One of the conversations I’ve had a lot lately is about breeding horses and understanding what kind of horse you’re really trying to create. I was talking with a longtime friend and clinic host recently about crossing more run back onto cow-bred horses, and it got me thinking about how important it is to have a plan when you’re breeding, buying, or training horses.

Everybody’s situation is different. Everybody’s goals are different. And because of that, there’s no one perfect cross or one perfect type of horse for everybody. But, I do think there’s a right horse for the right person.

The Balance Between Run and Mind

Now, this may not be a popular opinion with everybody, especially in speed events, but I think there are times where you can have too much speed and not enough mind.

Over the last four decades, I’ve ridden just about every kind there is—cow-bred horses, run-bred horses, run-on-cow crosses, run-on-run crosses, big strong broncy horses from back in the day, and everything in between. And the reality is, horses with a tremendous amount of run and ability can also be the most difficult horses for the average rider to manage.

That doesn’t mean they aren’t great horses. It just means they require a very high level of timing, feel, communication, and control.

Most of the challenges people bring to my clinics revolve around the exact same thing: controlling speed, controlling the horse’s mind, and controlling their feet once the speed increases.

That’s where the “mind” part becomes so important.

Why Crosses Matter

One thing I really like about crossing some run back onto cow-bred horses is that many times you get a horse with more feel. Those horses tend to recognize your body language and your signals a little sooner. They feel the “signal before the signal.”

When a horse can recognize the warning signs before the stop, the turn, or the rate, they can prepare their body better. They can stay more balanced, more collected, and more efficient with their movement.

And honestly, for a lot of riders, that makes the whole process more enjoyable.

I think sometimes we’ve bred so much speed into horses that we forget not everybody competing is trying to win the NFR average or compete at the absolute highest level. Most people want a horse that’s fun to ride, enjoyable to train, and versatile enough to go different directions.

That’s not lowering the standard. That’s being realistic about your goals and your market.

Build Horses That Fit Your Program

When I bought a set of young colts a couple years ago before Road to the Horse, I wasn’t just looking for raw speed or extreme athletic ability. I was looking for foundation, disposition, conformation, good feet, and good bone.

I wanted horses that could stay sound, stay versatile, and fit a variety of riders and disciplines down the road.

Now, do I think there are horses in that group that could potentially go on to be elite-level horses? Absolutely. But, I also understand how rare that level really is.

People see the top competitors in barrel racing or team roping and sometimes forget how small that percentage really is. Those elite riders and horses are incredibly special. Everything has to line up perfectly—talent, timing, training, mindset, soundness, opportunity—all of it.

That’s why I think it’s important to breed and buy horses with some versatility in mind.

If a horse doesn’t make it in one discipline, can they transition into another? Can they go from barrel racing to roping? From roping to ranch versatility? Can they still have value and purpose somewhere else?

That matters.

Don’t Breed One-Dimensional Horses

One thing I always encourage people to think about is avoiding becoming too one-dimensional with your horses.

Sometimes in the speed events especially, horses get pushed down one path so early and so aggressively that if things don’t work out, there’s nowhere else for them to go. And honestly, a lot of horses that come up for sale have a story behind them.

Sometimes they’re hard to manage.
Sometimes they’re difficult mentally.
Sometimes the speed and ability outweigh the rider’s ability to control it.

And once the fun disappears, people usually move on.

That’s why I always ask myself a simple question when I breed one:

Can multiple people in my family ride this horse someday?

Can my wife ride it?
Could my grandkids ride it years down the road?
Could it still be enjoyable and useful later in life?

Those are the kinds of horses I want around.

The Horse Industry Has Changed

The horse industry today is different than it was years ago. Horses are faster, more athletic, and more specialized than ever before. In a lot of ways, the rope horse futurities and barrel futurities have pushed the quality of horses and horsemanship to another level.

And honestly, I think that’s a good thing.

The best futurity trainers today are doing an outstanding job building foundations into these horses. They’re slowing things down, using sleds, slower cattle, and better progression systems to help horses understand body position, rate, balance, and timing before speed gets added.

That foundation is producing horses that are more consistent and more trainable long term.

Because at the end of the day, no matter how much run and ability a horse has, if we can’t communicate clearly and control the speed, it’s hard for that horse to stay confident and successful.

Breeding With Intention

I don’t think there’s one perfect formula when it comes to breeding horses. But I do think we need to be intentional.

Think about your goals.
Think about your target rider.
Think about your program.
Think about what kind of horse you actually enjoy riding.

Because the right horse for one person may be completely wrong for somebody else.

And the horses that last the longest—mentally, physically, and emotionally—are usually the ones that fit their rider, fit their job, and fit the process they’re being asked to do.

At the end of the day, that’s what breeding with the end goal in mind is really all about.

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