OUr Mission
We strive to help people live their best lives through the practice of Horsemanship.
How do you Say ... DEH-FraY-Tis
Change is a GOOD thing. Let's be real, can we? You wouldn't be considering training with us if you didn't want to change some aspect of your relationship with the horse, and wanting a change does not mean there is anything wrong with what you have now. Whether you are just starting your equestrian journey, or looking to master that last high performance maneuver, there is always more to learn, and there is always room for improvement. At De Frates Horsemanship we never settle for the best and we not only embrace change, we celebrate it and LEAD it to make dreams come true. We use the Lyons Conditioned Response Method, our corporate management and training expertise, and a lot of hard work to make change happen, which builds confident partnerships and sets you on the path to your dreams.
We won't stop until you are happy AND successful.
At De Frates Horsemanship, we specialize in change...it's who we are and it's what we do. Let us show you how.
We won't stop until you are happy AND successful.
At De Frates Horsemanship, we specialize in change...it's who we are and it's what we do. Let us show you how.
"Change is the only contstant in life.”
- The ancient Greek Philosopher, Hercalitus
Dana De Frates
Dana has been riding since before she could walk and started competing in Hunter/Jumper when she was still in pre-school. She spent her childhood years on the back of a Morgan mare named Isis, and the two were inseparable. Dana dreamed of becoming a Morgan breeder, but when Isis passed away shortly before Dana graduated high school, her dream was crushed. Horseless, Dana volunteered her free time while in college to an Equine Facilitated Therapy Center where she learned the Parelli method and worked with the incoming horses to assess their existing training and ensure they were prepared for their new careers. She also worked at an elementary school teaching young men to cook.
Dana received her BA in Education, with a minor in Montessori Education, in 2003 from Saint Mary's College of California. She took her educational background to Google, where she spent years in the internal education department designing and delivering training in the fields of team development, leadership, coaching, and onboarding. Dana is a gifted and natural teacher, who makes learning even the most difficult skills entertaining.
When the time came to get a new horse, Dana found Angel, a Morgan yearling; Dana had never trained a horse before and she sought out every opportunity she could for her and Angel build a strong partnership. She used what she had already learned about the Parelli method and it helped her get a solid foundation with Angel on the ground, so great, she even thought about becoming a horse trainer, but keeping Angel at a boarding facility posed its own challenges. Other boarders made fun of Dana for her Parelli work; they felt they knew what was best for Dana and Angel and it wasn't anything Dana could do on her own. Dana's confidence was nearly destroyed and she sought out professional help via a colt-starting clinic with a well known local clinician. Unfortunately, an accident at the clinic injured both horse and rider, left Angel traumatized, and almost cost Dana her hand. Unable to get back in the saddle for the better part of a year due to her injury, Dana taught Angel to pull a cart and do tricks to rebuild their relationship until they were ready to continue their work under saddle. Dana was still battling confidence issues when she got back on Angel, but she found comfort in the process of classical dressage training, which she studied for over a decade, until a non-horse related foot injury left Dana again unable to walk for months. That's when Jason stepped in to care for Angel and fell in love with horses.
When Dana was finally able to return to the ranch, Jason wanted to learn to ride and she was happy to teach him. Watching Jason excel in the saddle restored her confidence in her training abilities, and Dana went in search of a new mentor to further her education; that's when she found Brandi Lyons. Dana left her first clinic with Brandi so full of confidence that she and Jason bought a project horse that they could train together, and Dana was extremely proud of the quick progress they had made. Unfortunately, Jason was in a horrible accident after only one month later, when this new horse kicked him in the face and hospitalized him for weeks. The accident left Jason with half a face full of metal and left Dana with something she had never experienced around a horse before, fear; paralyzing, soul shaking fear. The couple used the Lyons methods relentlessly for months to overcome their fear and to try to salvage the relationship with the horse, but ultimately they decided to find the horse a different home, and find Jason a horse that he could start over with, Boo. This new horse of Jason's was great, until he wasn't, and when he wasn't, Dana's confidence was shaken and the fear came back stronger than it had ever been before. Her fear was so great that Dana considered getting out of horses entirely and she was miserable. Dana decided then and there that if she could overcome this fear, if she could find her way back to joy around horses, that she would make it her mission to help others facing the same issues. Two days into a four day clinic with Brandi and the couple was confidently riding Boo again, and before the clinic was over, Jason had plotted with Brandi and the two pushed Dana to become a Brandi Lyons Certified Trainer.
