How I got started: When I was 11 years old, I had some family friends Carlos and Kathy Fandino that owned some horses with Russ Westfall. They let me ride my first cutting horse (I used to ride hunter jumpers beforehand!). He was a Docs Oak gelding named Acorn Chex. I got to show him as a kid and I was done ever since then. I worked for Scott Weis for a couple summers and I would day work for Russ at shows. The day I graduated high school I went to work for Russ.
Biggest mistake I’ve made in cutting: Being worried about making mistakes in the show pen.
Biggest myth about cutting: I think this applies to all sports and disciplines: people look in and think that the trainers are confident and that we have it all figured out. But if they only knew how much we go back and forth to each other trying to figure it all out!
Favorite quote: “Happiness is a choice.” That’s a quote I try and live by in every aspect of my life. Most memorable moment in cutting: I always have to go back to the first futurity that I won. It was in 2005 at Fort Klamath, Oregon.
Training philosophy: Try to always see your strengths. Work on things that you’re good at. Know your strengths and know your weaknesses.
