Harness Up! with Haste Draft Horses and Mules

Send us Fan Mail He grew up Old Order Amish with rules so tight they reached all the way down to orange triangles, borrowed phones, and even which animals you were allowed to own. Then Eli Yoder left at 18 believing he was headed for hell, not because he had a perfect plan, but because staying felt like it might destroy him. That tension between fear, freedom, and faith drives one of the most hone...

Send us Fan Mail You can learn more about a saddle in five minutes with a real saddle maker than in five hours of scrolling. Tonight we’re talking with Reed Veit of Reed Veit Saddlery in Roundup, Montana, a young craftsman building custom saddles and tack for horses and mules and doing it the hard way: one tree, one hide, one careful decision at a time. We get into what a saddle tree actually is,...

Send us Fan Mail A lot of people think mules are just “harder horses” until they’ve had one look them in the eye, decide you’re worth trusting, and then follow you like a shadow. That’s where this conversation goes with Jason and Alyssa from Mountain Built, the Idaho creators who turned filming mules, Mustangs, and the backcountry into a full-time YouTube living. We talk about how Mountain Built s...

Send us Fan Mail Eight seconds can hide a lifetime of work, and sometimes it hides an injury that could’ve ended everything. We’re joined by Brody Dent, an 18-year-old PRCA bareback rider from Bend, Oregon, to talk about what it really takes to chase a pro rodeo career when you didn’t grow up in a rodeo family and you’re learning fast on the road. Brody shares how he found mentors, why the rodeo c...

Send us Fan Mail Nevada ranching is not a postcard; it is wind, distance, rock, and hard decisions that most people never have to make. Tonight, we sit down with Cory from Roobuck Nevada, a day-working cowboy who hauls his own horses, takes short jobs wherever he is needed, and documents the real thing on YouTube without staging a single moment. We get into what separates a working horse from a pe...

Send us Fan Mail A reining run can look effortless until you realize what’s happening: a quarter horse moving at full speed, sliding to a stop, spinning with precision, and changing leads on a draped rein without the rider “holding” the horse together. That kind of softness at speed doesn’t come from tricks. It comes from training choices, timing, and a mindset that keeps the horse comfortable eno...

Send us Fan Mail A tough mare, a winter shock, and a door that opened at just the right time—this is how LC Horsemanship found its footing in the heart of Lexington. We sit down with LaRodre to trace his journey from Mississippi’s gaited culture and dirt-road Standardbred racing to the Thoroughbred capital, where attention to detail, patience, and timing rewired his approach to training and busine...

Send us Fan Mail Real power doesn’t need glitter. We sit down with Travis and Ashley from southern Illinois to trace a bold move: importing a French Percheron stallion to bring back the old-style draft—shorter, heavier, smarter, and sound from hoof to head. What starts as a love story with a rock-solid mare becomes a cross-Atlantic quest for bone, brains, and better feet. Walk through their two-we...

Send us Fan Mail What if logging didn’t churn ruts and diesel smoke, but moved to the rhythm of hooves and a steady voice on the lines? We sit down on the porch with John from Down The Trail Logging, a one-man operation powered by two American Brabant horses, to unpack how low-impact forestry works when you swap a skidder for a team. From the first used harness found on Facebook to moving real boa...

Send us Fan Mail Step into a weekend where wagon wheels still sing and history breathes. We sit down with Terry from Thermopolis, Wyoming, to unveil Trailblazer Days—a living celebration built around 16 Mule Johnson, the freighter who helped shape the town’s famously wide streets. From the first note of a Dave Stamey concert to the last waltz at a dessert dance, this is a full-scale revival of Wes...

Send us Fan Mail The reins pass from snowless sleigh rides in Colorado to wall tents in Utah’s high country, then straight onto a movie set where a good team might wait hours to hear “action.” We sit down with outfitter and wrangler Randy Melton of Flying J Outfitters to unpack what it really takes to build mule teams that outwork draft horses in the mountains and stay rock-steady under the lights...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to ride from Utah to the Atlantic Ocean and back on two Mustangs—and finish with zero lameness? We sit down with Jake of Year of the Mustang for a raw, practical, and heartening look at a 6,000-mile journey powered by faith, preparation, and the sheer grit of two remarkable geldings. From setting a departure date years in advance to trimming pack weight down to t...

