Hey everybody, thanks for joining me for this week's episode of Be Your Best Horsemanship. I’m coming to you from our training facility here in Weatherford, OK, on a beautiful Tuesday morning. There’s a lot to go over this week, and I want to dive into a really important topic—controlling your horse’s ribcage—but before I do, I want to take a moment to reflect on what’s been happening here at the ranch.

Lessons from the Mentorship Week

Last week, we wrapped up another Colt Starting Mentorship Week, and I’ll tell you what—it was one of the best yet. The mentorships are unique because we keep them small and personal, which allows for a lot of one-on-one interaction. I always tell the trainers that by the end of the week, we’ll feel like family, and that’s exactly how it plays out every time.

One of the things that made last week so great was the diversity of colts we worked with. Some had never had a halter on, some had been worked once, and others had a bit more handling but had been turned out for a while. That kind of variety creates an incredible learning environment. Each colt presents a different challenge, and it forces the trainers to think, adapt, and refine their approach.

At the start of the week, there was some anxiety—and that’s normal. Anytime you put yourself in a position to learn, grow, and push past your comfort zone, you’re going to feel a little unsure. But by the time Friday rolled around, the difference in confidence, leadership, and skill level was incredible.

I always remind the trainers that the simple act of committing to something like this is life-changing. It’s not just about horsemanship—it’s about believing in yourself enough to invest in your own growth.

By Thursday, they were putting on their own clinic. I sat back and watched as they worked colts, using helper horses, handling early rides, and setting those young horses up for success. It was a proud moment for me, but more importantly, it was a proud moment for them—because that confidence wasn’t given to them, they earned it.

Why the Ribcage Matters

Now, let’s talk about controlling your horse’s ribcage—because this is something that makes a huge difference in performance, no matter the discipline.

A good friend of mine, a younger trainer, recently sent me a video of a barrel run she was struggling with. Her horse was getting stiff going to the left, and as soon as she picked up on the rein, the horse’s head tipped the other direction, elevating instead of staying round.

This is a classic case of a horse getting stuck in the ribcage.

The Connection Between the Ribcage and Movement

Anytime a horse stiffens up one direction, there’s a high probability they are bilaterally stiff, meaning they aren’t soft in their ribcage on either side. When that happens:

Instead of rounding and shaping into the turn, the horse’s head elevates, the ribcage pushes out, and the front end gets heavy.
The horse is physically unable to move fluidly through the turn because its body is resisting itself.
Riders often try to fix the head position first, but the problem starts in the ribcage.

This applies to every discipline—whether it’s barrel racing, reining, cow horse, or roping. If you don’t have softness in the ribcage, you can’t get:

A deep, balanced stop
Rate and control in speed transitions
A smooth, efficient turn

How to Fix It

I told this trainer to come by the ranch this week so I could see and feel what’s going on. Watching a video is helpful, but there’s nothing like feeling it for yourself.

But in general, here’s what I’d suggest:

Slow Your Hands Down – When you start anticipating the turn and picking up on the rein too soon, you can create stiffness. You have to build confidence in your horse so they don’t brace against the pressure.
Go Back to Lateral Softness – Work on simple lateral flexion exercises at the walk and trot. Your horse should soften at the ribcage before you ask for a turn.
Break the Habit in a Controlled Setting – Before trying to fix it at a high-speed run, work on it in a controlled, low-pressure environment. If your horse isn’t soft in the ribcage at a slow lope, they won’t be at full speed either.

Every Horse Needs This, Even the Broke Ones

I’ve been riding Belle, my helper horse for Road to the Horse, working on sharpening her up for the event. She’s one of my better horses, but even with her, I’ve noticed something—if my hands get too quick, she gets defensive.

When I slow my hands down and give her time to feel what’s coming, she’s soft, willing, and smooth. That’s something I remind myself of all the time—it’s not just the young horses that need these reminders, it’s every horse, every ride.

The Mental Side of Training

There’s a lesson in this beyond just training mechanics—it’s about trusting the process and being patient with yourself. When a rider loses confidence in a turn, they start helping too soon. They anticipate, get quicker with their hands, and before you know it, they’re overcorrecting and making the problem worse.

The same thing happens in life.

When we doubt ourselves, we start overthinking, overreacting, and getting frustrated. Instead of letting things flow, we force it—and that’s when things fall apart. But when we trust the process, stay patient, and focus on the foundation, everything starts to fall into place naturally.

Final Thoughts

If you want:

A horse that stops well
A horse that rates and turns smoothly
A horse that stays soft and balanced at any speed

…then you better be focusing on their ribcage.

Just like we saw last week at the mentorship, success comes from:

Staying committed to the process
Being patient with yourself and your horse
Taking small steps that lead to big improvements

If you focus on softening your horse in the ribcage, you’re going to see a huge difference in control, confidence, and overall performance. Until next time—stay mindful, trust the process, and keep working to be 1% better every day.