As the only horseman in the family, Danielle learned at an early age how to be coachable and to take every opportunity to learn. She grew up with a strong 4-H foundation and worked her way to riding in the all around and Quarter Horse events. Danielle took every opportunity she could to work, learn, and be around horses including riding her bike down the road to clean stalls for an Arabian trainin
g facility. In high school, Danielle took advantage of the opportunity to transfer to online schooling in order to ride full time with her trainer, Judy Harrison. She worked 40 hours a week in the barn, learning, riding every horse she could sit on, and completed school work in the evenings when she returned home. Danielle purchased her first training horse in high school and used the tools she had acquired to start working with green horses to take them to the show pen. She was very active in 4-H and mentoring younger riders in her club, fostering her passion for teaching. Danielle would spend summers driving to each of their houses to give free lessons, guide families in proper care and nutrition of their animals, and training their horses. Danielle was recruited to ride on scholarship for South Dakota State University on a Division 1 NCAA Equestrian Team where she traveled and competed in both Horsemanship and Reining under the guidance of Megan (Rossiter) Johnson. Danielle completed an internship with Shane Brown Performance Horses in Elbert, Colorado to broaden her knowledge in reining and starting young horses. She completed a degree in Agricultural Science from South Dakota State University before moving to Kansas City in 2016. Upon arrival in Kansas City, Danielle worked for the American Royal Association as the Equine Event Manager where she oversaw all equine activities and shows during the fall season. Danielle resides in Kansas City with her wife, Paige, and is also the Barn Manager at Due West Ranch. She gives lessons specializing in all around, western, and beginner riders.
