FESTINA LENTE

Empowering horses and riders through proven equestrian education.

Hi! I’m Alex Johnson, owner and founder of Festina Lente Sport Horses. Festina Lente bases its teaching, training, and consulting on the principles of riding—practices that are time tested, biomechanically sound, and proven to benefit the art and science of horsemanship.

Festina Lente is an historical Latin phrase that translates to "make haste slowly." The adage was used to encourage a step-by-step approach to training. I believe that building correct basics for horses and riders creates a lasting foundation for any discipline and level.

Certifications

Advanced Instructor, PATH Intl.

APHA Professional Horseman

Equine Services for Heroes Certified

NDPC Champion

IALHA Competing Member

USDF Medalist

USEF Professional

USEA Competing Member

USWEA Competing Member

WDAA Competing Member

Get in Touch

"If we all treated people the way true horseman treat horses, the world would be a better place."

Janet Jones, PhD

National Dressage Pony Cup Year End Awards!

🎖️Training Level Open avg. score 70.733
7th out of 22

🎖️First Level Open avg. score 68.845
8th out of 23

🎖️Second Level Open avg. 66.595
9th out of 15

So proud of Calie and excited for her next chapter.
@nationaldressageponycup @schleese @johnson.alexmarie @sjcequestriancoalition

C + E = 🤍

As a token of good luck, I shared one of our @nationaldressageponycup ribbons with her new little rider. I’m certain they will soar to great heights together.

Thank you @sabo_eventing for the collaboration! Thank you @belcavallofarm @lagniappeequestriancenter @schleese and of course Cora, who were all a part of Calie’s journey to find this perfect home. 🏡

Have to brag on one of my fav students, @katiek1021 ! She’s worked SO diligently and compassionately the past three years to get her 18yr old Arabian gelding Quinn sound and moving well. Today, all of those hours are showing up in her scores. You are a true horsewoman Katie! Love you and your crew! 🤍🐴🤍
📸 @mariecobb 🐎 @schleese

Worked through things, cried frustrated tears, received gracious feedback from legends that didn’t have to be kind but were… I love this sport. The ridiculous sacrifice of time and money, the endless hours that build towards five minutes the make you or break you, the gritty camaraderie, all the sh*t (literally and figuratively) that we have to go through to earn it.

“We ride and never worry about the fall. I guess that’s just the cowboy in us all.”
- Tim McGraw

🦄 Rescue Rehab Project!! 🦄

Recently, I got the opportunity to work with a colleagues’s 12yr Andalusian cross rescue horse for 30 days. In addition to being very green, this horse presented with poor saddle fit and pre-metabolic symptoms, like edema through the shoulder girdle, atrophy through the top line muscles, limited range of motion in the hindquarters, and a cresty neck. My client graciously allowed me to alter his diet, take away the saddle, and go back to the ground work, starting with lunging and work in hand.

The photos are Day 1 and Day 20. TWELVE (12) days total of work and we saw a difference in the horse’s build and way of going. He’s got a journey ahead, but a support system to help him become a steady trail horse for his loving owner.

Dressage is for every body. 💜

Thank you @100xequine @schleese and @vitaflex for helping us to build healthy, happy horses and riders! Thank you @sarahwhitwellphotography for the trust. Keep on keeping on!

No time to siesta, let’s fiesta… 🪅🎉🇲🇽

A very fun and laidback re-entry into the CDS world with Temecula Valley’s Fall Fiesta.

Romero did great, with a few green bobbles that improved as the day went on, and scores up to 67.4+% at USDF Third Level Open and Highpoint for the day.

Thank you @mbraun71 for keeping us company through the long day!

@schleese @esprit_equestrian_wear
@tev_cds @johnson.alexmarie @californiadressagesociety

This dude gave me the most rhythmic relaxed passage in our ride today, and we got the pirouettes and four tempis. Went in with zero expectations and danced the whole morning!

🎶🎵What a way to start the day! 🎶🎵

@schleese
@weatherbeetana
@dressagesportboots

Rehab project Bo update! 🥹🌟

Owner’s Testimony: “…my vet just saw Bo…She assessed him for lameness just because she wanted to…She was blown away by the difference in his body and strength. None [no lameness]…She was simply amazed by your work. Thank you just doesn’t cover it.”

🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼
@schleese
@belcavallofarm
@katiek1021

36! Here’s to a year of growth and joy.

@rachell_scribner_ perfectly timed custom made Coastal Cowgirl Hat. Check out her shop on FB: Scribner’s Farmhouse Designs. 🤠

@happygothriftyjas taking care of my wardrobe for over a decade now ((because lord knows I still can’t dress myself in anything but breeches)). 💅🤍

Got some fabulous photos of Calie aka CALBERT aka my princess cavewoman. Miss this little girl and I’m so glad she’s onto new adventures. Go Calie go! 👑🚀🦄

📸 @mariecobb

🏇 @schleese

Calie is pictured wearing a Let’s Dance dressage saddle and a Mercí jump saddle. Both fit her so well and help her have the freedom of movement she needs to reach for the stars! ✨

Swapped the pirouettes today for in-hand and click training on the @sheacenter trail course.

Such a great way to prep for emergencies, loading, and staying on the aids in new enviros.

I was proud of my little goober! A year ago he could barely handle a bridge in working equitation! 🎢🎈🤩

Thanks @natasjakraska for teaching me click training—we used the “courtesy click” to start and then built it into our half halts over all the obstacles!

First hack out in our new home!

Heidi and Brynn’s bracelets were still there on the tree from last year. I’ll be wearing them now. Always riding with us. 🕊️

Home is where you feed your horse and hang your ribbons. All settled in after a longggg journey from MS-CA! @schleese saddles and @weatherbeetana pads are clean and organized! @midsouthdressage @sedariders and @flightlinedressageshows ribbons hanging up to remind us of where we came from and where we aim to go…Romero is making lots of friends boarding at @sheacenter ! Ready to get back to training!

Last Schleese fitting in the Deep South! After taking all their measurements my saddle fitter said “Wow, you are really committed to your horses’ symmetry!” Sure am—I’ll take that as a compliment!! 🤣🤓📚🐴 #festinalentesporthorses #saddlefitforlife #schleese

Bo-Bo…

My most interesting rehab project and the one that transformed the fastest. Bo is a 5yr Arab gelding, who has an asymmetrical rotation in his pelvis, causing uneven weight bearing and issues in the forelimbs. The goal was to help him learn to carry his body in a serviceably sound manner with the idea that eventually he’d be able to carry a rider.

In 8 weeks he has transformed. His hind legs, which used to swing outside of the line of travel, now strictly follow his forelegs. His gimp in his right front is gone, and the bruising patterns have vanished from three out of four hooves.

Our last day culminated with Katie being able to ride her boy at walk and trot on the line. I’m proud to say that all the biomechanics and aids he learned on the flat transferred to the saddle. Thanks to @schleese he is able to move to the best of his ability and Katie sits comfortably in position.

I’m going to miss these ones soooo much but I’m certain they are on the right track!

@katiek1021 @schleese @belcavallofarm @johnson.alexmarie

𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀… 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲, 𝗖𝗔! 🌴🏄‍♀️

After four years in the US South, I’m returning a healthier version of myself—athletically, professionally, and personally.

It’s hard to capture the challenges and growth that shaped this chapter. Here are a few thoughts that stand out:

⚓️ “𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑡 𝑖𝑠: 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑡.” Consistency > intensity. Progress > perfection. Fundamentals > fads. Do it right, do it often, and do it with purpose.

⚓️ “𝐷𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒—𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒.” Family is a catalyst for growth, not a constraint.

⚓️ “𝑆𝑢𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑒𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑎𝑠𝑚.” So bring the STOKE, the GUSTO. It’s all part of the journey—learn from it, love it, keep going.

⚓️ “𝑃𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑖𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑖𝑛.” @david.wightman @dauteriveequestrian @sedariders @katiek1021 @belcavallofarm @schleese @lagniappeequestriancenter @flightlinedressageshows @katietharphebert @midsouthdressage @abilyle @sheacenter I’m looking at you. 🏆

⚓️ “𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑑𝑎𝑦.” And with that… we’re just getting started.

📸 @mariecobb + Christina Stewart Photography

Finished on dressage with a 25.75 and the overall lowest score Champion second time in a row! Calie is ready to try a new level. Another super fun horse trial at @lagniappeequestriancenter with @sedariders !! Thank you!