Dana spent months living and studying with Brandi at her home in Arizona, where she learned the details of the the Lyons Conditioned Response Methods and how to use the theories to start horses, fix almost any problems, and take a solid horse's capabilities to near peak performance. She also learned to teach a few more tricks, run a successful clinic, and give impactful lessons. Full of confidence and ready to make a change, Dana came home, again taught Jason everything she had learned, and the couple started De Frates Horsemanship. Dana and Angel now enjoy playing with cows, competing in Extreme Cowboy challenges, and continuing to hone their Western Dressage maneuvers. After completing the Brandi Lyons Certification Program where Dana's baby, Cortana, was started and completed roughly nine months of rigorous training, she has been allowed to finish maturing and focus on perfecting the basics before we decide what she should specialize in, but the sky is the limit, just as it is with your with you own horse.
Dana received her BA in Education, with a minor in Montessori Education, in 2003 from Saint Mary's College of California. She took her educational background to Google, where she spent years in the internal education department designing and delivering training in the fields of team development, leadership, coaching, and onboarding. Dana is a gifted and natural teacher, who makes learning even the most difficult skills entertaining.
When the time came to get a new horse, Dana found Angel, a Morgan yearling; Dana had never trained a horse before and she sought out every opportunity she could for her and Angel build a strong partnership. She used what she had already learned about the Parelli method and it helped her get a solid foundation with Angel on the ground, so great, she even thought about becoming a horse trainer, but keeping Angel at a boarding facility posed its own challenges. Other boarders made fun of Dana for her Parelli work; they felt they knew what was best for Dana and Angel and it wasn't anything Dana could do on her own. Dana's confidence was nearly destroyed and she sought out professional help via a colt-starting clinic with a well known local clinician. Unfortunately, an accident at the clinic injured both horse and rider, left Angel traumatized, and almost cost Dana her hand. Unable to get back in the saddle for the better part of a year due to her injury, Dana taught Angel to pull a cart and do tricks to rebuild their relationship until they were ready to continue their work under saddle. Dana was still battling confidence issues when she got back on Angel, but she found comfort in the process of classical dressage training, which she studied for over a decade, until a non-horse related foot injury left Dana again unable to walk for months. That's when Jason stepped in to care for Angel and fell in love with horses.
When Dana was finally able to return to the ranch, Jason wanted to learn to ride and she was happy to teach him. Watching Jason excel in the saddle restored her confidence in her training abilities, and Dana went in search of a new mentor to further her education; that's when she found Brandi Lyons. Dana left her first clinic with Brandi so full of confidence that she and Jason bought a project horse that they could train together, and Dana was extremely proud of the quick progress they had made. Unfortunately, Jason was in a horrible accident after only one month later, when this new horse kicked him in the face and hospitalized him for weeks. The accident left Jason with half a face full of metal and left Dana with something she had never experienced around a horse before, fear; paralyzing, soul shaking fear. The couple used the Lyons methods relentlessly for months to overcome their fear and to try to salvage the relationship with the horse, but ultimately they decided to find the horse a different home, and find Jason a horse that he could start over with, Boo. This new horse of Jason's was great, until he wasn't, and when he wasn't, Dana's confidence was shaken and the fear came back stronger than it had ever been before. Her fear was so great that Dana considered getting out of horses entirely and she was miserable. Dana decided then and there that if she could overcome this fear, if she could find her way back to joy around horses, that she would make it her mission to help others facing the same issues. Two days into a four day clinic with Brandi and the couple was confidently riding Boo again, and before the clinic was over, Jason had plotted with Brandi and the two pushed Dana to become a Brandi Lyons Certified Trainer.
Dana spent months living and studying with Brandi at her home in Arizona, where she learned the details of the the Lyons Conditioned Response Methods and how to use the theories to start horses, fix almost any problems, and take a solid horse's capabilities to near peak performance. She also learned to teach a few more tricks, run a successful clinic, and give impactful lessons. Full of confidence and ready to make a change, Dana came home, again taught Jason everything she had learned, and the couple started De Frates Horsemanship. Dana and Angel now enjoy playing with cows, competing in Extreme Cowboy challenges, and continuing to hone their Western Dressage maneuvers. After completing the Brandi Lyons Certification Program where Dana's baby, Cortana, was started and completed roughly nine months of rigorous training, she has been allowed to finish maturing and focus on perfecting the basics before we decide what she should specialize in, but the sky is the limit, just as it is with your with you own horse.
