From Alberta’s Heartland to the Show Ring – Horses with Heritage.
Our story
Willow Butte Cattle Company Ltd. is a fourth-generation mixed grain farm situated on 3,000 acres of rolling farmland between Red Deer and Pine Lake, Alberta. Alongside our agricultural operations, Willow Butte is home to the breeding foundation of Two Willows Equine.
Our breeding program began in 2002, and the influence of our earliest mares continues to shape the bloodlines we use today. A pivotal moment in our journey was the generous contribution of the KWPN stallion Wodan from Kip and Caroline Jones, which helped establish the direction we still follow. We are proud to carry forward the pedigrees of influential foundation warmbloods, carefully selected for their temperament, athleticism, and suitability to our program. The recent addition of the stallion Centim has further strengthened our vision and commitment to quality sport horse breeding.
Young horses at Willow Butte are raised in a working farm environment, where daily exposure to cattle, farm machinery, and large-group living fosters calm, confident, and well-adjusted temperaments. We place equal value on letting horses grow and mature at their own pace—balancing light schooling with time to simply "be horses" is fundamental to our approach.
Janine Olson
Janine Olson lives with her husband, Kent, on their family’s mixed grain farm. Their two grown children live nearby and remain actively involved in the farming operation.
A lifelong member of the agricultural community, Janine has been a partner in Willow Butte Cattle Company Ltd. since its founding in 1996. She is a proud alumna of the Olds College Equine Management Diploma program and brings decades of experience in breeding, foaling, developing, and marketing sport horses, particularly in the hunter and jumper disciplines.
Established in 2001, Janine oversees all aspects of breeding, foaling, and the early schooling of young horses, preparing them for advanced training and future show careers.
Janine holds an NCCP Level One Coaching Certificate and has previously volunteered as a coach with the Red Deer Pony Club. Her love of teaching has also led her to mentor graduates of the Olds College Equine programs, especially in areas such as horsemanship, stable management, foaling, and the early development of sport horses.
She currently serves as a Director for the Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association (CWHBA), is a Senior Inspector, and acts as the Alberta Coordinator for Canadian Warmblood inspections.
A lifelong rider with a background in Pony Club, Three-Day Eventing, and competitive hunter/jumper disciplines, Janine now rides and schools horses for personal enjoyment. Her depth of experience continues to shape the development of young horses at Two Willows.
In addition to her work with horses, Janine has a creative passion for equine photography. Often found behind the lens capturing candid moments of friends and their mounts, her photos are featured throughout the Two Willows Equine website.