Send us Fan Mail When cowboys from Canadian, Texas meet Kentucky horse traders, cultural collision and non-stop laughter ensue in this uniquely entertaining episode of the Harness Up Podcast. Host Steven Haste welcomes Tanner Johnson, Flint, and their companions, who've traveled east to purchase draft horse teams, marking their first journey into Kentucky's unfamiliar, tree-covered lands...

Send us Fan Mail Missed us on the road? We’re back with a truckload of stories from 37 states, a wagon train that rolled through Victor’s farm, and a blueprint for a bigger, better year ahead. Between campfire hymns, bluegrass jam sessions, and a few hair-raising roadside lessons, we break down what it takes to keep draft horses and mules steady, safe, and sound when the miles stack up. We swap hi...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when curiosity leads you away from one of America's most restrictive religious communities? When Stephen Haste sits down with Enus Raber (known online as "The Amish Rebel"), we're treated to a fascinating glimpse into a journey few experience: leaving the ultra-conservative Schwarzentruber Amish at age 19 and building a new life in the modern world...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered why anyone would choose Texas Longhorns over standard black cattle? Darrell Dickinson, the "Longhorn Legend" himself, reveals how these iconic animals have built his multimillion-dollar empire through unexpected revenue streams that most cattle producers never consider. At 83 years young, Darrell has transformed his Barnesville, Ohio, ranch into an internat...

Send us Fan Mail A garden plow turns terrifying in an instant when the earth suddenly opens beneath a team of draft horses in Bedford, Virginia. Hugh Saunders recounts the heart-stopping moment when his beloved Shire horses plunged twelve feet underground through what would later be discovered as a collapsed 116-year-old terracotta pipe. The rescue operation mobilized the entire community – two ba...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered what it would be like to experience one of America's most pivotal battles the way soldiers did in 1863? Step into the hoofprints of history with Horse Tours of Gettysburg, a family-owned business bringing the Civil War battlefield to life through carriage rides and guided horseback tours. Doug Stevens, a veteran who served six deployments between Afghanistan and...

Send us Fan Mail Step into the world of working animals with this Fourth of July conversation between Stephen Haste and Andrew, a longtime community member from the east end of Long Island. Against the backdrop of Independence Day preparations, these two passionate "mule men" share stories that reveal why these remarkable animals continue to capture hearts across America. Andrew brings a...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a law enforcement officer and his teenage son discover the world of draft horses? In this heartwarming episode, we're joined by Chris Holley and "Little Chris" from North Carolina as they share their remarkable journey from complete novices to confident teamsters. Chris, who serves with the Gaston County Sheriff's Office, had never handled dra...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Victor, a 16-year-old agricultural entrepreneur who's defying odds and building a farming legacy from the ground up. In this heartwarming conversation, we explore how a young man with determination and community support is carving his path in an industry often dominated by corporations and aging farmers. Victor shares his remarkable journey from joining FFA (Future Farme...

Send us Fan Mail A childhood dream sparked by watching Bonanza, a revolutionary trap design born from wilderness frustration, and a century-old wagon connecting five generations—Kim Harris's story weaves together the threads of innovation, perseverance, and honoring heritage in ways that both surprise and inspire. From the high plains of Conrad, Montana, Kim shares his journey from custom swa...

Send us Fan Mail Embark on an unforgettable journey to the sunny South with me, Steven Haste, as we saddle up with Life with QuanK and Tay from the Top of the Line Horse Club. Experience the thrill of transitioning from traditional walking and saddle horses to the sleek and speedy standardbred and American saddlebred mixes. Feel the adrenaline of "King of the Road" racing events and disc...

Send us Fan Mail Harness Up with Haste dives into the journey of returning home, bridging the gap between personal and equine experiences. This episode focuses on the importance of training, community engagement, reflections on horsemanship, and the new adventures ahead for Dwayne Noel.  • Dewayne shares his journey back to Kentucky and its significance  • Challenges faced as a horseman in Wyoming...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how a small-town passion for horses turns into a legendary Kentucky Derby win? Join us for an intriguing conversation with Herbert "Herbie" Reed, father of Eric Reed, the trainer of Rich Strike, the stunning 148th Kentucky Derby champion. Herbie shares heartwarming and humorous tales from the Reed family history, painting a vivid picture of Eric's earl...