John Braska John Braska gets horses from auction, puts a high dollar on them, drugs them and sells them to unsuspecting buyers. Gobles, Michigan

I read all the comments here and think I need to share my experience with John Braska. I found out that John rides bulls so riding a horse is a cake walk for him. Just because he can ride a very dangerous horse, doesn't mean a good rider can or WANTS to. That's the difference, the word "want". When I buy a horse and spend my very hard earned money, I want the horse that was represented to me. That's how buying ans selling is done, assuming the seller is honest and represents the item being sold honestly and fairly to the buyer. I bought a horse he advertised on craigslist. It is a gelding. John talked this horse up like nobody's business! I needed a very safe, well-trained, gentle horse for my daughter to show in 4-H and to ride on trails, something John said the horse would do with no problem. I went to look at the horse and it did just as John said, it rode quiet and seemed very safe. I rode the horse after him and the horse behaved very well, almost too well now that I think about it. I read the other report filed on John Braska and now realize the horse I bought was probably drugged or sedated also. When we took the horse home, we let him settle in for a few days to get used to his surroundings. I had a trainer come over to evaluate the horse so that they could start working with my daughter and our new gelding. What I witnessed next was a nightmare! Our trainer mounted the horse and it took off like a saddle bronc at a rodeo! The trainer was able to do a one rein stop to get the bucking shut down, but it took so much force to stop him from bucking that my daughter would never be able to ride him. I called John the day after because I was so livid about this situation. I asked him for a refund as he stated if I wasn't happy, he would give me a full refund. Well, turns out that is just a lie because he suddenly got amnesia and "forgot" about his guarantee and refund "policy". I feel the best way to stop John Braska is to let everyone know what a lying, cheat he is. He is obviously just out to make a quick buck at anyone's expense, the horse and rider both!

 There is nothing more aggonizing or worse than watching a child of your's become injured and not being able to do anything about it. I have the deepest sympothies for you and your daughter.

But just because your daughter had rode a 4h horse before, and "...knows how to ride..." doesn't mean she's an expert rider. Sorry, there is no way that I will ever believe that John Braska, whom I've known for several years and trust with my son and his safety at Bull Riding Events in my stead, would ever drug a horse to make money.

Firstly, John has plenty of money, not from the selling of horses, he is a world class champion cowboy. There is such thing as a cowboy code. You may be unaware of it, but John is a loving father of twin baby girls as well as two older children. Why would he let his own children get on a horse if it were not kid safe?!?

Perhaps you are confused with what a 4h horse is? Afterall, they are generally considered bomb proof!

I also have experience in horses and know a little something something about horse traders. John is not your stereo- typical horse trader. He pays out of pocket for his staff to ride and correct horse's issues. But, you will find that sometimes it's not the horse at all, perhaps it's the rider's inexperience. If you're daughter is 10 and has only borrowed a 4h horse, she was basically riding a tricycle with training wheel. You leading the horse could have up set the horse a bird may have flew over or squaked, you could have been using a saddle with a broken tree, she could have kicked in the rear haunches, she might have had his head too tight, you might have had faulty tack.

While my sincerity about your daughter's accident is honest and compassionate, I have children too, I'm bored with the people that automatically act as if they have been sold horses that have been aced. You do know what that is don't you momma?

Most horses will take advantage of inexperienced riders... it's their nature. I will never believe that John sold any horse while under the influence of Ace.

Look for a 4h horse, ride the horse yourself, ask if you can show up unannounced, that way a shady horse trader wouldn't have the time to Ace their horse. Ask if you can take the horse home for 30 days for a test trial.

I have a horse listed right now that I told her good and her bad... I feel buyer be ware is a good thing. How about bringing a needle/surenge with you the next time and asking if that seller minds if you have a blood draw for Coggins. Thats a reasonable request... if that seller says no, get in your truck and leave.

Before destroying a person's reputation, perhaps checking tack, a wrinkle in a blanket can be a reason to buck but more often, horses buck and try tricks with inexperienced riders. PERIOD!!

 Yanno, there are a lot of horses that go to market simpley because people can no longer care for them or maybe they have a trouble issue that makes the horse a little spooky and some don't know how to deal with these issues and the best option for that owner is to take the horse to a sale where it could easily end up in a kill pen.

