Chris Johnsrud

Money Won

Titles/Finals

• 2019 THE NON PRO plus OPEN Derby Open Finalist riding Fracker Brown and Peppys Metallica
  
• 2019 NCHA Kit Kat Sugar Super Stakes Derby Open Semifinalist on SR Kit Kat Rey
  
• 2019 ABILENE SPECTACULAR Open Derby Finalist riding FRACKER BROWN
  
• 2018 NCHA OPEN FUTURITY FINALIST ON FRACKER BROWN
  
• HIGH SCORE IN 1ST GO AND COMBINED TOTAL ON FRACKER BROWN AT NCHA FUTURITY

Top Three Horses Trained

• Fracker Brown
  
• Desires Blue Trinity
  
• Lil Dulcey Lue

Chris has won in excess of $1 million and has been training for the public out of Weatherford Texas for the last nine years. He was born and raised on a ranch in North Dakota and began his horse training career with Al Dunning in 1997. After spending 18 months with Al, he went on to work for Mike Wood, where like most North Dakota kids he was allowed to go ride bucking horses on the weekend. He also worked for Scott Martin in Idaho for a couple of years and later trained for the public up their as well. He has worked for Gavin Jordan in California and spent two and half years training for Carol Ward. He and his wife Megan now own a beautiful horse training facility in Weatherford Tx.

How did you get started in cutting?

“My aunt and uncle are the first ones who got me started in cutting horses. They owned a couple and and I rode them and they’re kind of what got me started in cutting.”

Who did you work for?

“Al Dunning for about a year. Scott Martin for about 2 years, and Gavin Jordan for a year and a half.”

What’s your favorite quote?

“One of my favorite quotes is from John Wayne. He says life is tough. It’s even tougher when you’re stupid or making bad decisions.”

What was your most memorable moment in cutting?

“Marking a 223 on Fracker Brown in the first go round of the futurity. Winning the first go round.”

What would you say is the biggest myth people think about cutting?

“Well, I’m going to I’m going to steal Duncan Steele-Park’s on that one. He told me this one:
‘They say a good horse trains itself’. I don’t believe that, I think that there’s good horses, there’s bad horses, but they all need to be trained. A good one’s easier to train obviously. I don’t believe that a good horse trains itself. You still have to train the horse.”

What is your training philosophy?

“The cow means more than me, but no matter what, the cow needs to take over, the horse needs to be trained. But no matter what the cow means more than anything. It still needs to be a cow horse.”

What is some advice you have to someone wanting to be a trainer or an up and coming trainer?  

“Dig your heels in, work hard. Don’t stop trying. It’s a lot of work. Don’t give up if you love it and that’s what you want to do. Don’t be scared. It’s a long road ahead of you but it is what it is. I love it. If that’s what you want to do, be prepared to work. That’s what I can say.”