KY Performance Horses

KY Performance Horses We do horse training & horseback riding lessons, specializing in barrel racing. We also host a monthly barrel show series open to all ages.

A lot of people hear the word finished and picture a horse that never makes a mistake.That’s not reality.A finished hors...
06/03/2026

A lot of people hear the word finished and picture a horse that never makes a mistake.

That’s not reality.

A finished horse still has days where they need guidance. They still require maintenance, consistency, and a rider willing to do their part. What separates them is that they understand their job, handle pressure, and have enough foundation to be dependable when it counts.

The goal has never been perfection.

The goal is a horse that is educated enough to solve problems, confident enough to handle new situations, and broke enough that you can trust them when things don’t go exactly according to plan.

Those horses are built through thousands of correct decisions, not shortcuts.

What do you think is the most important quality in a truly finished horse? 👇🏻

📸 Diamond E Marketing

The most underrated maintenance on a performance horse usually isn’t expensive.Everyone talks about injections, chiropra...
06/03/2026

The most underrated maintenance on a performance horse usually isn’t expensive.

Everyone talks about injections, chiropractic work, bodywork, supplements, and veterinary care—and those things absolutely have their place.

But some of the most overlooked maintenance items are:

• Proper hoof care and balanced feet
• Consistent turnout and movement
• Adequate hydration while hauling
• Saddle fit as horses change shape throughout the year
• Dental care before problems become obvious
• Keeping horses at an appropriate body condition instead of constantly chasing weight gain or loss

A lot of performance issues show up long before they become veterinary issues.

The horses tell us a lot if we’re paying attention.

What’s one maintenance item you’ve noticed makes a bigger difference than most people realize?

We currently have 2 openings available for June at KY Performance Horses.Whether your goal is futurities, rodeos, or sim...
06/02/2026

We currently have 2 openings available for June at KY Performance Horses.

Whether your goal is futurities, rodeos, or simply building a more confident and competitive horse, our program is focused on creating solid foundations, producing consistent results, and doing right by the horse every step of the way.

Our training program emphasizes:
• Correct fundamentals
• Individualized plans for each horse
• Consistency over shortcuts
• Horse-first development with long-term goals in mind

We work with horses at various stages of their careers, from starting prospects on the pattern to seasoning performance horses and addressing specific issues that may be limiting progress.

If you’ve been considering sending one, now is a good time to reach out. These are the only openings currently available, and once they’re filled we’ll return to our waiting list.

Message the page for details, availability, and to discuss whether your horse would be a good fit for the program.

The Most Common Issue I See At LessonsOne of the most common problems I see at lessons isn’t a horse problem at all.It’s...
06/02/2026

The Most Common Issue I See At Lessons

One of the most common problems I see at lessons isn’t a horse problem at all.

It’s riders trying to fix things before they understand why they’re happening.

A horse misses a turn and people immediately want a different bit.

A horse gets strong and they want more hardware.

A horse drops a shoulder and they start changing everything.

Most of the time the issue isn’t what happened.

It’s what happened three strides before it.

Good horsemanship is learning to identify causes instead of chasing symptoms.

The riders who improve the fastest aren’t necessarily the most talented. They’re the ones willing to slow down, ask questions, and understand the entire picture before making changes.

Quick fixes are attractive.

Correct fixes last longer.

What’s a problem you’ve spent more time fixing than you probably should have?

📸 Wild Hearts PhotograpWild Hearts PhotographyelRacing

06/01/2026

Proud to be sponsored by Rocket Donkey 🤘

When people ask where I get my favorite rodeo shirts, it’s always Rocket Donkey. Built for competitors, comfortable enough for long days, and tough enough for the rodeo lifestyle. Grateful to represent a brand that truly supports the western and rodeo community.

If you haven’t checked them out yet, you’re missing out. Use code KY10 for a deal 🔥

When Should You Slow One Down?One of the biggest mistakes I see riders make is assuming every problem can be fixed by as...
06/01/2026

When Should You Slow One Down?

