Walking and Talking With Karl Cook

WALKING AND TALKING!! After the @horsebytes barefoot podcast there were some misunderstandings some people had. Let me try to explain as this is such an important topic. #equestrian #showjumper #barefoothorse

In the world of show jumping, every detail matters! That includes keeping your equine athlete's hooves in top condition. Hoof oil isn't just for shine, it's a vital part of their well-being. Think of it like lotion for your nails. Hoof oil helps maintain moisture balance, preventing dryness and cracks that can lead to discomfort and even lameness. But hoof oil does more than hydrate! S...

WALKING AND TALKING!!! Let’s talk USET talent search. Properly executed they have an absolutely essential #missionstatement . Unfortunately comparing what the judging rewards to their mission statement you see and incredible chasm. We absolutely need an amazing young rider pipeline but I argue we need to focus way more on all the other skills a professional needs and focus last of all on #riding .

WALKING AND TALKING!!! Let’s answer some great #bit questions. After the bits series we got some great questions so let’s answer them as best I can. Thank you all for such great questions.

WALKING AND TALKING!!! FEI part 2!! If you liked part one, let’s keep going on part two. Let’s be clear here, we need the FEI but we also need them to be present and understanding so we can keep pushing horse sports to be as amazing as they can be.

WALKING AND TALKING!!! Alright y’all let’s talk about our international governing body the #fei part one. We need an effective governing body but not all of their attempts to regulate our sport make sense so let’s talk about some rules they should pass and why simple and objective to enforce rules are superior to big, nebulous, and subjective rules. #feijumping #showjumping #equestrian

WALKING AND TALKING!! Let’s talk about the #panamericangames  , it would be wrong to start this year without talking about the games last year. If you think you know what I’m going to say I promise you don’t. I know there will be some strong feelings so please listen to all I have to say first before commenting and always take my words in the context they were said in. I am far from a perfect pers...

WALKING AND TALKING!!! 2023 year end wrap up, let’s go!!! It’s been one hell of a year with a lot of great milestones and some tough setbacks I needed to have to learn from. Pomponio is the best team out there, thank you so much everyone I can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store!

Walking & Talking!! Is flatwork really all that important? I know the majority of people will have a gut reaction of ‘duh, are you stupid!’ Such a blanket assumption needs far more color so let’s dive in. I don’t really apologize ahead of time if this video forces a lot of self reflection about how you approach your relationship with your  #horse  . It's not just about the jumps, it's...

WALKING AND TALKING!!  #bits  seem to get all the limelight when talking about  #rideability , a close second is your seat and hands. I feel it is critically important  #reins  get their time in the sun. They are what connect your hands to the bit and changing your reins can drastically change your feel. Every detail always matters.

GRAND PRIX ROUND REVIEW! 🏆🐎 What a journey, and what an incredible event! A massive shoutout to my amazing Kalinka for being an absolute rockstar in every way! Immense gratitude to Major League Show Jumping for organizing this top-notch competition. The Coachella Cup Grand Prix was nothing short of spectacular, and I'm beyond honored to come out on top! Thank you to my incredible team at  @p...

WALKING AND TALKING!!! Holy moly #bit video #4 - Let’s fit and talk about some more common #bits. When I started this series I thought four videos would be enough, wow I was wrong. We are definitely doing another, there have been so many great comments and questions I did not address. Keep them coming if you want me to address them in my next video.

WALKING AND TALKING!! Bits series part three! Ok let’s go into the barn and fit some  #bits  and discuss how to fit them and how adjustments affect the use. Fitting bits is easy, making sure it is set correctly day in and day out takes attention to detail but is required for a chance at a good ride. If there are enough comments and things well do a follow up

Walking and Talking!! Why the ‘F*CK OFF?’ You all want to know what the significance is so here you go.

WALKING AND TALKING!! Bits series part two. Now that we’re all on the same page let’s talk about the various #bit varieties, what they look like, what they do, and how to leverage their strengths. If nothing else it is critical to understand the differences between the two different types of #bits. It’s always better to KNOW what you can do with a couple bits than to MISUNDERSTAND the enormous var...

Walking and Talking!! BITS BITS BITS!! #bits are one of the most misunderstood pieces of equipment in #riding . Like we did for turning we’re taking a deep dive over four parts so buckle up. Now I know a lot of you have some very strong opinions on this topic so take some deep breathes if I say something contradictory to your assumptions.

WALKING AND TALKING!!! Gold Cup round review! Miss Caracole is truly unbelievable in every way. The confidence she has in herself is staggering and inspiring. I have been doing a lot of homework and learning a lot about how to ride her better so let’s review and analyze together! @pomponioranch @americangoldcup @traversecityhorseshows @majorleagueshowjumping

WALKING AND TALKING!!! Round review! Let’s talk about Kalinka in the five star a few weeks back. She was spectacular in every way. Not maybe the normal way to approach a #jumpoff but it’s important nonetheless I think. Thank you everyone at Team @pomponioranch , this is all thanks you you guys.  @laphroaig 

Walking and Talking!! #coursebuilding part two! Course building does not always go well so let’s talk about what signs to look out for in a poorly built course and a bad course builder. PLEASE don’t try and name builders in the comments and let’s have a healthy conversation for the improvement of our sport.

Walking and Talking!!! Course building for equestrian #showjumping events part one! The importance and art of the course builder at #equestrian #showjumpingevents . You might not think too much about the builder when you’re showing but they are critical so let’s talk about it. The relationship of the course builder and the exhibitor is not an antagonistic one but a deeply integrated one where each...