Be Your Best Horsemanship

As an owner, your role in your horse’s training process starts long before you ever drop them off at the trainer’s barn. In this episode, I talk about how the handling and preparation we put into our young horses as weanlings and yearlings can make a huge difference when it comes time to start them as two- and three-year-olds. I also share why good communication between the owner and trainer matters, from being clear about your goals for that horse to setting realistic expectations for what can be accomplished within a training program.

The summer season puts a different level of stress on your horses. When you are in the 'heat' of training and competition, maintaining adequate hydration is key to proactively preventing physical issues, as well as boosting overall health and performance in your horses. Join me as I sit down with equine nutrition expert, Dr. Jyme Nichols from Bluebonnet, as she shares tips for getting ahead of your horse's hydration program, making seasonal adjustments to feeding and forage, and implementing best practices for maintaining equine health in warmer months.

Every season requires something different from both you and your horse. In the summer months, heat, humidity, and longer days can take a physical and mental toll, which means your training program has to adapt. In this episode, I talk about why listening to your horse is more important than sticking to a rigid schedule, how to recognize when physical fatigue is turning into mental defensiveness, and why it's important to prioritize building trust and confidence over simply adding more repetitions when you're training in extreme heat and challenging conditions.

When it comes to horsemanship, connection is key. Establishing that initial connection with your horse is what opens the door to creating trust, confidence, and control—especially at faster speeds. Tune into this episode as I break down the differences between physical manipulation and mental connection and share how to get that essential connection established with your horse.

This episode is all about habits―developing the routines, mindset, and systems to be your best everyday. Join me as I share some of my favorite takeaways from James Clear's book, Atomic Habits, and how these philosophies carry over into the horsemanship journey.