Arabians first graced the HJ Farm in 1978. As with most family operations the Johnsons promoted two stallions, MHR Noble and Go Royal Comandar+/, owned a few select mares, and produced beautiful foals.

At this time Deborah Johnson was embarking on a winning equitation career with the guidance of many outstanding individuals. Sandy O'Brien worked with Deborah in the foundations of hunter and jumper disciplines. Patricia Richardson (Pat Mock), the great lady behind Park Horse *Gdansk, was fundamental to Deborah's background with the English horse. And finally, Gwen Nix, one of the founding ladies of Saddle Seat Equitation in the Arabian breeds, provided Deborah with the skills and therefore the confidence to dominate Saddle Seat Equitation during the late eighties and inspired Deborah to pass along the philosophies of horsemanship to future generations.

Opening her first public training facility in 1995, Deborah continued to compete as she simultaneously led her students and their horses to multiple National Championships and Reserves, National Top Ten Awards, Regional Championships and Reserves, and Regional Top Five Awards. Please visit the track records/awards section of the website for more details.

Judging many competitions, including those at the national and international level, provides Deborah a very critical eye that she brings back to RTEC and its horses and riders. This eye allows her to produce National Champions in a very realistic manner. She is able to quickly evaluate the potential and determine the capabilities of each horse before the client invests in simply the DREAM.

In 2003 Deborah had the pleasure of adjudicating the Working Western division (reining, working cow horse, trail) at the United Stated National Championship Horse Show. In 2001 Deborah had the honor of adjudicating the United States National Championship Horse Show in the Stallion/Western division. This reward for years of consistent, competent and fair judging provided Deborah the opportunity to have her peers and fellow Arabian horse enthusiasts present their finest horses to her at the highest level.

Volunteer work and promotion of the Arabian horse are very dear to the heart of Deborah and RTEC. Deborah has been a part of the annual AHA (previously IAHA) convention since 1989 and Susan Johnson has been regularly attending the convention since 1983. Susan has chaired the Equitation committee and Deborah has been Vice-Chair of the Equitation, Working Western and Youth Activities Committees. From 2005-2009, Deborah served the Arabian Horse Association as its Region 3 Director. Deborah is committed to the Arabian horse in all facets of the industry. She actively pursues legislation that protects the Arabian horse and allows participation for all within the industry. Members of RTEC have become involved with the activities of the AHA and of Region 3 and have found those endeavors very rewarding.

In Fall of 2007, the farm relocated from the Minden location to Reno. This decision to move came about for several reasons. First and foremost, was the need to focus on the Arabian facility, its purposes and programs, and retire from farming, hay production and cattle management. Martin Johnson has been an integral part of the program at the Minden facility and in 2005 at the age of 70 it was time to scale back on those desires. With renewed energy, RTEC has relocated to Reno in order to further develop its Riding Academy by making it more convenient and accessible, enhance the customer service provided by a more efficient and plush facility, continue to accept high quality horses for the RTEC show division with clients who have similar values and desires, and return to the breeding of outstanding quality Arabian and Half-Arabian horses with National Champion mares in foal to National Champion Justafire.

These are exciting times for RTEC. Deborah, Jim, and Martin have been very busy expanding the business to anyone in the Reno/Sparks/Carson/Tahoe corridor looking for a fun activity for either themselves or their children. With the indoor clubhouse and the indoor riding arena we offer a year around experience. In 2009, we introduced many new clients into the show world and had a great time every step of the way. In 2010, we've introduced and are delivering many technical workshops and learning activities to help all our members truly enjoy their equestrian experience.

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