One of the biggest mistakes I see riders make is assuming every problem can be fixed by asking for more speed.

Sometimes the answer is actually the opposite.

If a horse is struggling with confidence, understanding, balance, rate, or consistency, adding speed often just magnifies the problem.

The fastest horses I’ve trained weren’t necessarily the horses that got pushed the hardest. They were the horses that understood their job completely before they were ever asked to do it faster.

A horse that’s confident and correct at 70% will usually progress much faster than a horse that’s confused at 100%.

It’s not always exciting to take a step back and work on fundamentals, but it often saves months of frustration later.

What’s something you’ve had to slow down in order to improve?

Fast is exciting. Correct lasts.One of the hardest things for competitors to do is slow down when a horse is showing eno...
05/31/2026

Fast is exciting. Correct lasts.

One of the hardest things for competitors to do is slow down when a horse is showing enough talent to get by.

When they’re naturally fast, athletic, and winning, it’s tempting to overlook little things. A missed cue here, a hole in the foundation there, a habit that’s manageable today but could become a problem later.

The best futurity horses I’ve been around weren’t necessarily the ones that progressed the fastest in the beginning. They were the ones that were allowed to develop correctly.

The goal isn’t just to make a horse run fast this weekend.

The goal is to create a horse that can stay confident, sound, and successful for years to come.

That’s why we’ll always choose correct over convenient, even when the slower path isn’t the most exciting one in the moment.

Fast is exciting.

Correct lasts.

📸 Carlea Fitzgerald PhoCarlea Fitzgerald Photographyelracing

05/30/2026

Why we don’t automatically change everything after one bad run.

One run is information.

That’s it.

Not every missed barrel means a horse needs injections. Not every off run means the training program is wrong. Not every mistake means it’s time to throw the whole plan away and start over.

The best horsemen I’ve been around spend more time figuring out why something happened than they do reacting emotionally to the result.

Was it setup?
Was it timing?
Was it soreness?
Was it confidence?
Was it simply a rider mistake?

The answer matters.

The quickest way to create confusion in a horse is constantly changing the rules based on the outcome of the last run. Good programs are built on consistency, observation, and making adjustments for the right reasons—not because of one disappointing result.

Video of Bolt in the 2D weeds due to some jockey and timing errors yesterday 🤙🏼 round 2 today for a smoother pass!

A lot of barrel problems don’t actually start at the barrel.One of the biggest mistakes people make is focusing on where...
05/29/2026

A lot of barrel problems don’t actually start at the barrel.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is focusing on where the issue shows up instead of where it starts. A horse that drops a shoulder, gets disconnected, blows past a rate point, or struggles to finish a turn is often telling you long before they ever reach the barrel.

The barrel is simply where the mistake becomes obvious.

When we’re working through problems, we’re constantly asking why something happened instead of just reacting to the result. Was the horse balanced? Were they prepared? Did they understand their job? Was the rider helping or accidentally creating the issue?

The fastest way to get stuck is chasing symptoms. The fastest way to improve is finding the root cause.

What’s one issue you’ve been working through with your horse lately?

📸 Diamond E Marketing

One of the biggest mistakes people make with young horses is trying to add speed before they truly understand timing.You...
05/28/2026

One of the biggest mistakes people make with young horses is trying to add speed before they truly understand timing.

You can have all the horsepower in the world, but if they don’t understand where to rate, where to finish a turn, and how to stay correct through pressure, the speed usually just magnifies the holes.

That’s why so much of training isn’t glamorous. Repetition matters. Correctness matters. Confidence matters.

Everybody wants the fast part. The foundation is the part that lasts.

What’s something you think gets rushed too often in training?

📸 Wild Hearts Photography

Address

Benson, NC
27504

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 8pm
Saturday 8am - 8pm

Telephone

+19194130878

Website

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