Be Your Best Horsemanship

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.

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 matter what you’re trying to get better at, look for ways to shorten your learning curve. Use the resources available to you. Seek out people who are where you want to be. Ask questions. Commit. Put yourself in the room.
Progress doesn’t happen by accident. You have to create opportunities for yourself. And sometimes the smartest thing you can do is decide you’re done trying to figure it all out alone.
If you’re serious about improving your horsemanship — or any skill — this one’s for you.

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 the same: strengthen the foundation, prepare their mind, and let consistent repetition build the confidence they’ll need for the next phase.

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 philosophy and how I've seen this become a life-changing concept in more than one person's life―including my own.