Go Calie! I’m still working on my hip angle and keeping my leg at the girth, and me and Cal are still newbies to the eventing world BUT we’re improving together…excited about our progress! 📸 @mariecobb 🐎 @schleese

Calie absolutely SLAYED this weekend’s CT, finishing division and overall Champion on dressage with a whopping 14.25!!

SO proud of this pony, our hard work, and how far she’s come in 2 years!

@nationaldressageponycup @schleese @sedariders @dauteriveequestrian @lagniappeequestriancenter

Wonderful weekend learning from @abilyle !

SO grateful for the education—I have a page full of notes and lots of riding homework I’m eager to get cracking at! 🤓🐴

Thank you @dauteriveequestrian for organizing. @schleese thank you for keeping us healthy + thriving!

Thank you for another great show @midsouthdressage 🤍

Going back down the levels and working on correct basics is exactly what Romero and I need! We earned a 68.33% at First 3 Open, in spite of his greenness and a pilot error! Calie is thriving and it’s showing in her dressage scores— another 71.4+% at Training 3 Pony Open for her this weekend.

I was solo this weekend so no pics/vids…instead I give you: Romero, being majestic, and Calbert being…Calbert…

March 2025 Life Lesson: there’s a difference between doing something and doing something well.

Can we do all the elements of PSG? Yes.
Did we score 60s at a schooling show? Yes.
Were we overwhelmed going recognized? Yes.
Should we be showing PSG right now? Nope.

After backsliding into tension and insecurity, we finally had a ride today that felt like all our parts were working in sync. What a sigh of relief! It was like saying hello to a friend I’d been missing. I think Romero felt the same way.

Here’s to DOING SOMETHING WELL. And all the sweat and tears we shed along the way to doing just that!!!
Festina Lente.
⚓️

@schleese @belcavallofarm @surfsupdoc @dauteriveequestrian @mitzi.performancegrit

Calie conquering some Starter questions schooling today. I lunged her over some new jumps and down her first bank. As soon as she knows she can do it, she charges!

Thanks @dauteriveequestrian for spotting me even while hobbling around on crutches 👯‍♀️☠️

Thank you @mariecobb of Ree Photographjcs for the beautiful photos!

Thank you @schleese for believing in me. This is the Schleese ProLight with black patent leather, crystals, and silver welting. 💎

We were overwhelmed this weekend. My gawd people, this sport can be BRUTAL. Thanks to the help of some good friends we managed. At the end, I’m more resilient and in love with this horse. A year ago he couldn’t do a turn on the forehand, let alone a flying change. A year ago I didn’t have a horse or a trailer and couldn’t haul alone. Four years ago this horse was a baby. Four years ago I had never competed in dressage. We are just getting started. We are LEARNING. Festina Lente. Make haste slowly. Be fearlessly authentic. Adelante. Keep going forward.

⛈️⚡️🌪️…at least I wore the right t-shirt. @ridetherapist @schleese @johnson.alexmarie @dauteriveequestrian @festina.lente.sporthorses @stocksbydawn

Go Calbert! Third time out XC. She loves it. Thanks @dauteriveequestrian for palling around with us today! @schleese @schleese_sattel #festinalentesporthorses

Make haste slowly.

A series of events led to us being underprepared for the schooling show this past weekend.

Lack of ride time this month, weather (❄️🥵⛈️🌪️), missing equipment (who needs riding gloves when you can use ski gloves in 80F⛷️), a terrible head cold (made worse Day 1 by a NyQuill zombie apocalypse 🧟‍♀️)…

Romero happily stuck with me through it all.

We finished Day 2 with 61.7% at PSG (his second show ever and first time FEI). I nearly cried in disappointment at all my mistakes coming out of the ring, then almost cried in relief at the score. Romero doesn’t care about the score, he just keeps showing up and saying “okay!” That’s a life lesson, right? Just keep showing up and saying “okay!”

Thank you, buddy, for being the best partner to learn, play and grow with.

@schleese @sedariders @belcavallofarm @panthercreekstables

Fun day at SEDA Schooling Championships!

