Daniel Johnson Horsemanship

03/20/2024

Getting the “office” organized this morning. These are a few tools that I use just about everyday.
Gorgeous spring day here in Tennessee.

03/07/2024

Strength under control.

01/22/2024

Great words from my teacher Larry Whitesell. Ride back to front!

01/17/2024

Loving a winter ride with this mare.

01/14/2024

Such important information regarding quality in lateral flexions.

01/08/2024

Continuing the lunge work on the other side.

01/08/2024

This is a mare that I’m bringing back from an injury. She needs to regain flexibility and muscle. We’re working on finding horizontal balance with the cavesson at the lunge. I want her neck to fall right out of her withers, chin to about the base of her chest, to put a little tension on the nuchal ligament which will free the hind legs to swing through with rhythm. This rebalances the horse to have their weight more equally distributed across all four feet, rather than a majority of it being born on their front legs.
We guide and set up sign posts through various training techniques, but ultimately the horse must find the balance for themselves.

09/20/2023

09/18/2023

Developing Shoulder-in in hand.

09/18/2023

Thank you to everyone who came to the clinic at Crossroads Ranch in Nolensville TN this past Saturday. We got some good work done in a short amount of time! I look forward to seeing you all again.

09/06/2023

Really looking forward to this clinic, see you all there!

09/04/2023

Good visual.

Round

What does it mean to make your horse round?

Contrary to what many believe, round, when it pertains to the horse, is not in the neck but rather in the back. Sadly, the hyper fixation on having a particular head set is part of a larger problem which stems from the lack of understanding in what a properly moving horse looks like, as well as how horses use their body to help themselves balance and move when they lack the physical strength and training to be in self carriage. Any position, regardless of whether it is considered "healthy" and correct, if held consistently throughout the ride will create tension. Suppleness is brought by constant changes in posture throughout the training session, however these position can never be forced or held by the rider, only encouraged and guided.

Roundness itself refers to the back of the horse, who through correct training is able to carry himself with his hind as opposed to pulling himself along and "grabbing ground" with the forelegs. The measure of self carriage is by assessing the angle of the spine and the engagement of the abdominal muscles and hind end through high-level movements.

08/16/2023

Halter Starting a little Mule colt this week. I have learned so much from the few mules that I have worked with. Gotta take your time and really focus on setting things up so that the right answer is easy.

08/15/2023

Great quote from a great horseman.

The only reason you bend a horse is to get to the feet.

Learn details at TheBuckChannel.com

Photo by Nicole Poyo Photography

05/10/2023

Great quote from a great horseman.

04/20/2023