Today marks the beginning of another Mentorship Week here at our training facility in Weatherford, Oklahoma, and I couldn’t be more excited. These weeks are hands-down one of my favorite parts of what we do. With just four trainers in attendance, we’re able to keep the environment small, focused, and impactful—like a private clinic that blends horsemanship, personal growth, and business development.

Each person here has traded their time to invest in themselves and their horsemanship. And that’s what this week is really about: taking ownership of the process.

The Power of Small Groups and Focused Growth

Mentorships aren’t about flashy maneuvers or trying to impress anyone. It’s about digging into the real work—asking questions, evaluating where we’re at, and getting clear on how to move forward. Whether we’re working colts, talking through personal challenges, or building brand strategy, everything we cover this week is designed to help trainers leave here better than when they showed up.

I always remind our participants—and myself—that every single day is a chance to make a life-changing adjustment. Whether it's in the saddle, in your mindset, or in your business, the smallest improvement can have a ripple effect down the road. That’s what owning the process looks like.

Your Life Experience Is Your Competitive Advantage

Something I like to share early on in these mentorships is this: Nobody else has lived your life. The experiences that have shaped you—good and bad—are completely unique to you. That means you have something to offer that no one else does.

A lot of what I share with this group comes from hard lessons—challenges I’ve worked through, mistakes I’ve made, and things that didn’t go the way I planned. But those experiences are where the growth happens. They’re what taught me how to better understand the horse, how to improve my communication, and how to become more consistent in my training.

Horsemanship Starts with Mental Clarity

One of the first things we’ll talk about this week is simple, but foundational: clarity. When you step into the arena, what exactly are you asking for? How are you asking? And most importantly—where’s the release?

The release is what creates understanding. It’s what turns manipulation into communication. And if you’re not good at the release, the rest of it doesn’t really matter. That’s a lesson I’ve had to learn over and over. In fact, just last week, I caught myself getting frustrated with a colt. As soon as I realized it, I had to step back and own it. That frustration wasn’t on the horse—it was on me.

Consistency Builds Confidence

The truth is, horses reflect us. If we’re unclear or inconsistent, that’s going to show up in our horses’ responses. But if we bring clarity, patience, and consistency to every session, that confidence will grow on both sides.

Whether you’re working a green colt or riding a seasoned horse, the principles don’t change. It’s up to us to create the kind of environment where learning can happen—where the horse can think, not just react.

And that’s not just true in the arena. It applies to every area of our lives—our relationships, our finances, our mindset. Mentorship Week always circles back to this truth: when we get better, everything we touch gets better too.

Wrapping Up Day One: Progress Over Perfection

As we kick off this week, I’m reminded again why I love these mentorships. Watching someone step into ownership of their process—whether it’s in their riding, their personal development, or their business—is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

I’ll be back next week to share a recap and more of what we covered, but in the meantime, I hope this encourages you to think about how you can own your process this week. Ask the hard questions. Reflect on what’s working and what’s not. Make the changes that lead to better results down the road. And as always, today and every day, be your best.