Be Your Best Horsemanship

Епизоде

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  Hidden Habits That May Create Anxiety or Resistance in Horses 15.09.2026 22мин

  This episode is inspired by a question from one of our loyal listeners and Be Your Best Membership members. Her question is: What’s something you see good riders doing that they don’t realize is actually creating anxiety or resistance in their horses?Tune in to hear my take on this question as I share some hidden habits that even the most skilled riders fall back on from time to time that can create undesirable responses from their horses.
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  Finding Joy in the Process 08.09.2026 36мин

  There are always going to be things we can’t control—the weather, our circumstances, or how quickly progress comes—but we can control how we approach them. In this episode, I talk about adjusting our training through the summer heat, the difference between happiness and joy, and why learning to enjoy the process matters both in horsemanship and in life. I also share some thoughts on gratitude, resilience, and making the most of the season you’re in.
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  Developing & Testing Your Horse's Mental Toughness 01.09.2026 37мин

  In this episode, I’m talking about what it takes to build both the mental and physical toughness needed to perform when the pressure is on. Tune in as I share how to prepare horses for the situations they’ll face in competition, how a horse's physical and mental performance are connected, and how repetition helps turn the right responses into habits. Whether we’re preparing ourselves or our horses, the more comfortable we can become in those game-time situations, the better prepared we’ll be to handle them when they count.
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  Adjusting Your Approach To Fit Your Horse 25.08.2026 43мин

  The better we become at reading the horse in front of us, the better we can apply what we know to help that horse succeed.In this episode, I’m sharing examples from some of the rope horses in our program and how the same training principles can require a different application from one horse to the next.Tune in as I talk through scoring, rate, positioning, stopping, release points, and using different disciplines to fill in the gaps—all while learning to adjust your approach to fit the individual horse.
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  Always in Growth Mode 19.08.2026 39мин

  If you want a result you aren't getting, you've got to be willing to do something you aren't doing. In this episode, I'm talking about what it means to stay in growth mode—from developing young horses and recognizing that each one is going to progress differently, to evaluating our own horsemanship and making changes when something isn't working. I also share a few takeaways from Atomic Habits about how our identity shapes our habits and why continued growth requires us to get outside our comfort zone and be willing to do things differently.
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  The Owner's Role in the Training Process 11.08.2026 27мин

  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.
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  Getting Ahead of Your Horse's Hydration with Dr. Jyme Nichols from Bluebonnet 05.08.2026 53мин

  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.
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  Adjusting Your Training Routine in the Summer Months 29.07.2026 31мин

  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.
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  Establishing The Essential Connection With Your Horse 21.07.2026 21мин

  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.
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  What You Repeat, You Become 15.07.2026 39мин

  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.
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  Why Great Preparation Always Wins 07.07.2026 32мин

  One thing I've learned over the years is that preparation has a way of showing up when it matters most. In this episode, I talk about preparing our horses by exposing them to new situations that build confidence instead of fear; preparing ourselves by learning from different trainers and developing a program that fits our horses and our goals; and preparing for the realities of competition, including less-than-ideal weather, ground conditions, and unexpected challenges. You can't control every situation you'll encounter, but you can control how prepared you are when it happens.
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  Determining Realistic Development Timelines for Performance Horses 30.06.2026 36мин

  Today's performance horses are more athletic and talented than ever before—but that also means it can take time for all those pieces to come together. In this episode, I talk about why you can't always judge a horse after a few rides, the importance of realistic development timelines, and why patience, consistency, and a long-term plan are essential to bringing out a horse's full potential.
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  How To Be Safe Around Reactive Horses 23.06.2026 38мин