Jason DE Frates
Jason has been a IBEW Union Electrician since graduating high school; his relentless work ethic and natural skill allowed him to quickly rise into management where he has managed multi-million dollar projects for several companies including Genentech, Google, box.com, and The San Francisco International Airport. He now sits in an office, managing a department that specializes in creating the digital plans that the field teams need to build and create masterpieces.
Jason spent his youth pushing himself and his physical skills as he constantly searched for the next adrenaline rush through rock climbing, mountain biking, kickboxing, and stunting motorcycles. Unfortunately, pushing so hard left Jason with multiple injuries including several damaged disks in his lower back and torn ligaments in his elbow which required surgery. Discovering horses gave Jason a new outlet for excitement but also brought him the fulfillment that his other endeavors always seemed to be missing.
Jason came to horses later in his life, the few experiences that he had with horses growing up left him thinking that horses were nothing more than 1200 lbs brainless creatures that were afraid of their own shadows. That all changed when Jason met Dana, and more importantly, Angel. Dana and Angel opened Jason's eyes to just how amazing horses truly were and how building a relationship with one could change your life, and as they say, it was all over for him, he was hooked. Angel opened Jason's eyes up to how much joy, fulfillment, and of course, challenges, working with horses can bring to your life. After training with Dana and Angel for a few years, it was time for Jason to get a horse of his own; Dana and Jason found him a project horse so she could begin to teach him to train a horse of his own. Tragically, three days before his first No Limits Horsemanship Clinic with Brandi Lyons, he was kicked in the face by this horse. This accident left Jason hospitalized for weeks and facial reconstruction surgery left Jason with a face full of titanium; Jason walked away, but walked away with something else that he had never known before, FEAR.
Using the Lyons methods, and with Dana's constant and relentless support, Jason overcame his fear and tried to salvage his relationship with the horse. Ultimately, and with the help of Brandi, Jason and Dana decided to find a new home for his horse, the trauma all three felt was just too strong. Jason wasn't done with horses though, and they found him a new horse, Boo. Boo was great in the beginning, but when he began to have issues, Jason's fear returned. With the couple not sure what else to do, they signed up for a 4-day clinic with Brandi. Two days into the clinic, Jason was riding without fear, that's when he began to push Dana to continue with her dream and become a Brandi Lyons Certified Trainer. With Brandi's help, they convinced Dana to train under Brandi and join the No Limits Horsemanship Team of Certified Trainers. When Dana returned home, Jason then convinced Dana that De Frates Horsemanship would be much more successful if Dana could live where she trained, so they packed up their bags and bought, Flying P Ranch, the buildout and upkeep of which keeps Jason very busy!
Jason and Boo continue to train, always striving to strengthen their bond and their skill level which is clearly evident when you see them doing flying lead changes bridleless, and with Dana's help they hope to begin working with cows very shortly. Jason continues to push himself when not on horseback by competing in Cowboy Action Shooting and hopes to combine the two soon by completing in Mounted Shooting.
Jason spent his youth pushing himself and his physical skills as he constantly searched for the next adrenaline rush through rock climbing, mountain biking, kickboxing, and stunting motorcycles. Unfortunately, pushing so hard left Jason with multiple injuries including several damaged disks in his lower back and torn ligaments in his elbow which required surgery. Discovering horses gave Jason a new outlet for excitement but also brought him the fulfillment that his other endeavors always seemed to be missing.
Jason came to horses later in his life, the few experiences that he had with horses growing up left him thinking that horses were nothing more than 1200 lbs brainless creatures that were afraid of their own shadows. That all changed when Jason met Dana, and more importantly, Angel. Dana and Angel opened Jason's eyes to just how amazing horses truly were and how building a relationship with one could change your life, and as they say, it was all over for him, he was hooked. Angel opened Jason's eyes up to how much joy, fulfillment, and of course, challenges, working with horses can bring to your life. After training with Dana and Angel for a few years, it was time for Jason to get a horse of his own; Dana and Jason found him a project horse so she could begin to teach him to train a horse of his own. Tragically, three days before his first No Limits Horsemanship Clinic with Brandi Lyons, he was kicked in the face by this horse. This accident left Jason hospitalized for weeks and facial reconstruction surgery left Jason with a face full of titanium; Jason walked away, but walked away with something else that he had never known before, FEAR.
