09/06/2026
Why You Should Train Your Own Horse (and Not Send Him Out)
I train a few horses for people, and I'm not the kind of guy who's out to wreck someone else's business. But I do think that people who are capable should train their own horses.
When I was a kid, there were very few horse trainers. Most folks did it themselves. Knowledge was passed down through generations, just like everything else.
Today, knowledge is everywhere. You can find it on your phone while sitting in your truck. So even though there are endless excuses a person might come up with, lack of knowledge really isn't one of them anymore.
And the value you get from putting in the time to train your own horse? It's hard to measure.
To be effective with horses, you have to grow. You'll develop patience whether you want to or not. You'll sharpen your timing. Your coordination improves. And you'll learn humility—usually whether you signed up for that lesson or not.
It's a lot like learning a martial art, except you're outside, and when you're done, you've created something that didn't exist before: a broke horse.
Show me someone who has trained horses, and I'll show you a self-reliant, confident individual.
Horse training has a way of exposing your weaknesses. The horse doesn't care how you feel about yourself. He just responds to what you actually do. Whether he's forgiving or not, he reflects your mistakes right back to you. And if you're paying attention, you can use that.
I've heard people say horses are a mirror to your soul. I don't know about that. My soul has its own business.
But horses absolutely reflect your willingness to learn, to adjust, to improve, and to manage your emotions. They show you if you're willing to work when it's hot, cold, or raining. And they'll definitely tell you whether or not you're willing to set your ego down for a minute.
So as far as value goes, training your own horse ranks pretty high.
If you send your horse out, you'll still need those qualities—you'll just have to find them somewhere else.
Why do that?
Why not build the horse and yourself at the same time?
Now, I'm not saying there's never a place for a trainer. There are situations where it makes sense—maybe you're in over your head, maybe the horse needs something specific, or maybe you just need a little help getting pointed in the right direction.
But there's a difference between getting help and handing it off.
Because here's the truth: when you send your horse out, the horse gets trained… but you don't.
And when that horse comes home, you're still the same rider with the same habits, the same timing, and the same blind spots.
It won't take long before things start to unravel.
Then what?
Send him back again?
At some point, you either learn to do it yourself, or you stay dependent on someone else forever.
I don't know about you, but I'd rather know.
Even if it's slower. Even if it's not pretty at times. Even if I make mistakes.
Because when it finally comes together—and it will—that's something nobody can take from you.
And neither can the horse.
Be one, Richard 🤠
