From Medieval Jousting to Modern Horsemanship
interview with Johnny Browne, Professional Horseman & Former Royal Armouries Rider Interpreter
You know that moment when you see a job advert and think "that sounds amazing" without really knowing what you're getting into? That's exactly what happened to Jonny Browne when he spotted an ad in Horse & Hound for a "rider interpreter to joust at the Royal Armouries." That job completely shaped how he thinks about horses, training, and what it means to really listen to what our horses are telling us.
Guest: Johnny Browne, Professional Horseman & Former Royal Armouries Rider Interpreter
Background: Started as a weekend warrior with three horses' worth of experience, now works in film, natural horsemanship training, and equine-assisted therapy
Key Topics:
What it's actually like to joust for a living (spoiler: involves a lot more than just pointing sticks at people)
Why training horses for gunfire taught him everything about real communication
The difference between "accustoming" and "desensitising" your horse
How horses became his therapists
The Thing That'll Stick With You
Here's what really got me thinking: Jonny measures experience differently than most of us. Instead of counting years, he counts horses. "You can have the same horse for 25 years," he says, "you've got one horse's experience. You're still very much a novice."
It sounds harsh, but think about it. How many of us get comfortable with our one horse, learn their quirks, and then get completely thrown when we have to ride something different? Johnny's right – every horse is a completely different conversation, and the more conversations you've had, the better you get at the language.
Three Things That Hit Different
1. "You can do anything once on a horse, but..."
Jonny's has a saying that perfectly captures why foundation work matters. You might get away with cutting corners once, but when you're performing in front of a thousand people with medieval weapons, "good enough" just isn't good enough.
His approach to training horses for extreme situations (and let's be honest, gunfire and clanking armour definitely count as extreme), all comes down to the difference between "accustoming" and "desensitising." He doesn't want horses to just switch off and endure; he wants them to understand what's happening and be okay with it. Whether you're dealing with traffic on a hack or preparing for a dressage test, that distinction matters.
2. Put a mirror in your tack room
This might be the most practical piece of advice I've heard in ages. Jonny tells all his clients to stick a proper mirror in their tack room and actually look at themselves before every session. Not to check if your hair looks alright, but to ask yourself: "How am I today? What am I bringing to this partnership?"
Because your horse knows exactly how you're feeling before you do. Had a row with your partner? Running late? Stressed about work? Your horse is reading all of that and responding accordingly. Better to acknowledge it upfront than spend an hour wondering why your normally cooperative horse is being "difficult."
3. Horses are happier when they have a proper job
Jonny found that horses performing specific tasks – whether that's carrying falcons, working cattle, or even just learning to stand still for mounting – were more confident and engaged than horses just being "ridden around."
It's not about making them work harder; it's about giving them and you something to focus on. When you're concentrating on hitting a target or herding a cow, you're not micromanaging every step. The horse gets to be a partner in the job rather than just a vehicle for your anxiety.
From Adrenaline Junkie to Horse Whisperer
What I admire about Johnny's journey is his honesty regarding his experiences. At 28, he was full of energy and enthusiasm, which is exactly what you would expect from someone who thought jousting would be an exciting career choice. However, working with horses taught him to slow down, to breathe, and to truly listen.
He talks about discovering natural horsemanship through people like Monty Roberts and Pat Parelli, but his real education came from the horses themselves. They were the ones telling him his energy was too high, that he needed to calm down and actually pay attention to what they were saying.
This led him into equine-assisted psychotherapy, where horses become mirrors for human emotions and behaviour. Johnny describes breaking down in tears during his training sessions, with horses responding to grief about his father's death in ways that left him stunned. Whether you believe in that sort of thing or not, there's no denying that horses pick up on our emotional state and reflect it back to us.
The Learning Never Stops
One thing that comes through clearly in talking to Jonny is that he's never stopped learning. Even after decades of professional work, he's still seeking out new influences, still questioning his assumptions, still letting the horses teach him.
He talks about the danger of plateauing – getting comfortable with your current level and stopping the search for improvement. It's something we all do, whether it's in riding or life in general. You reach a certain level of competence and think "job done," but the horses will always find ways to humble you if you're paying attention.
Questions Worth Pondering
On partnership: Johnny talks about doing things "for the horse, not to the horse." It sounds simple, but how often do we catch ourselves prioritising our own agenda over what's actually best for our horse in that moment?
On learning: How many horses of experience do you actually have? And what has each one taught you that the others couldn't? Sometimes the difficult ones are the best teachers.
On honesty: If you put that mirror in your tack room, what patterns might you start noticing? How does your mood on Monday compare to your mood on Friday, and how does your horse respond to the difference?
"The horseman's job, in a nutshell, is to listen and understand the horse. That horse will tell you first of all, subtly, and then that subtlety will expand and grow into what could be perceived as bad behaviour. But if you're listening to your horse from the get-go..." - Johnny Browne
Follow Jonny Browne | Simple Good Horsemanship | Instagram
Member Q&A: Johnny stuck around to tackle listener questions about his film work, dealing with genuinely dangerous horses, and his thoughts on the current state of riding instruction. He also shares some brilliant insights about measuring fear versus courage, and why he loves working cattle from horseback above all other disciplines.
Want access to these extended conversations every week? Our membership community gets early episode access and exclusive Q&As with guests. Join us on YouTube for just £3.99/month and never miss the best parts of our conversations.