Having known John for several years now, I know that he is one hell of a horseman. He saves horses, finds them good homes after many hours of retraining these horse, they begin to behave like they should. Tell me why a man shouldn't save horses and then get paid for his efforts. It cost, time, fuel and effort not to mention feed and lot space for these horses. John doesn't drug any horse... and if that's what you think, why the heck would you buy from anyone suspected of such a thing.

If you go to his house, try a horse and buy it... get it home and the horse doesn't preform for you like it did at the seller's house, perhaps you should investigate your riding skills. Some know how to ride and some don't! That doesn't mean that someone has ripped you off, or drugged a horse. It's you!! Learn to ride a kid safe horse and if you don't comand the respect from that horse, how would you even begin that you could ride a horse that takes an experienced rider!

Get a life! And quit trying to ruin someone else's good reputation! Learn to ride, learn to communicate with your horse and learn that horses cues and learn to conteract when there's trouble in the arena.

I have a comment... You keep saying the the horse was drugged... but yet you never took it to a vet to find out for sure your just going off of the fact that it acted differently from one place to the next. You would never step back and think maybe something you did was wrong. for instance having different tack, new surroundings, maybe something pinching him, but yet in your eyes had to be drugged. If this accident happened then why didnt you do something else about it? Like drive back to John's home with the horse? Instead you do nothing and then try and bad mouth him. Makes no sense. If it was me and my kids I would have got to the bottom of it. Cant blame a person for the way a animal acts when its out of their control. YOU have to be the horse savvy person. Not saying the horse didnt buck but... how much of it was John fault? You have to remember its an Animal and they have their own mind. Any horse could of did this from age 2-32. Horse are large animals and if you dont know much about them then you shouldnt own your own till you know alot about them. Stay at your trainers place thats where you belong!!!! 

When I read the information on John Braska here, I wasn't surprised to hear he has drugged horses. I bought a horse from John Braska who was drugged! I am new to horses and boy did John really pick up on that! He must have seen me coming! I contacted him via email from his craigslist ad. (I'm so happy I kept the emails)! I was looking for a horse for my 10 year old daughter to show in 4-H. I saw a picture of a lovely horse John Braska had listed online for $2500. It sounded like the perfect horse for us! My daughter and I went to look at the horse and it appeared to be everything he said it was and more! At first I was leary of getting a young horse but John assured me this one was PERFECT for us! I couldn't believe how perfectly still it stood for being so young! Now I know different! John rode the horse while my daughter and I watched. The horse did everything he asked. I was a little afraid to ride a horse I didn't know but John assured me it would be safe for anyone to ride, even my daughter! I wore my helmet like I always do. Everything went great! Then my daughter rode the horse. John led her around, smiling and telling us what a SAFE and SANE horse this would be for us! We bought the horse from John, who assured us if we got the horse home and decided we didn't like it, we could bring it back for a FULL REFUND!!!

We took the horse with us that day. A little while after we got home, we noticed that the horse started to act different than it did at John's. I didn't think much of it, figuring it was just from being in a new environment. My daughter kept asking to ride her new horse. Since it rode so well for her at John's, I decided it was safe to put her on it. My daughter's eyes were filled with a sparkle over her very first horse!!

At first, being the overprotective mom that I am, I led her around. She kept telling me she can do it herself, after all, she's been riding another horse she borrowed for 4-H and she KNOWS how to ride.

She walked around our arena then started to trot. Within seconds, the horse exploded into a fit of bucking like you see at rodeos! I was across the arena when it happened and there was nothing I could do. I watched as my little girl was thrown violently into the air and landed with a thud on the ground! It felt like hours before I could get to her.

I took her to the ER where she got xrays and pain medicine. Thank God nothing was broken! Lots of bumps and bruises but no breaks!

I knew then that this horse had been drugged!
 
