Craig Johnson

Craig Johnson joined Santa Hill Ranch as Head Trainer in December 2007. Craig possesses 35 years reining experience beginning with his first horse Barred’s Ghost. Craig is a two-time Futurity Champion, a NRHA Derby Champion and has won the NHRA Reserve Open World Championship. In addition to winning 14-time world championships in American Quarter Horse and American Paint Horse Associations, Craig has won eight US Equestrian Federation reining medals and conducted reining clinics for 25 years to over 30,000 people. Craig has won multiple international competitions, winning Team Gold, Team Silver and Individual Silver medals and is a three-time medalist in the USET Festival of Champions.
In 2007, Craig Johnson reached the pinnacle of earning more than $1,000,000 in combined lifetime earnings in reining competition.
Craig has developed a unique style of teaching horsemanship and reining techniques, including the application of reining skills to other disciplines. Craig conveys superb horsemanship can help the horse mentally and physically, often helping the horse maintain its soundness. Craig also teaches the critically important concepts of partnership and communication between horse and rider that result in trust and respect.

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 and the newly released DVD series “Let It Rein”. 

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 •