run a business so our horses only operate when we are paid for our services.
We do NOT do 1 day rides, meet and greets, paid rentals or paid trail rides.
How are you different from other trainers?
I believe that in my program, I draw a vast amount of knowledge from my vast background ( cutting, race horses, jumping, endurance, barrel racing ) I have always been gifted to " feel " a horses mental capacity and help build confidence in unsure horses. I believe this feel comes from riding thousands of horses with training levels and personalities as well as so many breeds of horses. The ability to feel a horse and build on that has helped me save so many lost horses and bring them to understanding our ways. From stubborn, to scared.
Do I need to be at a certain athletic level to train with Hamilton Equine Services?
No, but yes. We will help you from where you are, but expect progress from all of our students. We take a riders under 200 lbs only for our school horses. Riders must be strong enough to get on their own horses. Our students are asked to do simple yoga and stretches throughout the week between lessons so we aren't wasting time and starting over every lesson.