A costly bobble lowered what would have been one of her highest scores at 2.3. but with a handful of 7s and one of the loosest, honestly through tests she’s given me, I’m really pleased

…And we still walked away Second Level Open Champions 😜🥇🏆

@sedariders @schleese @schleese_sattel

Cascadia Angyles Calonnog aka “Calie” owned by Dr. C. Calomeni

2024 YEAR END @nationaldressageponycup 5th Training Level (Open) and 8th First Level (Open). 🎠

This pony has come so far! Here’s to a new year of learning and goals!

📸 @mariecobb 🐴 @schleese @schleese_sattel 🏠 @belcavallofarm

Seven years of hard work, learning and heart made this printed article a reality. Forever grateful to have been a creator and contributor to @sheacenter ‘s EAS Programs. Even more grateful to have built it alongside my dear friend and mentor @ridetherapist

I’m officially sponsored by @schleese 🤯🐴🥳

I was introduced to Schleese in 2018, and have ridden exclusively in their saddles since. Schleese’s @saddlefit4life training and patented AdaptTree technology have kept me and my horses sound and developing healthily as we pursue our goals in a variety of disciplines.

Follow our journey as Romero BCN and I head into his very first competition season together…

📸 @mariecobb @sedariders

🏇Fitter: Maggie Bruce at Schleese Saddlery Service

#schleese #schleesesaddlery #saddlefitforlife #festinalentesporthorses #dressage #usdf #usdfregion9 #usdfofficial

“The horse you have on the ground is the horse you have under saddle.” #festinalentesporthorses #carrygoforward #classicaldressage

Real dressage is healthy for “any body.” Endurance rider @katiek1021 has seen her horse Quinn (18yr Arabian) increase his health, relaxation, and fitness these past two years (swipe for before and after photos 🤯!!). They are competing in endurance and dressage now. I’m sure they will succeed AND have a blast doing both. They have done their homework!! 📚🏋️‍♀️. First 📸: @mariecobb photography! 🤟🏼

Calie is USDF famous! This pony introduced me to the Welsh Cob breed and has taught me so much the last two years. I am grateful for the trust her loving owner, Dr. Calomeni, has demonstrated in allowing me to go back to the basics and build a solid foundation with this mare. We are just beginning the show season, and I can’t wait for the world to see how Calie shines! ✨ 🤍🎠 #festinalentesporthorses

Two years ago, I started MyStride Equestrian LLC as a way to continue equestrian pursuits while our family was adjusting to life in the US South. Over the past two years, my riding pursuits have expanded, my equestrian community has strengthened, and I have grown. It was only fitting to rebrand with a name that could carry these changes forward towards the next steps! With that, I’d like to officially announce… 🐎⚓️Festina Lente Sport Horses!⚓️🐎 Festina Lente is a Latin adage that means “make haste slowly.” The original symbol was a dolphin (hasten) wrapped around an anchor (slowly). It was coined during the Roman empire and later adopted into cavalry academies. Many dressage masters echoed the phrase, one of which was the late Major Anders Lindgren. I find it deeply resonates the approach we should take to our horsemanship, education, and goals. Thank you for following me on the next stage of the journey. To all of my clients and equestrian community: Thank you for your commitment and dedication to the art and science of riding! www.festinalentesporthorses.com #festinalentesporthorses

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@festina.lente.sporthorses

TESTIMONIALS

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Alex is truly one gifted horse woman and trainer, and I am so grateful to have her as a mentor. Alex takes the time to understand the goals of her riders and their horses. She combines that with clear communication and direction, making her instruction easily applicable. She takes immense pride in watching her clients succeed and continue to grow in their skills. Without her knowledge across multiple disciplines, her mentorship, or her passion for teaching and helping her clients succeed, I would not be the rider I am today.

Carola Strozzi, Client

Alex combines a passion for horses with a thirst for knowledge and great people skills to offer both horses and riders excellent instruction and help in achieving their goals in multiple disciplines. I highly recommend Alex for training and instruction and welcome her skills!

FESTINA LENTE

Janet Jones, PhD

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TESTIMONIALS

Carola Strozzi, Client

Anne Hornbeak, FEI Trainer; Anne Hornbeak Dressage LLC

Anne Hornbeak, FEI Trainer;
Anne Hornbeak Dressage LLC