The Craig Johnson Reining Team
Craig, his wife Lyn and daughter Sarah moved to Gainesville, Texas in 1984, where they raise and ride Futurity prospects on their Three Circles Ranch. Three Circles Ranch...a beautiful place to experience Reining. The magnificent Texas landscape surrounds the ranch which hosts two arenas, a large track, wonderful woods and a gorgeous pond! Three Circles Ranch has a cabin, RV accommodations and a bathhouse.
Craig Johnson
A professional trainer for 30 years, Craig grew up in the horse business. His parents, Burdette and Ellyn Johnson, raised horses at their Iowa home and from an early age Craig knew he wanted to train horses professionally. He worked for other trainers for a time, learning the ropes and then went into business for himself. Although he started his career showing everything from halter to performance horses, he soon specialized in Reining. His occasional forays into the Working Cow Horse world have netted him NRCHA Futurity finalist finishes and an APHA Working Cow Horse World Championship. By 1980 he entered his first NRHA Futurity and the next year he qualified two horses for the finals. He has only missed making the NRHA Futurity finals twice in two decades, since putting his life time earnings well over $1,000,000! Through the years, Craig's talent and experience as a clinician, coach, horse developer and trainer remain in constant high demand. Craig's contribution to Reining and Horsemanship have been captured in his successful home study video for reining hopefuls, Basics of Reining. Craig's passion to position the concepts of Reining as a set of principles, that will make all performance and riding disciplines more highly developed, is the impetus behind his plans for the International School of Reining, "School of Rein".
Lyn, Sarah and Craig Johnson - 2008 Futurity - Photo courtesy of Susan Morrison
Lyn Johnson
Lyn Johnson is no stranger to the show pen; she is a multiple Bronze Trophy winner, and has been in the NRHA Non-Pro Top Ten Finals of both the Futurity and the Derby several times. Lyn enjoys showing but what she really loves is helping Craig and Sarah. They say, that behind every great man is a great woman. Well, Lyn not only stands behind Craig and all that he does, she also stands beside him.
Sarah Johnson
Truly Lyn and Craig's "Greatest Accomplishment", Sarah is also the daredevil of the family. She likes to snow ski, water ski and she even went ski-diving on her 18th birthday! Her most recent passion would be her reiners, she did so well last year that she is bound and determined to better her record - and her paycheck! Sarah recently graduated from NCTC Community College with a degree in Business Management. When Sarah isn't riding or trying out some other adventurous sport she likes to spend time with her miniature long-haired spotted Dachshund - Bob. Here is a list of some of Sarah's accomplishments:
• World Champion Cutter (Youth) AQHYA 2000 on Honky Tonk Judy • NRHA & SWRHA Futurity Champion 2003 on Doc Santa Belle & Non-Pro Finalist • USET Young Riders Gold Medal 2003 on Chic Tommy •
• 2007 Non-Pro Reserve Champion and Intermediate Non-Pro Champion on Sonata Spot •
Sarah Johnson's interview after her run at the 2007 Futurity:
Sarah Johnson could'nt stop smiling the night of the Non Pro finals. And who could blame her? Her Paint gelding Sonata Spot, carried her to the Non-Pro Reserve Championship and the Intermediate Non-Pro Championship with a score of 219.5.
Sonata Spot, by Mark This Spot out of Sonata Sorrel, was owned by Haverty Ranch, started by Clint Haverty, and in training with Bill Horn when Sarah and her mom (Lyn) went to see him in June. Bill was entered in the APHA Reining Futurity and Sarah was excited to ride behind Bill! He has always been one of Sarah's favorites...right behind her Dad! Sarah took Sunny (Superman) home after the APHA Futurity and began her work! She does 90% of the riding on her horses...with the careful eye of Dad looking on.
Sonata Spot...aka Superman, is Sarah's best friend, they swim, ride bareback and oh yes they run, stop and spin!!! The gelding was simple to show and during the finals, Sarah added that she followed her dad's instructions on taking the pattern one step at a time. "I tried to stay focused, keep my head up and just do one manuever at a time." Thats what Dad always says..."one thing at a time." He (Superman) was just unbelievable. I was talking to him the whole time! The more I ask him the more he said OK! I could hear my parents cheering from the stands...and when I heard my mother make some cheer I had never heard...I started grinning. She said she always had fun showing but this horse brings it out in me.
The best part of the evening is her Grandfather Burdette Johnson, was not only there...but he hardly ever watches...even at home, Grandma has to tell him how its going...Well he was here this year and Sitting in the Stands, and he watched. IT WAS AWESOME!
NEW - DVD Series Information
Craig's new 2 DVD set " Let It Rein" is now available in our NEW online store! This set offers and amazing 3 full hours and 30 years of information! Get yours today!
Craig Johnson on TV!
Craig has a commercial that will be airing during Wide World of Horses on RFDTV! This commercial will promote his new DVD series, Let it Rein.
Wide World of Horses airs each Monday night at 9:30 CST on RFD-TV - so it’s just as close as your Dish or Direct TV satellite! RFD-TV (DIRECT TV 379 and DISH NETWORK 231 or 9409). Each weekly program is run three times so the program also runs Mondays at 11:30 am CST and Sunday mornings at 6:30 am CST. And it’s a week of Wide World each week on RFD-TV HD. On Monday, catch Wide World of Horses at 11:30 pm CST, then on Tuesday mornings at 9:30 CST. On Wednesdays, see the show at 4 pm CST, and on Sundays at 6:30 pm CST.
Clinic and Show Dates at a Glance
Be sure to check the Calendar for complete details and information regarding any of the events listed below. Events will be added regularly as they become available.
May 3rd & 4th - CLINIC - Uxbridge, Ontario CANADA
May 17th & 18th - CLINIC - Gastonia, NC
May 24th & 25th - CLINIC - Powassan, Ontario, CANADA
August 8th - 11th - CLINIC - Valemont, B.C. CANADA
October 18th & 19th - CLINIC - Wellborn, FL
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