This morning, I got the neatest text from two good friends of mine, Kristy Thorson and Lisa Davis, who live in North Dakota and Montana, respectively. They sent me a picture of Lisa’s daughter with a dry erase board that had her “quote of the day” written on it — “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” And, she had my name and her mom’s name written next to it.

That quote is something I talk about in every clinic, and it’s because I believe this concept is essential to grasp if you are trying to progress in any area of life. Goals are important, but plans are what make them happen. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of setting goals without focusing on the plan that gets us there. And, I’ll be honest, it happens to all of us. It happens to me. You get so laser-focused on the goal that you forget about the daily plan that’s going to bring you there.

As I reflect on my own journey in horsemanship, I realize that this idea of setting goals and making plans has been crucial in helping me get to where I am today. I’ve been in this game for over four decades, and looking back, I see that my progress as a horseman didn’t happen by accident. It was the result of a lot of planning, a lot of effort, and a lot of staying committed to the process.

The Importance of a Plan

One thing I’ve learned is that a simple plan can make you crazy successful. And the best part is, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether it’s getting in better physical shape or training horses, it’s about taking the first step and sticking with it. Once you begin, the momentum takes over, and you finish what you started. That’s how a plan works: it’s simple, but it requires commitment to stick with it.

When it comes to training horses, this couldn’t be more true. Last week, I sat down with my assistant trainer, Brody, and we reviewed our current training plans. We have several two-year-olds in training right now, and we’ve been progressing them in the roping. As we move forward, we’ve got a detailed plan for how we’re going to continue to build their foundation and confidence in the roping. We know where we’re starting, and we know where we’re going, but we’ve got to take it step by step.

The Power of Consistency

The key here is consistency. Every day, we review what we did the day before and adjust accordingly. Training isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Every horse is different, and as trainers, we need to pay attention to what’s working and what’s not. If something’s working really well, we double down on it. If it’s not, we make adjustments. This is where a well-thought-out plan comes into play.

Just like in education, where a teacher’s plan for the day determines what gets covered in class, the plan you have for training a horse helps guide the work you do each day. Without a clear plan, you’re just guessing, and that’s not the way to get results. But when you have a plan, and you’re committed to it, you start seeing real progress.

Learning from Each Horse

Each horse you work with teaches you something new. That’s the beauty of horsemanship—it’s a continuous learning process. Some horses might have foundational weaknesses, others might have genetic traits that affect their behavior. Understanding whether it’s a weakness in your foundation or a natural trait of the horse is one of the key things I’ve learned over the years. It helps you decide how to approach the training.

For example, I had a customer recently with a 26-year-old horse that’s always had some quirky traits. This horse was a freak athlete, but from day one, it had some behaviors that were hard to deal with. Those weren’t foundation issues—they were genetic traits. And sometimes, the challenge is learning how to work with those traits rather than trying to “fix” them.

Training horses is about building a connection and understanding. A good horseman isn’t just following a set of steps—they’re connecting with the horse mentally, reading its body language, and finding ways to communicate. That’s what creates trust and respect, which in turn builds confidence.

The Plan for Road to the Horse

Right now, I’m in the middle of preparing for Road to the Horse, and let me tell you, the mental preparation is just as important as the physical. Going into an event like that, I’ve got a lot of different scenarios running through my mind, but at the end of the day, when I step into that round pen, I’ve got to be in the moment. I have to listen to the horse, read its body language, and make the right connections. If I’m not fully present, it’s going to be a long three days. But when I’m connected, when I’m flowing with the horse, that’s when everything falls into place.

This preparation isn’t just about getting through the event—it’s about improving my horsemanship. And that’s the thing about horsemanship: it’s never done. There’s always room for improvement, and the more you work with different horses, the more you grow as a trainer.

Simple Plans Lead to Big Results

Going back to the quote, “A goal without a plan is just a wish”—I can’t tell you how many times this concept has shown up in my own life. Whether it’s cleaning out the barn, preparing for a clinic, or training a horse, a goal is just an idea. It’s the plan that makes it happen. I’ve experienced this firsthand, especially when it comes to staying organized. This weekend, I tackled cleaning out the north side of my old saddle barn. I’ve been avoiding it for almost a year, and it felt overwhelming. But when I broke it down into small sections and had a plan for how to tackle it, I got it done. And you know what? It felt great to walk into that barn this morning, knowing that everything was organized and ready to go.

Daily Growth Through Planning

The big takeaway here is that every day is an opportunity to grow. Whether you’re training horses, working on your physical fitness, or improving yourself personally, the secret to success is simple: set your goal, create your plan, and then stick with it. It doesn’t have to be complicated—it just has to be consistent. And remember, not every horse is going to be perfect, and not every horse is going to fit perfectly into your program. But when you stick to your plan, and you stay focused on the process, you’ll see progress, and that’s what matters.

Thanks for reading, and I hope this serves as a reminder that the simple things, done consistently, lead to big results. Keep working hard, stay focused, and most importantly—enjoy the journey.