“Finn is the first horse I’ve owned and I’ve had him since he was weaned at 6 months old. Having proper ground manners and basic life skills was very important to me with my young horse, and D.J. came highly recommended to me by many professionals. I’m glad I took their advice. D.J. is an excellent horseman, working with Finn in a very patient and thorough way. I was worried taking on a baby as my first horse, but D.J. has taken the time to also educate and teach me how to work with him. Finn and I have learned so much in a short amount of time because of him, and I am excited to continue building our skills together.”

“D.J. is one of the most professional and talented people in the hunter/jumper industry. He has a variety of incredibly strong skills, ranging from training troubled horses, to judging, and almost everything in between. He carries himself in a calm and confident manner, which the horses and people around him can’t help but feel.”

“D.J. started my first horse Calvin as a 3 year old in 2017. It was my first time with a young horse and I’m so happy with the experience D.J. provided for both Calvin and myself. He was patient, kind, and willing to teach both Calvin and I the entire time. D.J. gave Calvin the best foundation possible and as a result he has gone on to be a very successful hunter in both Canada and the US. I firmly believe Calvin’s success is a direct reflection of the start he was given, all thanks to D.J.! I am very excited to work with D.J. again this winter to start my next young horse. His program truly is the best!”

“As an amateur horse owner, I’m not the most confident when it comes to loading a horse on a trailer. When my horse became difficult to load, we had a big problem. My horse wouldn’t load and I didn’t have the skills to help us work through this problem. D.J. came out and worked with us a few times and not only did my horse get over his loading issue, but equally as important, I learned loading/unloading skills and how to communicate better with my horse. I [also] really struggled to find someone who would ship my horse to OVC for a day treatment. I had a start time and an approximate end time but didn’t know for sure. D.J. was amazing! On a very stressful and long day, D.J. was the calm zone that made everything okay.”

“I highly recommend D.J. to anyone who needs help with their horse, or just wants to become a better rider. He is very patient and good with both horses & their humans! I have had a few lessons with D.J. and my horse Ozzy and I have really benefitted from his help. Thank you for helping us to improve our horsemanship!”

“If you want a professional, well spoken, and well-dressed judge – D.J. Murtagh is your man. D.J. has judged multiple times at various events, in Ontario, Canada, and has always done an impressive job! He is a professional horseman and really cares about the competition and the competitors.  D.J. is punctual and always on time. This unassuming judge is a favourite of competitors and competition organizers.”

“D.J. is one of the most genuine horse people I know. Any time he’s come to help with trailer training he takes the time to figure out each individual horses needs as each specific horse and situation can be unique. D.J. always makes sure he explains to owners in a way that they can clearly understand what he’s doing. Always making sure confidence is instilled into each horse from the start. He’s done a great job with numerous horses in my program over the years I’ve known him. I would highly recommend using D.J. for any horse who needed help with trailering, but also for general working with young horses on the ground to training under saddle. D.J. is always great to work with and a pleasure to have come to the barn.”

“I contacted D.J. as he was recommended for trailering issues – and I’m so glad I did. My horse was difficult to load, but also very worried while in the trailer. D.J. approached him with a kind, empathetic attitude and within the first session had him loading like a pro. This horse had previously taken over an hour to get in the trailer. The most important part though, D.J. is continuing our sessions to ensure my young horse is comfortable and confident in the trailer for our long-term success with loading. D.J. has a diverse skill set he brings to training horses, both inside and outside the ring. It was a pleasure working with him and I will definitely seek his expertise for future training needs.”

“I am pleased to recommend D.J. Murtagh. He is an accomplished horseman, trainer, competitor, and judge. I recently had the privilege of working with D.J. in the training and development of my young horse, and I am pleased to endorse his services. D.J.’s professional manner makes him incredibly easy to work with. He established an environment that encouraged open communication and collaboration, making me feel comfortable throughout our training sessions. His approach provided me with a clear roadmap for progress and set realistic goals for me and my horse. Furthermore, D.J. equipped me with valuable tools that allowed me to continue the training and development of my horse beyond our 1:1 sessions. D.J.’s collaboration with my primary trainer and his willingness to integrate with our training program made incorporating his methodologies seamless. D.J.’s techniques and training program provide a solid foundation for establishing a successful relationship between horse and rider. He has a unique ability to simplify complex concepts, making them easily understandable for both the rider and the horse. The results I achieved under D.J.’s guidance were truly great, and my horse and I benefited immensely from his extensive experience and expertise. I wholeheartedly recommend D.J. Murtagh to anyone seeking to enhance their equestrian skills and create a stronger bond with their horse.”