The Vital Elements: Jessica Daniels’ Lesson-Based Training Program May Hold All The Answers

By Delores Kuhlwein

18 lesson horses and 120 lessons a week.  In the midst of the battle of opinions on how to bring new youth into the industry, Jessica Daniels of JD Show Horses stands like a beacon of light guiding to the definitive answer.

The trainer and her team with a remarkably strong lesson program hail from just northwest of Columbus, Ohio, in a trainer-abundant state, and while her students could go to just about anyone to get immersed in horses and showing, her combination of alluring elements stands up to scrutiny as a model for others who are passionate about growing the industry.

A Strong Foundation

The foundation of the JD Show Horses program is the lesson horse, and everything is built around that base.  “When we started, our goal was to provide opportunities for as many kids as possible,” says Jessica, who explains they began the program with just three lesson horses, and they opened their arms to all levels and socioeconomic situations.

“Maybe a student can only do a lesson a week, or just a summer camp, or maybe they can’t buy an expensive show horse. We’ve tried to create an atmosphere that no matter where you come from, or whatever your budget, there’s a place for you,” she explains.

It worked, because now she’s in her 13^th year of training, and her team is celebrating JD Show Horses’ 10^th anniversary at their Delaware, Ohio facility. Their 10-year goal was to build a new indoor arena, and now they have a 200’ x 90’ indoor arena, and they’ve expanded from 21 stalls to 40.

Jessica and her team teach up to 120 students a week.  “I bring in the beginners and teach them everything from body parts to how to ride the horse – they aren’t just taught to prop up, but to really ride. We have everything from the student who has never touched a horse all the way to our advanced riders who compete at the AQHA level,” she says.

She explains that in their current program, every single student of theirs started with them with lessons. “They work their way up, participating in YEDA with the barn for the western program and IEA for their English program.  The AQHA lease program has been fantastic for our beginner riders because they can lease a horse for a year to get their feet wet.” In fact, JD Daniels Show Horses can have up to 14 horses at an AQHA show at once, and all riders will be Level 1.

Building The Base

Since the program is built around the lesson horse, Jessica explains she’s always shopping for those lesson horses, even though the current market presents a challenge with affordability. “I’ve gotten lucky enough to be able to make payments on some horses, and we’ve been fortunate to make good connections with other trainers,” she says, and those connections have enabled them to obtain starter horses when a rider from another barn is ready to move up; or if a friend has to take a year off from showing, they’ve been able to lease horses for their lesson program and for students to show.

“We’ve also worked with the Re-Ride Quarter Horse Adoption Program and have gotten a few horses from the founder, Kerri Burke. Having those connections and working hard to find them is instrumental for this type of program,” she reveals.

Key Players

Another reason their program works is due to the strength of their team from the instructors to the stall cleaners.

“We have a great staff right now – my partner, Aaron Jordan, and I been together for 22 years, and he helps run the farm, does a lot of the barn management, and he teaches lessons as well,” she says. “He loves teaching the beginners and the little kids.” Jessica explains their other assistant instructor, Alex Orzo, covers while they are attending horse shows.

When asked how she finds such good help, especially for positions like feeders and stall cleaners, Jessica admits they pay a lot.

“It’s not cheap to have good staff,” she reveals. “Our assistant instructor makes $25 an hour, and she’s worth every penny. Our stall cleaner gets paid $1000 a week; it’s one of those things we invested in when we first moved here; we pay taxes and have workman’s comp. We set our business up so they are employees, and that’s been a good investment for us.  We’ve also been fortunate to keep people for a long time.”

In addition, Dylan Jordan, Jessica’s son, who just accomplished a Top Ten at the NRHA Futurity in the Non Pro division, helps her with training now. She reveals, “He says he doesn’t want to be a horse trainer, but I think deep down, he does.  His goal is to try to work for a Reining trainer.”

Essential Elements

A program like theirs also requires good communication skills.

“Communication is most important when building a program,” Jessica says. “We have to be able to communicate when scheduling lessons, and to reach out to the local area to promote yourself. “If you’re not a good communicator, find someone to help.”

Besides communication, the atmosphere offered to “new blood” is equally important, Jessica says. “We have an amazing barn family that is so welcoming, and we try to do as many activities together as we can, like barn parties and rides.”

However, behind all the other cogs in the wheel, a love for teaching about horses is the basis for everything. Jessica’s own passion was ignited by her family, including her grandpa, who owned a stud named Zions Sun King.  She began riding at the young age of three.

“I love teaching lessons and I love teaching, and that plays a part in our students’ success as well,” she reveals. “You also have to be dedicated; when we first started, we didn’t take vacations and we taught every hour of each day we could.  You have to love it, and if you don’t love the work, it’s not for you.  Seeing my students be successful is what makes me happy; seeing them win a trophy, or even place at their very first horse show – that’s what drives me.”

Jessica says she’d like to slow down one day to spend more time with her now 17-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter, while still supporting the equestrian team, taking fewer kids down the road, and getting her judges’ card. However, she has hope for more programs like hers for the good of the industry because what’s really missing, she says, is the element of teaching – something all beginners need.

She concludes, “Funneling students who need to learn to programs like ours is okay, and people don’t need to be worried about losing clients.  Let’s be okay with sending them to the right avenue first to make themselves better.”

 

You can find JD Show Horses LLC on Facebook, or at www.jdshowhorses.com for a full calendar of their 2023 shows and events.