Western Foundations with Amber

09/01/2026

Post-lesson yawns with McCree. 🤎

Pretty sure he was just as happy with that ride as she was. 😂🐴

Good rides, great horses, happy riders. That’s what it’s all about. 🤠

08/29/2026

Some great info & a great series to follow for anyone interested in showing the ranch classes!

🚨 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚑 𝙷𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚎 𝚂𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚂𝚞𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚕 𝙺𝚒𝚝 🚨
(Buckle up, it’s a long one!)

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟑: 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐄𝐭𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞: 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐁𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫
✨Before we talk about surviving the traffic, let’s talk about what Working Western Rail is actually supposed to showcase.

🐴 𝙒𝙃𝘼𝙏’𝙎 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙋𝙐𝙍𝙋𝙊𝙎𝙀 𝙊𝙁 𝙒𝙊𝙍𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙒𝙀𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙉 𝙍𝘼𝙄𝙇?
Working Western Rail isn’t just a western pleasure class at ranch-horse speed — and it isn’t a race around the arena either.
The class is designed to showcase a 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡-𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚, 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡, 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙-𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚 through the different gaits you would expect from a working western horse.

We’re looking for a horse that is:

• F𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 without looking hurried
• 𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 at each gait
• 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧 with smooth, prompt transitions
• 𝘼𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚 when asked without simply getting faster
• 𝙎𝙤𝙛𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 while maintaining a natural ranch-horse frame
• 𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡 without looking overly restricted or manufactured
• 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 throughout the class

The ideal picture is a horse that looks like you could 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙤 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙮’𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙩 — one that willingly travels forward, covers ground efficiently and remains responsive when you ask it to change gears.

And that’s exactly why rail etiquette matters.

You can’t show your horse’s best extended trot if you’re six inches from someone’s tail. You can’t demonstrate a smooth downward transition if you’re constantly slamming on the brakes because you ran out of room.

Part of showing Working Western Rail well is learning how to 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘 𝙨𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚.

Now… let’s talk about how to do that without becoming 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓. 😅

🐴 𝟏. 𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃.

You do not need to ride directly behind the horse in front of you.

Give yourself enough room that you can:

• Make your transitions when they’re called
• Show an actual extension
• Come back down smoothly
• Avoid constantly checking your horse because you’re running up on someone

If you find yourself staring at the tail in front of you for half the class, you probably needed to create space earlier.

↔️ 𝟐. 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍.

Passing is completely normal in a ranch rail class.

Running up behind someone, slamming on the brakes, diving sideways and then trying to pass? Not so pretty.

If you’re gaining on another horse, 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮. Move off the rail smoothly, pass with adequate clearance, and return to the rail (or stay in your lane - more on that in a second!) when you have enough room.

𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚! If you’re coming up on someone’s inside in a tight arena, especially at the lope, a quick “inside!” or “coming inside!” lets that rider know you’re there.

They may not be able to see you, and nobody wins when two horses unexpectedly end up trying to occupy the same piece of dirt.

You also don’t have to immediately dive back onto the rail after you pass. Establish your space first, then move back over when it’s safe and appropriate.

🛣️ 𝟑. 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐘 𝐈𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐄.

This is a BIG one.
✨ 𝙋𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙩 — 𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙨.
If you’re riding the rail, ride the rail. If you’re one horse-width off the rail, maintain that line.
Don’t gradually drift from the rail toward the center and then back again while another rider is trying to figure out which side of you is safe to pass.
Think of the long sides as your straightaways. Once you’re on them, hold your line and be predictable.
Need to change where you are in the arena?

✨ 𝙐𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨.

That’s your opportunity to move deeper into the arena, get back toward the rail, create more space or reposition yourself for the next long side.

Good traffic management should look almost invisible.

🚫 𝟒. 𝐃𝐎𝐍’𝐓 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐊 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐈𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐎𝐔.

If another horse is clearly coming around you, maintain your line and pace.
Don’t suddenly drift out three horse-widths because you’re trying to find your own space.
‼️Predictable riders make the entire class safer.

