Be Your Best Horsemanship

One of the biggest challenges in starting young horses is when their physical development gets ahead of their mental development. That's why I believe some of the most valuable training we can do happens long before a horse's first ride. In this episode, I'm sharing some takeaways from our recent Colt Starting Mentorship and why I put so much emphasis on working with weanlings and year...

You may not consider yourself a colt starter, but if you're breeding, raising, owning, or handling young horses, you're already influencing their training. Every interaction a horse has during their weanling and yearling years shapes the foundation they'll carry into training later in life. The habits we create and the responses we reinforce all have the potential to make the training...

You may have heard the phrase, "soft hands create soft horses." In this episode, I'm sharing my perspective on this training philosophy and why focusing too much on being "soft" can sometimes create more confusion than confidence in your horse. Tune in as I break down what clear communication really looks like, how to make your signals easier for your horse to understand, a...

In this episode, I'm joined by Shane and Allyson Eliason of Eliason Performance Horses in Snowville, Utah. As fifth-generation ranchers, Shane and Allyson run an impressive cattle and performance horse breeding operation in the high desert country of Utah, spanning tens of thousands of acres with 30+ broodmares and three stallions. Join us as we discuss how their program came together, the uni...

This episode is inspired by a question from one of our loyal listeners and Be Your Best Membership members. Her question is: What’s something you see good riders doing that they don’t realize is actually creating anxiety or resistance in their horses? Tune in to hear my take on this question as I share some hidden habits that even the most skilled riders fall back on from time to time that can cre...

There are always going to be things we can’t control—the weather, our circumstances, or how quickly progress comes—but we can control how we approach them. In this episode, I talk about adjusting our training through the summer heat, the difference between happiness and joy, and why learning to enjoy the process matters both in horsemanship and in life. I also share some thoughts on gratitude, res...

In this episode, I’m talking about what it takes to build both the mental and physical toughness needed to perform when the pressure is on. Tune in as I share how to prepare horses for the situations they’ll face in competition, how a horse's physical and mental performance are connected, and how repetition helps turn the right responses into habits. Whether we’re preparing ourselves or our ho...

The better we become at reading the horse in front of us, the better we can apply what we know to help that horse succeed. In this episode, I’m sharing examples from some of the rope horses in our program and how the same training principles can require a different application from one horse to the next. Tune in as I talk through scoring, rate, positioning, stopping, release points, and using diff...

If you want a result you aren't getting, you've got to be willing to do something you aren't doing. In this episode, I'm talking about what it means to stay in growth mode—from developing young horses and recognizing that each one is going to progress differently, to evaluating our own horsemanship and making changes when something isn't working. I also share a few takeaways fr...

As an owner, your role in your horse’s training process starts long before you ever drop them off at the trainer’s barn. In this episode, I talk about how the handling and preparation we put into our young horses as weanlings and yearlings can make a huge difference when it comes time to start them as two- and three-year-olds. I also share why good communication between the owner and trainer matte...

The summer season puts a different level of stress on your horses. When you are in the 'heat' of training and competition, maintaining adequate hydration is key to proactively preventing physical issues, as well as boosting overall health and performance in your horses. Join me as I sit down with equine nutrition expert, Dr. Jyme Nichols from Bluebonnet, as she shares tips for getting ahea...

Every season requires something different from both you and your horse. In the summer months, heat, humidity, and longer days can take a physical and mental toll, which means your training program has to adapt. In this episode, I talk about why listening to your horse is more important than sticking to a rigid schedule, how to recognize when physical fatigue is turning into mental defensiveness, a...

When it comes to horsemanship, connection is key. Establishing that initial connection with your horse is what opens the door to creating trust, confidence, and control—especially at faster speeds. Tune into this episode as I break down the differences between physical manipulation and mental connection and share how to get that essential connection established with your horse.

This episode is all about habits―developing the routines, mindset, and systems to be your best everyday. Join me as I share some of my favorite takeaways from James Clear's book, Atomic Habits, and how these philosophies carry over into the horsemanship journey.

One thing I've learned over the years is that preparation has a way of showing up when it matters most. In this episode, I talk about preparing our horses by exposing them to new situations that build confidence instead of fear; preparing ourselves by learning from different trainers and developing a program that fits our horses and our goals; and preparing for the realities of competition, in...

Today's performance horses are more athletic and talented than ever before—but that also means it can take time for all those pieces to come together. In this episode, I talk about why you can't always judge a horse after a few rides, the importance of realistic development timelines, and why patience, consistency, and a long-term plan are essential to bringing out a horse's full poten...

One thing about horses—they have a way of keeping you humble. In this episode, I'm sharing a recent buck-off experience that reminded me how quickly things can change when a horse has a reactive moment. After more than 40 years of riding and training horses, I can tell you this: experience doesn't make you immune to getting caught off guard. What it does is make you a better student of the...

One of the biggest challenges in horse training today isn’t a lack of information—it’s knowing how to apply it correctly. With podcasts, videos, clinics, and training advice coming from every direction, it’s easy to jump from one method to the next before giving any program enough time to work. In this episode, I talk about the importance of picking a program, understanding the purpose behind it,...

In this episode, I share some thoughts on managing your energy and avoiding burnout—both mentally and physically. Tune in as I talk about the importance of staying fresh and sharp, creating routines that help you progress, and knowing when it's time to recharge your batteries. Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself and your horse is step back, freshen up, and come back with a better mind...

Most of us spend a lot of time riding our horses two-handed, especially when we're training, tuning, and helping them understand new concepts. But at some point, you've got to put one hand down and find out how much of that foundation is really there. In this episode, I talk about the benefits of riding both one-handed and two-handed, how each serves a different purpose in your training pr...

In this episode, I'm sharing my thought process behind breeding performance horses with a purpose and having the end goal in mind from the very beginning. From cow-run crosses to run-run crosses, I break down some of the strengths, challenges, and tendencies I’ve experienced with different types of horses and why not every cross fits every rider or discipline. Whether you’re raising rope horses, b...

There’s a big difference between riding horses and training them. In this episode, I break down the mindset, consistency, and intentionality required to move from just putting miles on a horse to actually helping them progress. Whether you’re starting colts, seasoning performance horses, or simply trying to become a better horseman, this episode will challenge you to think differently about the wo...

As we get into the busy summer rodeo season, there comes a point where a lot of horses—and riders—need to be put back together a little bit. When you’re hauling hard, competing often, and asking your horse for everything they have every run, it’s easy for confidence, softness, and connection to start slipping. In this episode, I talk about recognizing when the wheels are starting to come off and h...

I think a lot of times, when people come to my clinics―or anyone else's clinics, for that matter―they expect to leave with a magic recipe on how to make a great horse. And, I always tell people: the magic is: there is no magic. There's a basic process of fundamentals, and there's the decision to commit to executing that process consistently over a period of time. Tune into this episode...

In this episode of Be Your Best Horsemanship , I talk about what it really means to be a winner—not just in the arena, but in life. Every day, we’re faced with challenges, distractions, and situations that don’t go as planned, and how you respond to those moments is what ultimately defines you. Tune in as I share some thoughts on staying consistent in your training, getting comfortable being uncom...