Using the Lyons methods, and with Dana's constant and relentless support, Jason overcame his fear and tried to salvage his relationship with the horse. Ultimately, and with the help of Brandi, Jason and Dana decided to find a new home for his horse, the trauma all three felt was just too strong. Jason wasn't done with horses though, and they found him a new horse, Boo. Boo was great in the beginning, but when he began to have issues, Jason's fear returned. With the couple not sure what else to do, they signed up for a 4-day clinic with Brandi. Two days into the clinic, Jason was riding without fear, that's when he began to push Dana to continue with her dream and become a Brandi Lyons Certified Trainer. With Brandi's help, they convinced Dana to train under Brandi and join the No Limits Horsemanship Team of Certified Trainers. When Dana returned home, Jason then convinced Dana that De Frates Horsemanship would be much more successful if Dana could live where she trained, so they packed up their bags and bought, Flying P Ranch, the buildout and upkeep of which keeps Jason very busy!
Jason and Boo continue to train, always striving to strengthen their bond and their skill level which is clearly evident when you see them doing flying lead changes bridleless, and with Dana's help they hope to begin working with cows very shortly. Jason continues to push himself when not on horseback by competing in Cowboy Action Shooting and hopes to combine the two soon by completing in Mounted Shooting.
Our Horses
We would be lost without our equine partners. Meet the horses that taught us most of everything we know.
We call this our alphabet soup gang, and more importantly, our family.
We call this our alphabet soup gang, and more importantly, our family.
AngelThe finest 2002 model ever made, Angel has been Dana's best friend since she was just a yearling. She is a 14.3h, chestnut flaxen Morgan mare. Angel loves to show off her tricks, will concur any obstacle you point her towards, and is our most trusted babysitter.
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BooBoo was born in 2003 and is Jason's bud. Jason got Boo in 2015 after recovering from his accident and Boo works hard to make sure Jason stays confident. Boo is a 14.3h Paint gelding who loves to cuddle, give kisses, and give pony rides.
He is the sweetest boy of all time. |
CortanaCortana was born in 2013 and is a Foundation Morgan with a rare gene that gives her pinto markings and earned her dual registration with the APHA. Cortana came to us as a weanling and we are so proud of the beautiful, talented horse she has become; the sky is the limit!
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DUkeDuke is the youngest member of the Alphabet Soup Gang and is Jason's future cutting horse. Cowboys Metallic 45 is Duke's registered name and his lines make cutting trainers drool! Duke has already proven to be an amazing addition to the family; he is super sweet and wicked smart. Born around Thanksgiving 2017, Duke has a long way to go and we look forward to sharing his progress with you!
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IzzyIzzy was born in 2010 and is a finished cutting horse having LTE's of $35K+ before coming to us in Nov of 2019. Driven Miss Jessica, Izzy, has a stellar pedigree that makes her a potential future broodmare. An own daughter of Hydrive Cat (LTE of $416,709 & Offspring earnings of $4,656,491) out of the West Coast Cutting Horse of the Year, Jessica Wood (LTE of $47L), Izzy is no slouch herself and was the 2014 Western States Derby Open CHAMPION. Izzy will teach Jason the sport of cutting.
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ThunderThunder is 17.3 hands and nearly 1 TON of pure Clydesdale perfection. Born in ~2010 and trained to be a mounted patrol horse, Thunder is a go anywhere, do anything type of horse with a super friendly, generous attitude. We are so happy to have this guy in our lesson program and we are sure that he will capture your heart just as he has captured ours.
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SprocketA long time ago, Jason made a promise to Dana: if they ever had property, they could get a Mini, and even though Dana traded her 'rights' to a mini in order to keep a future baby from Cortana, Jason still made good on his word. What a guy! Sprocket came to use from a local rescue in Gilroy. He is roughly the same age as Cortana, and is everything Dana always dreamed a mini would be, sweet, smart and hilarious and Dana looks forward to teaching the little man to pull a cart and do lots of tricks.
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Our Ranch hands
No ranch would be complete without assistants. Meet the rest of De Frates family.
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