Be Your Best Horsemanship

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 as we chat about our individual processes for progressing a horse from foundation to finish and some of the key parts of our training process that make all the difference.

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. We also discuss the importance of minimizing the spread of infectious diseases and maintaining strong biosecurity—both at home and on the road—especially for training facilities with horses coming and going regularly. This is a must-listen heading into the spring season, when increased hauling and exposure can elevate disease risk.

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 consider when integrating this tool into your training routine.

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 usually not about the obstacle itself—it’s the discomfort the horse associates with what happens after they’re there. Whether it’s helping your horse get into the right body position or recognizing when something physical might be bothering them, awareness matters. If you learn to listen, your horse will tell you exactly how good of a job you’re doing.

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 instead of getting stuck chasing perfect outcomes.