Be Your Best Horsemanship

You may not consider yourself a colt starter, but if you're breeding, raising, owning, or handling young horses, you're already influencing their training.Every interaction a horse has during their weanling and yearling years shapes the foundation they'll carry into training later in life. The habits we create and the responses we reinforce all have the potential to make the training process easier—or harder—down the road.In this episode, I'm sharing the three "C's" I consider non-negotiables when working with young horses and what to focus on from the earliest stages to help set them up for success throughout their training.

You may have heard the phrase, "soft hands create soft horses." In this episode, I'm sharing my perspective on this training philosophy and why focusing too much on being "soft" can sometimes create more confusion than confidence in your horse.Tune in as I break down what clear communication really looks like, how to make your signals easier for your horse to understand, and why clarity plays such an important role in building confidence.

In this episode, I'm joined by Shane and Allyson Eliason of Eliason Performance Horses in Snowville, Utah. As fifth-generation ranchers, Shane and Allyson run an impressive cattle and performance horse breeding operation in the high desert country of Utah, spanning tens of thousands of acres with 30+ broodmares and three stallions. Join us as we discuss how their program came together, the unique aspects of breeding and raising horses on the ranch, and how this foundation influences their horses' training and development. We also talk about the genetics and crosses behind their program, what they're looking for in the horses they're producing, and some of the things I've noticed in the horses I'm riding from their program today.

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.

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.