  One thing about horses—they have a way of keeping you humble. In this episode, I'm sharing a recent buck-off experience that reminded me how quickly things can change when a horse has a reactive moment.After more than 40 years of riding and training horses, I can tell you this: experience doesn't make you immune to getting caught off guard. What it does is make you a better student of the lessons that come with it.Join me as I talk about the importance of preparation, awareness, and safety around reactive horses, along with what I learned from this experience and how it will influence my approach moving forward.
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  Staying Consistent with Your Training Program 17.06.2026 34мин

  One of the biggest challenges in horse training today isn’t a lack of information—it’s knowing how to apply it correctly. With podcasts, videos, clinics, and training advice coming from every direction, it’s easy to jump from one method to the next before giving any program enough time to work.In this episode, I talk about the importance of picking a program, understanding the purpose behind it, and staying consistent long enough to create real progression. Join me as I discuss why long-term success comes from committing to the fundamentals, evaluating progress over time, and trusting the process long enough to let both you and your horse improve together.
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  Managing Your Energy & Avoiding Burnout 09.06.2026 18мин

  In this episode, I share some thoughts on managing your energy and avoiding burnout—both mentally and physically. Tune in as I talk about the importance of staying fresh and sharp, creating routines that help you progress, and knowing when it's time to recharge your batteries. Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself and your horse is step back, freshen up, and come back with a better mindset. Remember, it's the little things you do on a consistent basis, over a long period of time, that make a big difference. Just focus on winning the day and being in a better position when it's over than when it started.
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  Riding One-Handed vs. Two-Handed 02.06.2026 29мин

  Most of us spend a lot of time riding our horses two-handed, especially when we're training, tuning, and helping them understand new concepts. But at some point, you've got to put one hand down and find out how much of that foundation is really there.In this episode, I talk about the benefits of riding both one-handed and two-handed, how each serves a different purpose in your training program, and why riding one-handed is one of the best ways to evaluate your communication, softness, and connection to your horse's mind and feet. I also share some simple exercises you can use to identify holes in your foundation, clean up your signals, and build a horse that stays between your hands and legs—even when the pressure gets turned up.
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  Breeding Horses With The End Goal In Mind 26.05.2026 29мин

  In this episode, I'm sharing my thought process behind breeding performance horses with a purpose and having the end goal in mind from the very beginning. From cow-run crosses to run-run crosses, I break down some of the strengths, challenges, and tendencies I’ve experienced with different types of horses and why not every cross fits every rider or discipline.Whether you’re raising rope horses, barrel horses, or all-around performance horses, having a plan matters. The better we understand the horse we’re trying to create, the better chance we have of setting them up for long-term success.
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  The Difference Between Riding and Training 20.05.2026 42мин

  There’s a big difference between riding horses and training them. In this episode, I break down the mindset, consistency, and intentionality required to move from just putting miles on a horse to actually helping them progress. Whether you’re starting colts, seasoning performance horses, or simply trying to become a better horseman, this episode will challenge you to think differently about the work you do every time you swing a leg over a horse.
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  Putting Your Horse Back Together During Competitive Seasons 12.05.2026 34мин

  As we get into the busy summer rodeo season, there comes a point where a lot of horses—and riders—need to be put back together a little bit. When you’re hauling hard, competing often, and asking your horse for everything they have every run, it’s easy for confidence, softness, and connection to start slipping.In this episode, I talk about recognizing when the wheels are starting to come off and how to go back to the foundation to restore your horse’s confidence and understanding. Tune in as I discuss reconnecting the horse’s mind, body, and feet, why slowing things down can actually move you forward faster, and how to help your horse get back to feeling relaxed, responsive, and confident in their job.
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  The Magic Recipe for Making a Great Horse 06.05.2026 36мин

  I think a lot of times, when people come to my clinics―or anyone else's clinics, for that matter―they expect to leave with a magic recipe on how to make a great horse. And, I always tell people: the magic is: there is no magic. There's a basic process of fundamentals, and there's the decision to commit to executing that process consistently over a period of time. Tune into this episode as I share a few stories from this week of training and how we are using our own 'magic' to take some horses from good to great.