When you take your horsemanship, personal development, and brand-building to the next level, it changes you. It’s changed me, and I can’t say enough about how transformative that journey can be.

I just wrapped up an awesome clinic in Lyons, Kansas, which was my fourth clinic of the month. It was a great group of folks and some really nice horses. Rhonda Beecher was the host, and she did a fantastic job. It’s always fun when you get a diverse group, both in age and experience. We had some new trainers, too, and it was great to see everyone progressing and having those “light bulb” moments.

Now, those light bulb moments are what it’s all about. Whether it’s in horsemanship or personal growth, sometimes you just have that split second where your perspective shifts, and everything changes. It can happen in an instant, and suddenly, you’re seeing things in a whole new light. That’s what we talked a lot about at the clinic—how those moments can transform both you and your horse.

For your horse to have a light bulb moment, you need to have one too. It’s all about making that connection, communicating in a way that your horse understands. When you feel that shift—when you see your horse start to understand what you’re asking—that’s when everything starts to click. That’s when you truly start to get on the same page with your horse.

I had a conversation last week with a breeder who was asking about working with weanlings and when to start. I always tell people the same thing: you can’t start too soon. You don’t have to be doing anything strenuous or aerobic, but start shaping that horse’s thought process. I’ve got a weanling myself out of one of our top mares, and even though she’s still just a baby, she’s halter broke, follows her nose, disengages her hindquarters, softens in the ribcage, and steps her shoulders through. She even stands tied up every morning with the mares, eating grain out of the bucket. They become what you develop them into, and that starts with the mind.

The same goes for when you’re working with an older horse. You control the body through the mind, and that’s why developing your horse’s thought process early on is so important. It’s all about giving them that opportunity to think, to figure things out, and to understand the pressure and the release.

One of the participants at the Lyons clinic was struggling with anxiety issues in her horse, especially in the alleyway. Just walking up the alleyway with no event going on was causing the horse to be anxious. By changing her approach and keeping her hand down, she helped her horse relax and gain confidence. At the end of the clinic, she came up to me, gave me a hug, and told me how excited she was that her horse didn’t take off like a rocket ship when they went through the alley. That’s the kind of moment that changes everything for a rider.

Sometimes, it’s hard to see that you need to make those changes when you’re right in the middle of a challenge. I’ve been there. Heck, just last week, Wade and I were roping and I wasn’t having a great practice. I think we ran seven or eight steers, and I only caught one clean, missed a few, and roped some legs. Wade told me, “I think you’re thinking too much.” He might have been right. But the next day, I refocused, went back to the basics, and worked on my position, swing, and follow-through. It’s all about the process. You have to trust the process.

I’ve been roping for a while, but I still have those days when I struggle. That’s just part of the journey. Whether you’re working with horses or trying to improve yourself in any area, you have to reinforce those foundational principles every day. It’s easy to get frustrated when things aren’t going well, but you have to remind yourself that the biggest challenges often come right before the next big progression.

For me, that meant going back to the fundamentals: position, swing, delivery, and follow-through. Those simple things made all the difference when I got back into the practice pen. It’s funny how sometimes you have to step back and refocus on the basics to move forward.

As I tell the folks at my clinics, it’s not about how quickly you can get results—it’s about trusting the process and staying consistent. You’re always going to face challenges, but those challenges are what lead to growth. And when you do overcome them, when you and your horse both have that light bulb moment, it’s one of the most rewarding experiences you can have.

So, whatever you’re doing this week, be sharp, stay focused, and enjoy the process. Challenges will come, but they’re just stepping stones to your next breakthrough. Keep working, keep growing, and keep showing up—both for yourself and for your horse. The results will come.