Yesterday was one of those days where I didn’t get much done besides watching the Cowboy Channel. I’d had a little procedure done and was still a bit foggy from sedation, so I camped out on the couch and pulled up the slack from the Pendleton Roundup. And let me tell you—watching those runs reminded me of just how important balance, body position, and self-awareness are in horsemanship.

What Pendleton Teaches Us About Balance

Pendleton is unique because it’s run on grass, not dirt. That surface is slick and unforgiving. If your horse is out of balance or dropping into a turn, the ground will expose it. But watching those top competitors, you’d never know the difference. Their horses stayed square, balanced on all four feet, and confident in their cues. That kind of performance doesn’t just happen—it comes from years of intentional training, awareness, and consistency.

I thought back to my own experience doctoring cattle in wheat pastures years ago. Riding on grass teaches you fast that you can’t let a horse dive into a turn or lose their frame. They have to stay stood up, using their whole body to stay balanced. Pendleton was a great reminder of that truth.

Awareness in the Rider Creates Confidence in the Horse

Something else stood out to me: the awareness of the riders. Whether it was team roping, calf roping, breakaway, or barrel racing, the competitors who looked solid on the grass were the ones who rode with precision. They stayed present with their horses, gave clear signals, and avoided putting their horses in positions that forced them to get defensive.

That rider awareness directly translates into horse confidence. If you’ve ever had a horse that braces against you, you know what I mean. When cues are inconsistent or late, the horse stiffens and gets defensive. But when cues are clear, timely, and supported by your body before your hands, the horse stays soft and thinking—even in tough conditions.

Reinforcing the Basics

This week, I had a couple of private clinics where these same principles came into play. We worked on using tools like the Pro Cutter flag to practice timing, rate, and turn. The flag helps riders connect the change in their body to the change they want from the horse—reinforcing the idea that the first signal comes from you, not your hands.

Pretty good isn’t good enough in horsemanship. Success comes from the relentless execution of the basics: feel, timing, balance, and consistency. Whether you’re riding in Pendleton, a local jackpot, or your home arena, those basics determine how well your horse can perform.

The Takeaway

Watching Pendleton reminded me that the best runs don’t come from flashy shortcuts. They come from preparation, awareness, and confidence—both in the rider and the horse. No matter where you’re at in your journey, challenge yourself to be sharper, more consistent, and more present in the saddle. Because when the ground gets slick—literally or figuratively—that’s when the quality of your horsemanship really shows.