It all started when I was 7 years old taking my first riding lesson at Aldedal Dressage Center in my native Sweden.  A few years later I owned my first pony; a hot little chestnut Arabian/Welsh Pony mare.  My best friend and I approached a retired farmer asking if we could convert his unused dairy barn into a horse barn and use his fields for turnout and riding.  He said yes – and with the help from parents we rebuilt the inside of the barn with brand new flooring and stalls to accommodate our ponies.  We ended up with 10 horse crazy girls taking turns feeding, turning out and cleaning our own stalls seven days a week.  

I started my horse career riding Dressage, with some Show Jumping, the Swedish version of Fox Hunting and just lots of trail riding in the forests, open fields as well as swimming with our horses in the Baltic Sea.  Once I came to the U.S. to attend college, I started to play around with 3 Day Eventing, and once my sons were born almost 20 years ago I turned to all Dressage.  Over the many years to follow I competed in Dressage through Prix St George. I was fortunate to own 2 Grand Prix School masters (one was imported to the U.S. as a 2 year old by one of the U.S. Olympic riders and trained to Grand Prix before I owned him).  I got to learn to ride a very correctly trained dressage horse through the levels. 

I have worked with top trainers in CA over the years.  They taught Classical Dressage, which helped me put so many tools in my Dressage tool box.  One of my trainers has an interesting combination of Dressage and in hand work, combined with Natural Horsemanship.  I have also worked with one of the Spanish Riding School trainers for a few years.  He has over 4 decades of training horses and riders at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna – with a unique approach to training horses combined with Classical Dressage. 

While living in San Diego, CA, I was also very fortunate to watch Olympic riders teach and train regularly in our barn. Early on I became very interested in Natural Horsemanship, as well as incorporating ground work in my horses’ training. Having an amazing “feel” and kindness in working with my horses is very important to me.  Creating a harmonious partnership, even more important!

My biggest passion now is rehabilitating horses.  I’ve taken on 5 horses so far, with various physical or mental issues.  My latest “project” is a Dutch Warmblood out of Lord Leatherdale that spent too many years in a sales barn not being sold.  He had been pushed way too hard way too soon.  When I bought him I quickly realized he needed a brand new start.  I started with ground work before riding him, introducing Natural Horsemanship and then basically started him over from scratch under saddle.  With a lot of time, patience, and a no-stress approach – he is starting to blossom. Building trust, connection and harmony is my number one priority.  I can’t wait to see where we end up together!

I am also certified in Equine Massage, certified in EAGALA (horse professional handling horses during Equine Assisted Psychotherapy), I’ve volunteered at one of the largest equine hospitals in the U.S., traveled with acupuncture and chiropractic vets, volunteered at Therapeutic Riding Centers, remodeled one barn and built two others, worked with wild mustangs after they had been domesticated…..my equine experience is always evolving, which brings me to this portal.  I wanted to share all the knowledge I have learned so far in a very easy to use and organized way.

My mission is to help others find true harmony with their horses regardless of disciplines or levels of experience….are you ready to embark on this journey together?? I am!

Madeleine Björnheimer Johnson