Jessie giving a lesson to McKenzie in Oregon

Jessie Donohue was introduced to Natural Horsemanship as a young teenager.  At age 14 she purchased a green-broke 9 year old Arabian, whose history, much like many horses who cross our paths, was far from good.  She knew she needed to find another way to get with Skylark and get safe, which is when she was introduced to the Parrelli method of training which utimately led her to find the Vaquero/Buckaroo style of horsemanship. After graduating from high school in Oregon, Jessie moved to Arizona, where she met and began working with Nick Donohue, and Dan Knuth, their mentor. There, she continued to study Vaquero/Buckeroo horsemanship, following the methods of such amazing horsemen as Buck Brannaman, Ray Hunt, Bryan Neubert, and the Dorrances. While in Arizona, Jessie earned her BFA in dance from Arizona State University. Through her education, she increased her knowledge of the human body and how it moves, which enhances her ability to teach students how to use their own bodies to communicate effectively with horses, both in and out of the saddle. No matter what your level or experience may be, Jessie will use what she has learned from the great horsemen, as well as her own experiences with many different horses and people, to help you communicate more effectively with your horse, creating the everlasting bond that every horseman desires.

Nick at a Buck Brannaman Clinic in Arizona

Nick Donohue was introduced to Vaquero/Buckaroo Horsemanship when he met Dan Knuth in Chandler, Arizona.  Nick was so intrigued by what he learned in the first month, you could say he became an addict! If he was not at work, he was at the ranch practicing what he had learned, watching Dan give other people lessons or just simply spending time around horses.  He continued to watch Dan as much as possible and practice everything that he learned or saw.  It wasn't long before Dan saw his commitment and desire to learn and took him under his wing as an apprentice. Nick spent countless hours riding with him, learning to start colts and work with troubled horses using these methods, and working with Dan’s students from time to time. Through Nick’s commitment to learning, desire to teach others these remarkable methods, and devotion to making every horse’s life an even better one, Nick has become the accomplished horseman that he is today.

With the retirement of Jessie and Nick’s mentor and leader in July of 2005, they committed themselves to furthering their education and the education of others in Vaquero/Buckaroo Horsemanship by stepping in where he left off. Nick and Jessie had the pleasure of working with many different horses and many different students in Arizona, and they now look forward to spreading this knowledge and the joy of Vaquero/Buckaroo Horsemanship in Oregon. 

Call Donohue Horsemanship at (503) 593-8775 today!