I called John and (of course) he didn't answer my call. I left the first of several messages that he never returned. I wanted to take the horse back for a full refund, like he said he would do. I emailed him with no reply back. I'm not surprised. John Braska is in the business but not the horse business. He's in the lying to people to make a buck business.
I have read a lot of other first hand accounts on Facebook and other websites where other victims have spoken out about John Braska and there are a LOT of us! They are starting to surface to tell their stories, very similar to mine. Some of them have gotten seriously hurt. One of these days someone is going to get killed by one of his 'kid safe' horses! I wonder if going to jail for manslaughter will finally stop him? I am so sorry for those who have fell victim to John and his dirty dealings. We need to spread the word in the horse community about people like this.

As for the ones who claim to have gotten a safe horse from him, well, I suspect those accounts were written by John Braska and his family members! Shame on you for allowing this to go on!!!!!

I myself am taken by surprise on this ripoff report. I have purchased several animals from John and have been completely satisfied with each purchase. It is hard to find a nice and helpful person in the horse industry. Growing up around the business I have learned how to find people you can and cannot trust. John is one I would trust. He has always given me an honest answer and has helped me with situations I have come across. Whenever I had a question he was there to lend a helping hand. You will find it difficult to find a horse trader with more integrity. People who are ignorant and unknowledgeable about the industry and animals should not take it out on those who have worked their entire life in it. People who purchase a horse and expect it to be completely predictable assume to much. A horse has to get use to it's new owner and surroundings and can be mistaken as unruly until it is comfortable again. People who are tense can have adverse affects on a horse again leading to unwanted results. People have to be more knowledgeable when purchasing animals and must be comfortable with new horses. That is how John can do the videos he does he is comfortable with the animals and they can sense that. This results in a quick bond between John and the animal. The bull riding that was mentioned is correct John bull rides but that has no bearing on how a horse will ride and show for someone. I also know for a fact that John does not drug his horses for show. I have seen the affects of drugs on horses and the potential owners would see signs prior to loading the animals. I have done several trades with John and will continue to do so. I have never had a negative experience and neither has anyone I have referred to him. I have a feeling that the people that have written these letters did not understand what they were doing and are looking for the easiest way out and revenge for issues that are their own doing.

I find it fascinating that the person that posted this "report" has never dealt with horses that John Braska has sold. This women is someone that has is upset over other personal reason and is trying to take it out on him and ruin his business for her own selfish reason. John is a very knowledgeable horseman. Yes, his business is to buy and sell good quality trail horses. When someone comes to John home to try out one of his horses for sale they are given ever opportunity to find out for their self what the horse is like. From riding it in a group down the rode (with traffic) to ridding off by their selves. As far as the drugging of horses go, John offers ever client a opportunity to get the horse they are wanting to purchase a vet exam whenever they would like. He is even offering his horses that are for sale a 1 week trial on them so the people can make their own opinion up of the horse. Where along the lines does that sound like a crook???

 As far as the victims go- The 1st victim is untrue nothing at John's house is starving, He feeds the best feeds and takes the upmost care of the horses and all animals on his property.... The second victim has nothing to do with John its another person in Gobles.... The 3rd victim is a lady that traded a $200 mule for her POA gelding. Never was she told the mule was kid safe. She came and witnessed herself how the mule rode and stood for mounting. When she said she wanted to trade, John asked her what her horse was like she said he was a "kid safe" horse that her niece had ridden bareback and never had any problems with him beside he didnt want to stand still for mounting, Thats the reason she was getting rid of her horse. If anyone got a bad deal it was John. The POA was very studdy when he came to his home. Running 2 other horses through the fence and causing harm to others. The next day when John tried to brush/tack the horse up he bite John in the back when he wasnt looking. When John went to try and ride him the horse bucked and reared trying to get him off. That horse was buy no mean a "KID SAFE" horse. 

If I can say anything about John Braska it is that he is a truthful very experienced horseman that is willing to help anyone. Dont let this one Women determine your thoughts of John see for your self.

Just to let you all know what a witch hunt this is I am the person that listed a mare bred to a Friesian. The mare is in fact bred to a Friesian and I own both the Friesian stallion and the mare. John Braska has nothing to do with this at all. I want to know what in the hell is wrong with people these days?! I have in fact bred this mare to this Friesian stallion and I have people saying that I am lying about this....why would I lie about it? This makes now sense to me at all. I have no reason to lie about it but yet someone whats to try and dirty my name. What is it that this person has to gain by trying to dirty John Braskas name? Come on...get a life!!