Double M Ranch

02/09/2026

26/08/2026

The hardest thing to teach in horsemanship isn’t timing, technique, or patience. It’s feel.

Some days, I get on a horse and immediately know they need a little more bit. Other days, that same horse might need less. It’s not always something I can explain from the ground, but once I’m in the saddle, I can feel what they’re telling me.

As trainers, we’re ultimately shaping reactions and responses, and what a horse needs can change with every ride. Good horsemanship is knowing when to ask for more, when to soften, and when to adjust.

Life is a lot like that. Some days call for pushing forward, and others call for slowing down. Not every situation needs more pressure, and not every challenge gets solved the same way.

Whether it’s in the saddle or in life, growth comes from paying attention, responding to what’s in front of you, and being willing to change your approach when something isn’t working.

You can’t always explain feel, but learning to trust it can change everything.

23/08/2026

23/08/2026

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.

08/04/2026

Your horse is a reflection of your standards… not your intentions. Everyone wants a soft, broke, responsive horse.

But wanting it and training for it are two different things.Because horses don’t learn from what you meant to do…They learn from what you allow.

👉 Let them lean on the bit… they’ll keep leaning.
👉 Let them ignore your leg… they’ll keep ignoring it.
👉 Let them get distracted… they’ll stay disconnected.

It’s not about being harsh.
It’s about being consistent.

Clear expectations.
Consistent follow-through.
Every single ride.

Because the little things you let slide today…
are the big problems you’re fixing tomorrow.

Raise your standard.
Your horse will rise with it.