🏃 𝟓. 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐓 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄.

The goal isn’t to see who can get around the arena fastest.
An extended trot or lope should show a 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.
If you’re passing six horses, losing your steering and praying you make the corner… you may have gone past “extension.” 😂

👀 𝟔. 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐔𝐏. 𝐖𝐀𝐘 𝐔𝐏.

Your horse isn’t the only thing you should be paying attention to.

Know:

• Who is ahead of you
• Who is coming up behind you
• Where the open spaces are
• Where you want to be when the next transition is called

Good ranch rail riders are constantly planning 𝙨𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙.

🎯 𝟕. 𝐃𝐎𝐍’𝐓 𝐒𝐀𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐔𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐘 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐋.

The rail is not magnetic.
If the gait is called and the horse in front of you isn’t transitioning yet, you don’t have to pile into them.

𝙈𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧. 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚. 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚.

Judges need to see your transitions, extensions and quality of movement — give them the opportunity to do that.

🤝𝟖. 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑: 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄.

Sometimes the best etiquette is the simplest.

Don’t cut someone off.
Don’t crowd them unnecessarily.
Don’t make another rider’s maneuver harder just to improve your own position.

You can ride competitively and courteously at the same time.

⸻

⭐ 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋 𝐊𝐈𝐓 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘:

A great ranch rail ride isn’t just about having a good-moving horse.

It’s about 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.

Create your space.
Pick your lane.
Look ahead.
Communicate.
Make decisions early.

And for the sanity of anxious trainers watching their non-pros show:
𝙋𝙇𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙀 𝙎𝙏𝙊𝙋 𝙍𝙄𝘿𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙎𝙄𝙓 𝙄𝙉𝘾𝙃𝙀𝙎 𝘽𝙀𝙃𝙄𝙉𝘿 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙃𝙊𝙍𝙎𝙀 𝙄𝙉 𝙁𝙍𝙊𝙉𝙏 𝙊𝙁 𝙔𝙊𝙐. 😂

We shouldn’t need to start putting bumper stickers on horses that say:
“𝙄𝙁 𝙔𝙊𝙐 𝘾𝘼𝙉 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘿 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙎, 𝙂𝙀𝙏 𝙊𝙁𝙁 𝙈𝙔 🫏.” 😂

What ranch rail etiquette rule would YOU add to the list? Drop it below 👇

Save this one before your next show — and send it to your favorite ranchy friends!

08/26/2026

🤠 Ranch Riding Group Lesson — This Saturday!

🗓 Saturday | 2:00–4:00 PM

Join us as we break down AQHA Ranch Riding Pattern 9 in a fun, low-pressure group setting. Whether you’re preparing for the show pen or just want to build confidence, we’ll work through each maneuver step by step.

What you’ll learn:

* Navigating ranch riding patterns with confidence
* Trotting correctly over two sets of logs
* Side passing over a log with proper positioning
* Right & left lead departures
* Simple and flying lead changes
* Extended lope vs. collected lope transitions
* Extended trot vs. working trot transitions
* Correct stops, backing, and 360° turns
* How these maneuvers are scored under AQHA rules

Spots available

* Lesson horses are full
* 1–2 haul-in spots available (current Rhino Flu & Strangles vaccinations required)
* Audits: Only $5 🎉

🎥 Every rider will receive a personal video review after the lesson (I’ll post the link in the comments to my post explaining video review!).

📸 link to my previous Ranch Riding recap so you can see exactly what these group lessons look like! https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1KQxyRXJpC/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Message me to reserve one of the remaining haul-in spots.

08/24/2026

What does video review entail? 🤠📝

All of my Ranch Trail Nights include the opportunity for 1-on-1 video review with me, where we go over each of your pattern runs and break down the details to give you individualized feedback—all while having fun in a low-pressure, supportive setting! 🤠

These photos show one participant’s first go in blue and second go in black. I’ve made notes throughout the pattern highlighting what improved, what went wrong or right, and specific things to work on for each maneuver.

