About Us
Jonathan Navas,
Founder of Navas Equine, has built a career rooted in passion, dedication, and expertise in thoroughbred training and sales. His journey began in 1998 at the Maracaibo Riding School in Venezuela, where he graduated as a rider in 2000. From 2000 to 2003, Jonathan competed as a jockey in Venezuela’s premier racetracks, including Maracaibo, Valencia, and Caracas. In 2005, he transitioned to the United States, where he further pursued his career in thoroughbred racing, both as an exercise rider and jockey.
As a jockey, Jonathan faced challenges with weight maintenance, which ultimately led him to shift his focus to training and horse management. This transition allowed him to dive deeper into stable operations, equine performance optimization, and veterinary care. His focus wasn’t just on riding horses but also on how to make them as efficient and competitive as possible on race day. Over the years, he gained extensive knowledge in areas like horse conditioning, performance analysis, and veterinary treatments.
Jonathan's professional development was further enriched by working with some of the most successful trainers in the United States, including Steve Klesaris, Todd Pletcher, and Dale Romans. Through these experiences, he learned various training philosophies and management techniques, absorbing the best practices that would later influence his own approach to horse training.
In 2020, Jonathan launched Navas Equine Sales Agency. Starting with just three horses at the April OBS Sale, his consignment quickly expanded. One of his early standout successes was a filly by Shackleford, purchased for $7,500 and sold for $70,000 after clocking the fastest quarter-mile of the week at the 2021 OBS June Sale. This sale exemplified Jonathan’s ability to identify promising young horses and develop them into high-value prospects.
In 2023, Jonathan reached another milestone when a colt by Justify became the first horse in his consignment to run a :9 4/5 at the OBS under-tack show. Jonathan had purchased the colt for $50,000 at the Keeneland September sale. Through Navas Equine's careful development, the colt sold at the OBS April Sale for $400,000. This sale underscored Jonathan's growing reputation as a top-tier consignor with a keen eye for talent and an effective training regimen.
From these beginnings, Navas Equine has grown rapidly. By 2024, Jonathan was managing between 60 to 80 horses in training and presenting 40 horses for sale each season. His dedication to applying his vast experience and knowledge continues to fuel the success of Navas Equine, which is now recognized for consistently producing competitive, high-performing thoroughbreds.
Today, Jonathan remains deeply committed to advancing the success of Navas Equine, continually refining his training methods and management practices to ensure that every horse under his care reaches its full potential on the track and in the sales ring.
OUR SERVICES
