Every day leading up to Road to the Horse, I find myself thinking about preparation—not just the physical aspect of training, but the mental side of it, too. It’s easy to get caught up in the details, overthink things, or let doubt creep in. But at the end of the day, success starts in your own mind. You have to talk yourself into it.

The Power of Your Thoughts

When I watch past Road to the Horse competitions, I see both ends of the spectrum—some horses that are unbelievably willing and others where it’s a dogfight. Naturally, you hope you get the first scenario. But what if you don’t?

That’s where mental preparation comes in. It’s natural to have fear of failure, fear of embarrassment, or fear of the unknown—but the key is not letting those thoughts take control. I’ve learned that while you may not always control the first thought that enters your mind, you can absolutely control the second.

I’ve caught myself running scenarios in my head, thinking, “What if this goes wrong? What if I get a colt that’s tough?” But I have to stop and remind myself—what if everything goes right? What if I trust the process and let my preparation speak for itself?

Staying Present and Focused

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through this experience is how important it is to be fully present. When we simulate a Road to the Horse round here at my facility, it’s easy to dial in and shut everything else out. But in the competition, there are distractions—cameras, an audience, unexpected noises. I’ve watched footage where a cameraman is running up right next to a competitor and their colt with a giant lens, completely unaware of the effect that might have. That’s real-world pressure, and it’s something I have to be ready for.

Instead of letting those distractions rattle me, I have to embrace the challenge. I know there will be butterflies and adrenaline, but that’s part of the excitement. If I can turn that nervous energy into focus, then I’m setting myself up for success.

The Blessings in the Challenge

This journey has been one of the biggest blessings in my career. It’s forced me to reevaluate my own training program and take it to another level. It’s easy to fall into the routine of doing things the same way because they’ve worked in the past, but this experience has reminded me to stay intentional, stay sharp, and keep growing.

I’ve realized that I need to bring this level of focus into every training session, every horse, every ride. If I do that, it won’t just improve my performance at Road to the Horse—it’ll improve my entire program.

Don’t Talk Yourself Out of Success

One of my favorite reminders lately has been:

“Don’t talk yourself out of the destiny God has planned for you.”

It’s easy to overthink things, let doubt creep in, or convince yourself you’re not ready. But when you’ve put in the work, you have to trust yourself. I know I’ve worked hard. I know I’ll continue to work hard. And at the end of the day, my job is simple:

Be present. Trust my preparation. Listen to my horse. Do my job.

That’s true not just for Road to the Horse, but for any competition, any goal, any challenge in life. When the time comes to step into the round pen, I’ll be ready. I’ll shut the gate, take a deep breath, and go to work.

Because when you talk yourself into success, you give yourself the best chance to achieve it.