Heather Johnson Dressage

10/21/2025

A quality ride might look different each day. Sometimes a ba****ck walk is the right thing. Sometimes two-point trot poles fits the bill. Sometimes hacking out and then getting to work for 30 minutes with lots of lateral work suits. The second you get sucked into the “my horse must work for a full hour in the ring without a break” mentality you’ve given in to an “I don’t care how my horse feels” ideology and you *WILL* eventually cause problems. You can go in with a plan, but part of that plan needs to be listening to your partner. Never forget to listen. 🐴💙
(Picture of a special lady who always listens and a very special horse who is no longer with us.✨)

10/20/2025

For a beautiful show bun…🤩

10/17/2025

100% 🎯…being too big for your britches is EXTREMELY limiting. Ego has no place in our environment…and it’s not cute. 😆
The people with most success and that have the most fun are those willing to be a perpetual student and surround themselves with other like minded individuals. ✨

🚪 Humility opens doors that intelligence alone can’t unlock.

When you think you already know everything, you stop listening, you stop growing, and you miss the lessons hiding in plain sight.

The people who rise the fastest are the ones willing to look foolish for a while.

They raise their hands when others stay silent.

They try, fail, and try again, because they care more about progress than appearances.

They don’t chase perfection.

They chase understanding.

It’s not about being right, it’s about getting better.

And the truth is, the moment you stop learning is the moment you start falling behind.

So drop the ego, stay curious, and keep showing up like you have something to learn, because you always do.🤓📚

@ Entrepreneurship Facts

10/15/2025

Grateful to Shawn Tinkham Photography for these beautiful images from the GMHA Fall Show. 🤩💙

10/14/2025

I have a couple lesson slots open on Friday of this week (10/17). PM with interest/for details! Great opportunity to try out a lesson. I don’t often have openings.
I’m also opening up for one more regular clinic date. Again, reach out privately for more information. 🤗

10/13/2025

Field trip anyone? 🤩

10/13/2025

Progress involves a lot of moving parts. This is a complex sport. Some of the main ingredients are… 🥁 🥁 🥁
✨Good health of horse and rider 💪✨
✨Good communication 🗣️ between horse, rider, and trainer
✨Receptiveness👂of information
✨Willingness to do the work involved 🏋🏻‍♂️
✨Consistency - perfect practice makes better ⏰
✨Proper expectations - can I AND my horse realistically do what we’re aiming to do? Not all horses are built for collection. Not all riders are capable of riding an FEI test. It’s ok!! Aim for what you both can do successfully. It feels good. ♥️
✨Physical ability/body control 🦵
✨Mental 🧠 ability/control of emotion
…we all have different parts in this picture. It is your horse’s job to make good life choices in their paddock space.😅 It is your trainer’s responsibility to get a good education, know what they’re working with and proceed accordingly. It is the rider’s responsibility to do their very best…in a nutshell. 😉