Be Your Best Horsemanship

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...

In this episode, I'm answering some questions about what really goes on during my horsemanship clinics. Tune in as I break down some of the key themes, training philosophies, and perspectives that trainers need to have to get the most out of the clinic experience.

There's a big opportunity I see coming in our industry, and that is the growing need for quality colt starters. As the number of registered horses continues to increase, the number of people with the time, experience, and feel to start them right is getting smaller. Join me as I break down my perspectives on this topic, including a recap our recent colt starting mentorship―the conversations, c...

This is a republish of one of our most listened-to episodes, focused on the misconception that multitasking leads to more productivity. This is a topic that I wanted to bring up again because, especially this time of year, the temptation to multitask grows even stronger. As we head into the busy spring and summer seasons, it’s easy to feel pulled in a lot of different directions. When we're bu...

In this episode, I'm joined by one of my long-time friends and fellow horsemen, Mark Upton, as we discuss the importance―and challenges―of staying true to the process, both in life and horsemanship. Mark shares his perspectives on balancing his passion for horsemanship with his corporate career at Central Life Sciences and how he finds time to make meaningful progress with his horses. Join us...

In this episode, I sit down with Merck Animal Health’s Dr. Chrissie Pariseau to discuss what we learned from last fall’s EHV-1 outbreak and how it reinforces the importance of maintaining regular vaccination and booster schedules. Dr. Pariseau breaks down common vaccine programs, including core and risk-based vaccines, along with best practices for foals, pregnant mares, and newly purchased horses...

When you’re roping on young horses, introducing the right fundamentals early is key to building confidence, consistency, and setting them up for long-term success. Tune into this episode as I get into the basics of starting rope horses and some of the things to watch for that early on that can create bad habits down the road. I also touch on the tie-down vs. no tie-down conversation and what to co...

In this episode, I talk about how every response we get from our horses comes back to us—our thoughts, our body position, and the signals we give. That's why it's so important for us to stay sharp and in-tune throughout the training process. When we lack awareness, it often creates anxiety and frustration for the horse. Issues people blame on the gate, the box, or the environment are usual...

In this episode, I talk about something many trainers struggle with—perfectionism. That drive for perfection can contribute to high performance, but if we’re not careful, it can also become a roadblock to our horses’ progression. Tune in as I share a conversation I had with my interns this week about managing perfectionistic expectations and how to stay focused on a progress-oriented mindset inste...

In this episode, I talk about something I’ve learned over decades of trial and error — you don’t always have to do it the hard way. I’ve spent a lifetime figuring things out the long way. My interns don’t have to. They’ve chosen to step into an environment where they can learn from the mistakes, adjustments, and experience that took me years to develop. That’s not weakness — that’s wisdom. No matt...

In this episode, I'm talking about what we’re doing to prepare our colts as they progress toward the next phase of their training―which, in this case, is the roping disciplines. The goal is to prepare them through solid foundational training and exposure to new obstacles in the roping pen, so when it’s time to add cattle, those colts are mentally ready. No matter the discipline, the process is...

I just returned from a clinic in Stephenville, Texas, with one of the most―if not the most―elite and diverse groups of trainers I've ever had at a single clinic. Regardless of the discipline these trainers specialized in, there was one piece of advice that resonated with everyone: work as hard on yourself as you do your horsemanship. Join me for this episode as I share more about this philosop...

In this episode, I talk about what I call separators —and why they matter if you want to keep progressing. A separator isn’t always about being better than someone else. A lot of times, it’s about separating yourself from the person you used to be. It’s the attitudes, habits, and effort you choose when things aren’t easy that create that separation. If you want to keep moving forward—no matter how...

In this episode, I talk about the relationship between a horse’s mind, body, and feet—and why understanding that order matters in training. Tune in as I explain why everything starts with the mind, how the body follows, and how real control of the feet comes from clear communication. When you understand how a horse thinks and how their mind connects to their body and movement, your training become...

In this episode, I talk about what actually creates softness and collection in a horse—and why the saying “soft hands create soft horses” doesn’t tell the whole story. Softness isn’t about avoiding pressure or having light hands; it’s about precision, clear signals, and consistent releases. I explain why horses don’t learn from pressure—they learn from the release—and how improving your timing and...