I also mark scores, penalties, and exactly where they occurred, so riders can see how each part of their ride contributed to their final score.

This particular rider had never done anything like Ranch Trail before. After reviewing her first run, she went back through the pattern a second time—and you can see some awesome improvements! Those changes resulted in her score improving by 3 full points from her first run to her second. 🤎

Each participant also receives an Official AQHA score sheet on the back of their pattern, where I score their rides and provide the opportunity to see the AQHA descriptions for maneuver scores and penalties. This gives everyone a better idea of how the scoring works and why points were added or taken away.

The goal is to learn, improve, and have fun trying something new—without the pressure of a formal show environment! 🤠

I also offer video review for private lesson students upon request!

08/13/2026

❤️❤️❤️ so glad my family allowed me to grow up to be a horse girl

𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬…

Not because it’s easy.
Not because it’s glamorous.

And certainly not because it will always go their way.

Let them become horse girls because there are lessons a horse will teach them that no classroom ever could.

Let them learn early that life isn’t fair.

That sometimes you can work harder, prepare better, give more, and still lose.

That sometimes you can do everything right…
and still get beat.

Let them learn that losing doesn’t mean they’re a failure.
It means they have another opportunity to get better.

Let them dream ridiculously big.
Then let them work their tails off chasing those dreams.

Let them learn confidence without entitlement.

Grace without weakness.
Grit without bitterness.

Let them build strong legs, strong backs, strong hands…
and an even stronger heart.

Let your daughters grow up in the barn.

Let them learn that the stalls still have to be cleaned when it’s 100 degrees outside.

And when it’s 20 degrees.

When it’s raining.
When they’re exhausted.
When they’d rather be doing literally anything else.

Because the horses don’t care about excuses.

The buckets still need filling.
The hay still needs feeding.
The stalls still need cleaning.
Responsibility doesn’t take a day off.

Let them set goals.
Let them reach some.
Let them fail miserably at others.

Let them learn what it feels like to pour everything they have into something and still come up short.

Let them learn that sometimes the girl who worked until her hands hurt, practiced until dark, rode the best horse she could afford, and took impeccable care of that horse…

is still going to get beat.

Maybe by someone with ten times the money.
Maybe by someone with a better horse.
Maybe by someone who simply got the better draw that day.

And when it happens, don’t rescue them from the disappointment.

Let them feel it.

Then teach them to tip their hat, shake their hand, walk back to the trailer…
and come back tomorrow.

Because that’s where character is built.

Teach them to drive the truck.
Back the trailer.
Hook up the lights.
Change a tire.
Wrap a leg.
Doctor a wound.
Give a shot.
Read a horse.
Feel when something isn’t right.

Teach them that horses aren’t machines.
They’re living, breathing partners who depend on them.

And yes…
let them make mistakes.

Let them leave a spur mark.
Let them get a bit rub.
Let them wrap a leg wrong.
Let them realize they could have done better.
Let them feel the heartbreak of knowing they caused discomfort to an animal they love.

Then teach them to learn from it.
Because accountability is love, too.

Let them cry over a bad run.
Let them celebrate a great one.
Let them lose.
Let them win.
Let them fall off.
Let them get back on.

Let them stand in the dirt with tears streaming down their face and hear you say,

“Okay. Take a breath. Now let’s figure out what we learned.”

Because horses will teach your daughter something the world desperately needs more of:

Humility.

They’ll teach her that talent isn’t enough.
That hard work matters.
That preparation matters.
That patience matters.
That trust has to be earned.
That you can’t force everything.
That sometimes you have to listen instead of fight.

That sometimes the best thing you can do is take a breath, regroup, and try again.

Let her grow up around good horse people.

The kind who will help her when she’s struggling.

