This week, I recorded the podcast from my son and daughter-in-law’s patio, watching horses graze and waiting for my granddaughter, Stevie, to wake up. It’s one of those mornings that reminds me how important it is to slow down and soak it all in. The world moves fast, but progress takes time. That’s what I want to talk about today: patience—in training, in competing, and in life.

It's Not Always Easy to Be Patient

We've had a wet spring here in Oklahoma, and like many of you, that’s put a kink in our plans. Hay’s hard to get up, schedules are shifted, and horses haven’t been worked as much as I’d like. It’s easy to feel behind. That feeling can eat at you, especially when you're growth-minded and results-driven. But I've learned that being impatient never gets me further ahead. In fact, it usually just sets me back.

Whether it’s with horses or with life, when you’re feeling overwhelmed, the best thing you can do is return to the basics. Trust the process. Let go of the need to get everything done in one day. The work you do get done will be better for it.

Progress Happens One Good Ride at a Time

During a recent conversation with a friend and fellow competitor, we talked about how a tough season can test your patience. But here’s the truth—your entire season can turn around with one good weekend. One good run. That’s the power of staying the course.

It's not about perfection; it's about making the most of the time and opportunities we do have. If I can only get a handful of horses worked in a day, I want to make sure those rides are focused, productive, and pressure-free. That only happens when I check my emotions and approach my day with patience and perspective.

Let the Run Come to You

In timed events, it can feel counterintuitive to slow down. But patience doesn’t mean dragging your feet—it means giving the run time to develop. It means not pressing for something that isn’t there. Letting the horse prepare. Letting the feel come together. Those little details are where confidence lives.

If I get in a hurry with my rope or my signals, the whole run can fall apart. But when I let the energy of the run build and support the horse through it, that’s when we start to see the kind of results we’re looking for.

Keep Showing Up

If you’re in a season where it feels like nothing’s going right, don’t give up. It’s always darkest before the dawn. Whether you're training young horses, hauling to competitions, or just trying to balance life and the barn—stay the course. Keep showing up with patience and consistency. That’s where real growth happens.

At the end of the day, the goal isn’t to get everything done. The goal is to be someone your horses want to be around. Someone your family enjoys being around. And if you do that consistently, I promise—the results will take care of themselves.