About Us

The Daniel Training Center is a professional Arabian and Part-Arabian Show Horse Facility that has not lost it's family atmosphere.

Showing at the National level is hard work whether you are nine years old or ninety-nine years young. A component of Julie's secret to success is her ability to create a strong family atmosphere, both at home around the barn and at the shows. This atmosphere translates into a group of clients and riders who want success for their "barn-mates" as they do for themselves. Julie has a guiding philosophy that both helps her to succeed, and endears her to her friends, family, clients, and riders of all ages.

She works hard and expects the same from everyone around her.

She expects good sportsmanship and encourages that attitude in every aspect of dealing with horses.

She extends honesty to everyone she deals with and expects honesty from those around her.

She continually studies her craft and chosen profession and asks that those who are showing horses with her, try and become involved and knowledgeable in all aspects of horses, from mucking stalls to designing a feeding program.

She expects FUN! After all, goals and awards are great, but the element of fun ties it all together

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Julie Daniel

Once Julie was introduced to Arabian horses by her Mom at the tender age of five, it has been a life-long love affair since.
She incorporated Daniel Training Center in 1999 in Michigan where she trained amateur and youth riders and showed clients horses at the local, regional and national level. She trained out of a beautiful facility she owned in Rockwood, Michigan, which she sold in 2005 and moved to Utah. In late winter, 2008, Julie moved her operation to her current facility in Saratoga Springs, Utah

Julie has an innate ability to train the youth and amateur rider from the beginner to the most accomplished. Julie’s horses and riders have received local, regional and national level titles in equitation, halter, English, country, driving, costume, hunter and western disciplines. To date, she and her students have earned countless national, reserve and top ten championships.

She specializes in equitation lessons for youth riders whether it be saddle seat, hunt seat or western. She can teach the most inexperienced, the novice, and the seasoned rider. Her program begins with the basic hands-on foundation necessary to support learning and understanding the sport of horsemanship correctly and, most importantly, safely. Julie and her staff provide lessons at DTC Riding School.

In addition to her training program, Julie also manages a very successful marketing and horse acquisition program. She is skilled at identifying a new horse for purchase by a client and equally talented in selling horses currently owned by her clients. Julie’s program is set apart from other programs due to her focus on training superior horses, incredible riders and tying it all together with fun.
When conducting a search for that new “mount”, she can readily match talented horses to any rider’s skill level. Dedication, hard work, honesty and integrity are traits you can always expect from Julie.

Contact Julie today for a personal one-on-one lesson. She will teach you or your child the skills necessary to safely and completely enjoy your horse…. skills which will last a lifetime.

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Monika Mitchell

Passionate about horses before she could speak, Monika officially started taking jumping lessons at age 8 and after two years, was initiated into the Arabian horse industry by her Grandmother and Aunt. At age 13, she won her first unanimous national championship in Reining Seat Equitation on her versatile purebred Arabian, Bronze Starr+.

Over the rest of her youth career, she enjoyed clocking many barn hours; working hard for several National Top-Ten and Regional championship awards in Hunt Seat, Show Hack, Western, Reining, and Saddle Seat disciplines. She is profusely thankful to have had the privilege of growing up in the Arabian horse industry, with such a diverse and supportive youth and amateur network.

Monika attended the University of Utah where she was actively involved and studied Political Science, English Literature and Business.

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"Just a Horse"

(anonymous poem)

From time to time, people tell me,

"lighten up, it's just a horse," or,

"that's a lot of money for just a horse".

They don't understand the distance traveled,

the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a horse."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a horse."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a horse,"

but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a horse,"

and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a horse"

gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a horse," then you will probably understand phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."

"Just a horse" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust,

and pure unbridled joy.

"Just a horse" brings out the compassion and patience

that make me a better person.

Because of "just a horse" I will rise early, take long walks

and look longingly to the future.

So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a horse"

but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future,

the fond memories of the past,

and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a horse" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away

from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a horse"

but the thing that gives me humanity

and keeps me from being "just a woman/man."

So the next time you hear the phrases "just a horse"

just smile,

because they "just" don't understand.

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