The kind who will tell her the truth even when she doesn’t want to hear it.

The kind who will teach her without making her feel small.

The kind who will celebrate her success without letting her believe she’s better than anyone else.

Because someday, that little horse girl is going to grow into a woman.

And the world will test her.

It will tell her no.
It will disappoint her.
It will knock her down.

It will hand someone else the opportunity she thought belonged to her.

And when that happens…

she’ll know what to do.

She’ll square her shoulders.
Wipe the tears.
Take a breath.
Get back in the saddle.
And keep going.

Because she was raised to understand something powerful:

You don’t have to win every battle to become a woman who can handle the fight.

So yes…

Let your daughters be horse girls.
Let them get dirty.
Let them get tired.
Let them work.
Let them fail.
Let them dream.
Let them lose.
Let them win.

Let them love something enough to work their heart out for it.

Because one day, you’ll look at that little girl covered in dirt, exhausted from a day at the barn, and realize…

the horse wasn’t just raising her.
She was raising herself.

And the woman she becomes?

𝐒𝐡𝐞’𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞.❤️

-Author Unknown

08/10/2026

08/06/2026

🤠 Last Ranch Nights of the Summer! 🤠

There will be NO Ranch Nights in September, so if you’ve been wanting to join us, August is your last opportunity until the fall!

Whether you’re preparing for the show pen or simply want to improve your horsemanship, these small-group, clinic-style lessons are designed to help you become a more confident, knowledgeable rider.

🐴 No horse? No problem!

You’ll have the opportunity to ride one of my experienced lesson horses—all retired reining horses with years of training and show experience. They’re incredibly educated and responsive, giving you the chance to learn on a quality horse that rewards correct riding while helping you develop better feel, timing, and confidence.

✨ Every Ranch Night includes:
✔️ Small-group coaching
✔️ AQHA ranch trail obstacles or ranch riding patterns
✔️ Official AQHA score sheets and patterns to take home
✔️ A breakdown of AQHA rules, scoring, and what judges are looking for
✔️ Individual video review after your ride so you can clearly see your strengths and identify areas for improvement

Current Availability

🌵 Ranch Trail
Friday, August 21
• 1 lesson horse available
• Haul-in spots available

Saturday, August 22
• 2 lesson horses available
• Plenty of haul-in spots

🏆 Ranch Riding
Friday, August 28
• 3 lesson horses available
• Haul-in spots available

Saturday, August 29
• Lesson horses are FULL 🎉
• Haul-in spots still available

🚛 Haul-in riders: Proof of current Rhino/Flu and Strangles vaccinations is required.

These clinics are open to riders who can confidently walk, trot, and lope. To ensure everyone receives plenty of individualized coaching, spots are intentionally kept small.

If you’ve been thinking about coming, now’s the time—there won’t be another opportunity in September. Send me a message to reserve your spot! 🤍

08/06/2026

✨ Lesson Pricing Update — Effective September 2026 ✨

As my program continues to grow, I’ll be updating my lesson pricing beginning September 1st, 2026.

This change allows me to continue providing high-quality, personalized instruction, maintain my lesson horses to the standard they deserve, and continue investing in the education, facilities, and experience I provide for my students.

I am incredibly grateful for the support and trust of every rider who has chosen to learn with me. My goal has always been to create a program focused on building strong foundations, confidence, and true horsemanship — not just teaching someone how to ride.

📝 A note for my current weekly students:
Those who have held a weekly lesson spot as of July 2026 will remain at their current lesson rate moving forward as a thank-you for your continued commitment and support.

Weekly lesson pricing applies to riders attending 3 or more lessons per month in a reserved recurring lesson spot. Riders attending 1–2 lessons per month will fall under regular lesson rate. (Of course, illness circumstances are understood.)

New students, returning students without a reserved weekly spot, and additional lesson bookings will follow the updated September pricing.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this journey and helped my program continue to grow. I’m so excited for what’s ahead! 🤎