08/23/2026
WHEN DID WE STOP TEACHING HORSEMANSHIP?
When did grooming your own horse become someone else’s job?
When did picking feet, checking legs, tacking up, untacking, cooling out and putting your horse away become chores we were too busy for?
When did riding become more important than actually knowing the horse underneath you?
There was a time when you didn’t just show up and get handed the reins.
You groomed your horse.
You picked their feet.
You ran your hands down every leg.
You learned every bump, scar and sensitive spot.
You knew what their normal temperature felt like beneath your hand.
You noticed when they ate differently, stood differently or simply weren’t quite themselves.
You knew your horse because you spent time with your horse.
And none of that was considered beneath you.
It was called horsemanship.
Somewhere along the way, we started treating everything before getting in the saddle as preparation for the important part.
But those things ARE the important part.
Grooming isn’t just making a horse clean. It’s an inspection.
Picking feet isn’t just removing dirt. It’s knowing what’s happening underneath your horse.
Tacking up isn’t simply putting equipment on. It’s another opportunity to notice soreness, sensitivity or a change in behavior.
Cooling out isn’t an inconvenience after the ride. It’s part of caring for the athlete who just carried you.
There is nothing wrong with having wonderful grooms, barn staff or help. Good horsemen appreciate those people immensely.
But help should never replace knowing your own horse.
You should know how your horse likes to be groomed. You should know which hole the girth normally sits on. You should know what their legs feel like. You should know their feet. You should know their quirks. You should know what “normal” looks like for them.
Because you cannot recognize that something has changed if you never knew what was normal in the first place.
We spend so much time teaching people how to ride.
Maybe it’s time we put just as much emphasis back on teaching them how to be horsemen.
Because horsemanship doesn’t begin when your foot goes into the stirrup.
And it certainly doesn’t end when your feet hit the ground.
The riding might be the exciting part.
But everything before and after it is where a horseman is made.
The ride shouldn’t be the only part we want.
Because the best horsemen aren’t just riders.
They are students of the horse — before the saddle ever goes on and long after it comes off.
**DISCLAIMER: The information we share is based on our own experiences, methods, and what we have found works best for the horses in our care. We are owners, breeders, and trainers both on and off the racetrack, so our recommendations come from years of hands-on experience with Thoroughbreds through multiple stages of their lives and careers.
That does not mean our way is the only way, nor does someone having a different experience automatically make their recommendation wrong—or ours wrong.
Every horse is an individual. Different horses, programs, and professionals may require different approaches. There is rarely a one-size-fits-all answer in horses. We share what has worked for us to educate and offer another perspective, not to discredit what may have worked for someone else.
✨It’s not the end of their story, it’s the beginning✨
*Reposted*
