It’s been said that a goal without a plan is just a wish.

Iowa professional trainer Denton DeBuhr must have heard that along his way because it’s the first two things he wants to discuss with his clients.

“I like to let the horse tell me what they are ready for,” he explained. “I try to evaluate and treat each one as an individual and then establish a plan. I also like to establish goals with my clients. I want to know where they see themselves and their horses and then design a plan to help them get there. I think it’s really important to be honest about the horse’s ability and how it aligns with their goals. I know that this is a hobby for most people and I want to keep things fun and positive for them.”

At age 35, Denton is still young but he has years of practical experience behind him.

Growing up in New Hartford, Iowa, his family has always been involved in horses and his grandfather on his mom’s side always provided Denton and his brothers project ponies to train and show.

After graduating from Dike-New Hartford High School, where he played varsity football, Denton attended Hawkeye Community College and then went to work for Iowa trainer Jeff Cochran for five years before joining the training staff at Gil Galyean Quarter Horses in Purcell, Oklahoma in 2009.

While working for Cochran and Galyean, DeBuhr had the opportunity work with such impressive show horses as: Cagney Sudden Touch, Tom Powers Champion; RR Only Young Once, Multiple Congress Champion; Whata Moonlight Ride, AQHA 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure World Show Bronze Trophy winner; Sure Am Hot, AQHA World Show Intermediate Champion Junior Western Pleasure; On My Level, third place, Congress Coughlin 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure; Sleep Machine, NSBA Breeders Championship Futurity Champion; and Gotta Certain Touch, Tom Powers Champion.

In the fall of 2016, after spending seven years in the Gil Galyean Quarter Horses program, Denton moved back to Iowa and in 2017 opened his own training business in Cedar Falls, Iowa at a barn near his home town.

“My life-long goal was to always have my own business,” he said. “I also wanted to be located closer to my family.”

DeBuhr says his favorite part of the job is watching the horses progress as they go through the training process.

“I really enjoy being a horse trainer and can’t think of anything I don’t like about it,” he insists.

DeBuhr’s hard work has paid off and in about a year after starting his own operation he found that he had outgrown his facility so he moved it to the Resinger Farms facility in Eldora, Iowa. Reisinger Farms is an established equine facility located in central Iowa and owned by the Reisinger family, which enjoys a a long history in breeding outstanding APHA and AQHA pleasure horses. The facility includes a heated show barn with 22 stalls and an attached indoor arena. There is also a heated mare and foal barn with 11 stalls. The property has a mare motel with covered runs for turn out and many outdoor lots for turning additional horses out. There is a large outdoor arena as well as a hot walker. The farm has several large pastures as well.

At the Quarter Horse Congress last month, Denton rode Mamma Made Martinis to a win in the 2-Year-Old Limited Open Western Pleasure Stakes class for owner Karen Boxell and Snipity Snap to a Reserve Championship in the Limited Division of the Masters 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure for owner Julie F. Dishman.

Family is important to Denton and he says his most treasured possession is a headstall his grandfather made him before he passed away. When he’s not busy training horses he makes it a point to spend time with his family and enjoys time spent with friends and girlfriend, Jenna Dempze. He’s also a big fan of college football and basketball.

But with a new business there is not much free time these days.

“Someone once told me that the most important thing you can do is to finish what you start,” he said. “I think it’s always good to see through what you start.  Good or bad I think that when you tell people you will do something they appreciate that you follow through.”

He’s proud of what he’s accomplished so far.

“Starting my own business from the ground up and being able to do what I love every day is the achievement of which I’m most proud,” he said. “Seeing where I was at the beginning and to where am I now. I have a lot to be thankful for and proud of.”

You can reach Denton DeBuhr at (319) 239-6277 or you can visit him on Facebook at Denton DeBuhr Show Horses.