About Us
John Watlington learned cattle mentality early on, as he was raised and worked on his family's row crop and cattle farm in southeast Nebraska. Horses were always part of the equation for John. Even though he got his first pony at the age of three, it was the dairy cattle that he would crawl on and ride around where ever they would take him. John was active in church, 4H, Boy Scouts, and sports from his younger years throughout high school. During and after high school John worked as a wrangler in the summer at Indian Cave State Park giving trail rides. It wasn't until he was a freshman at the University of Lincoln that he became involved in the rodeo club and got into bull riding, becoming very successful at local rodeos. That same year, John bought his first horse Buster, a 15.2 hand 1500 pound un-broke Quarter Horse gelding. After starting and training Buster, John realized what a gift he had with horses and what he truly wanted to do. Over the next few years, while working full time jobs and on his farm, John continued to start and train horses. After a rough year farming John decided to change direction and enter into the Equine Management Program at Ellsworth College to continue his passion of horses. After graduation from ECC, John interned with a cutting horse trainer in Nebraska where he worked cutting horses and started/trained young horses.
Jo Watlington was raised and worked on her family's row crop and hog farm in central Iowa where they had everything from chickens to cattle and goats to horses. Her love of horses began at a very young age when she would ride her uncle and cousin's horses, eventually her parents got her her first pony Susie. From there she moved on to showing at local fun shows, actively involved in 4H, cowgirl queen contests, and found her love of training and rodeo. Jo started training horses for herself, which grew into a summer venture to a full time business before she went to college. Growing up she worked for a few different trainers and stables, seeking knowledge where she could from anyone that would give her a minute of their time. When asked when she was a junior in high school what she wanted to do afterward, she simply replied without hesitation: something to do with horses. Of course no one was surprised when she choose Ellsworth College in Iowa Falls, IA which, in 2010, was the #2 ranked equine school in the nation by HorseSchools.com. After obtaining her AAS in Equine Management; Jo had an internship where she learned a lot about different parts of the equine world; from different breeds, bloodlines, tack, and training techniques for a variety of different breeds. After her internship, Jo went to work for a well known cutting horse trainer in Nebraska working cutting horses and starting, training, and re-training horses.
After working for the well known cutting trainer for a year, John & Jo went back to his farm in southeast Nebraska to start their own training facility. Their training business was very successful in starting and training horses for clients as well as a few prospects. In late 2009, they decided to move from Nebraska to their new facility in southeast Oklahoma to train horses full time year round. Along with a strong background in farming and ranching; John & Jo has worked tirelessly to expand their knowledge and skills, while developing their own philosophy on training.
Jo Watlington was raised and worked on her family's row crop and hog farm in central Iowa where they had everything from chickens to cattle and goats to horses. Her love of horses began at a very young age when she would ride her uncle and cousin's horses, eventually her parents got her her first pony Susie. From there she moved on to showing at local fun shows, actively involved in 4H, cowgirl queen contests, and found her love of training and rodeo. Jo started training horses for herself, which grew into a summer venture to a full time business before she went to college. Growing up she worked for a few different trainers and stables, seeking knowledge where she could from anyone that would give her a minute of their time. When asked when she was a junior in high school what she wanted to do afterward, she simply replied without hesitation: something to do with horses. Of course no one was surprised when she choose Ellsworth College in Iowa Falls, IA which, in 2010, was the #2 ranked equine school in the nation by HorseSchools.com. After obtaining her AAS in Equine Management; Jo had an internship where she learned a lot about different parts of the equine world; from different breeds, bloodlines, tack, and training techniques for a variety of different breeds. After her internship, Jo went to work for a well known cutting horse trainer in Nebraska working cutting horses and starting, training, and re-training horses.
After working for the well known cutting trainer for a year, John & Jo went back to his farm in southeast Nebraska to start their own training facility. Their training business was very successful in starting and training horses for clients as well as a few prospects. In late 2009, they decided to move from Nebraska to their new facility in southeast Oklahoma to train horses full time year round. Along with a strong background in farming and ranching; John & Jo has worked tirelessly to expand their knowledge and skills, while developing their own philosophy on training.
Jo and John on their barrel horses, Tequila and Rusty. They make sure all their arena horses are well rounded and experienced on trails and on the ranch. Not one horse they have only does arena work; they all trail ride, work the ranch, ride down the road and through town all with a level head.