Niceley, an 8th generation Tennessee cowboy, has an inspirational message and presentation whether you’ve had horses all your life, or just think horses are pretty to look at.  He has appeared several times on Knoxville’s “The Heartland Series” and has also been featured in Southern Living Magazine.  His horse training techniques and principles provide a healthy alternative to the once standard methods of “breaking” horses.

Born and raised on the family farm in East Tennessee, John’s first mount was a donkey named Susie – he was 5 years old.  At the age of 9 he got his first real horse, a filly named Blue.  At 20 months old, Blue had already been riding in Smoky Mountains and on the Appalachian Trail.  For the next 8 years, John and Blue competed in every local show they could get in – barrels,  poles, & flat racing were the order of the day. 

“Horses were always a big part of my life.  Then in 1980, my life was changed forever in San Antonio, Texas, when I was able to see Ray Hunt ‘start’ an 8 year old mustang that had never been touched.  Everything from that day on has been an effort to try to get further into the mind of the horse.”

The once common approach of “breaking” horses through physical force and control is, in many barns, farms, and ranches across of the country, being replaced with a much more-rewarding way of horse handling.  According to Niceley, it takes tremendous effort and time to re-wire our innate predator nature toward a horse and communicate with him in a truly "un-natural" way. To be patient enough to learn his language - and then not revert to force when our patience is tried. 

But, he adds, acquiring the timing and finesse to correctly handle horses - is most assuredly the way your horse would want to be handled if he could tell you.   And the reward once one achieves this kind of relationship with is horse - is tremendous!   

The trend sweeping the nation, John feels, offers a person an opportunity to partner with his horse, rather than control it.  His passion for improving his own training techniques has spanned decades, and he continues to learn.

He says, however, that there are few real deals out there teaching clinics, and for every one that’s real, there are many who aren't  - and it's important that horse owners and handlers not follow just anyone who sounds or looks good.  “The first thing you need to know about horses, is often the last thing you learn, it takes a lifetime to learn about horses...

Ray Hunt says," you will often hear John quote. 

John believes that this kinder, more understanding approach of communicating with the horse in the horse's language, is possibly God’s own intention in giving man dominion over horse.  What once was Predator-Prey is now win-win for horse and man.  The horse, naturally prey to predators such as man – suddenly finds himself not having to defend himself – but instead working with man, understanding what he is asking, and responding to the request - the request which is made totally through feel.

Today John lives on a 1000 acre cattle ranch just outside Knoxville with his wife, Martha, and their 4 children, once themselves a "Ruritan Family of the Year".    Strong Stock Farm has been in the Strong family since the early 1700’s.  Martha’s family is the Strong clan. 

John travels throughout the Southeast giving lessons and seminars to groups and private clinics. 

John also believes that “to bring out the best in a horse,

brings out the best in us.”

John & Martha Niceley,

breed quarter horses and angus cattle.

Their horses are ranch raised, properly handled,

and available for purchase.

865-250-0436  

Strong Stock Farms

email them at

strongstockfarm@peoplepc.com

Tennessee is the #2 state in the nation in horse numbers,

second only to Texas.  John Niceley is an 8th generation stockman

– born & raised on the family farm in East Tennessee. 

An Authentic Tennessee Cowboy. 

“Correctly handling a horse ... is like children getting a good start in school. 

You can’t get a degree in college, without a good start in first grade. 

In fact, that first grade is really more important than your last year in college. 

The foundations of training horses, raising children, and God’s direction for men – seem to me – interrelated – very connected."

"If you don’t understand the basic foundations of what it takes to start a colt correctly – you can never understand how to ride a horse in an advanced fashion.  This basic foundation is forever.  Real as Rain.  So important that you can start a horse right for 2 months, have a bad day, lose your patience – whip him - and ruin the horse forever.  It’s just that delicate of a thing.  It’s just so important to do it right, every single time you’re around that horse."

John Niceley

Foothills Country Fair 2006

You don’t have to own a horse to enjoy

Cowboy Sunday

at the FOOTHILLS COUNTRY FAIR, May 21st

May 21st is COWBOY SUNDAY

at the Foothills Country Fair in Cleveland. 

Knoxville cattle-rancher, John Niceley, is presenting

~ FAITH & HORSES ~

an event for the entire family.

Niceley's FAITH & HORSES presentation is in keeping with the Fair's Cowboy Sunday theme.  John compares the relationship a person has with his horse to that of God-and-man.  “Ray Hunt teaches to make the right thing easy for your horse to perform, and the wrong way difficult.  He suggests we set up situations for the horse to find the right - therefore easy- way to go. 

I think God often makes the right way feel easy – or ‘right’ – for us - if we will be still and listen to Him."

10am ~ Cowboy Church

10:45 ~ "Redeemed" Worship Dance Group

11:30 ~ FAITH & HORSES

with Tennessee Cowboy, John Niceley