Hey everybody, thanks for joining me for this week's episode of Be Your Best Horsemanship. I recorded this one from our training facility on a beautiful Tuesday morning, and with the 4th of July coming up, I couldn’t help but take some time to reflect on what that day really means to me.

Reflecting on True Independence

For a big part of my life, I’ll be honest, I took the 4th of July for granted. I saw it as a chance to go to some good rodeos, enjoy a few celebrations, and maybe take a day off. But the truth is, what happened on July 4th, 1776—when those men came together to sign the Declaration of Independence—that one act changed the course of history. And we’re all still benefitting from it today. We have opportunities and freedoms in this country that most people in the world could only dream of. And that got me thinking about freedom in other areas of life, too—like horsemanship.

The Freedom to Build Your Own Program

In the horsemanship journey, we’ve got the freedom to write our own script. We get to take the knowledge we’ve learned from others and apply it in a way that makes sense for our own program. That’s a big deal. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach in this line of work—or in life for that matter. Whether you’re training horses, running a business, or raising a family, we’re all building things a little differently. But the foundation—the fundamentals—that’s where the common ground is.

Learning from Every Horse

I had a coaching call this week with a good friend of mine up in North Dakota. We talked about two colts he’s working—one that had been handled from birth, and another that had spent its first year turned out in a pasture. Each one came with its own set of challenges, but both are teaching him something different. And that’s the thing about horsemanship—you’re always learning, always adjusting, and if you’re paying attention, those horses will teach you more than any book or clinic ever could.

The Power of Feel

One of the biggest lessons I keep coming back to is feel. Over the years, I’ve learned to separate feel, timing, and balance in a way I didn’t when I first started out. Your feel is what sets up your horse’s next thought. It’s not just about mechanics—it’s about communication. And when you’re consistent with your feel, your horse starts to trust you. That’s where the connection begins.

Being True to Your Own Program

Something else we talked about on that coaching call was the importance of being yourself. Don’t try to copy someone else’s program word for word. Take what works, apply it in a way that’s true to you, and build that relationship with your horse on your own terms. That’s the beauty of horsemanship—it’s not about being perfect, it’s about being real.

Lessons from the Saddle

Now I’ll admit, I had a little reminder of that lesson myself this week. I was working one of my geldings, a good one with a lot of ability, and I made the mistake of assuming he was good to go without checking in on his mindset first. Long story short, he let me know I needed to go back and do my job. A little groundwork, a little softening, and it was all fine. But that was on me. And I’m thankful for the reminder.

Keep Growing, Keep Going

That’s why I say this process never ends. You’re always learning, always growing. There is no destination. And just like with our horses, we’ve got to control our own thoughts too. When things aren’t going right, when you draw bad, when life just throws you a curveball—you’ve got to stop, reset, and remind yourself of the bigger picture.

So as you head into this busy week, whether you’re on the rodeo trail, spending time with your family, or just enjoying a little break, take a moment to count your blessings. Appreciate the moment. Enjoy the ride. Because this isn’t what we have to do—it’s what we get to do.

God bless, and as always—today and every day—let’s just be our best.