How I got started: I was working on a three million acre cattle ranch in Australia and one of the hands there would start some colts in exchange for working his cutting horses on an endless supply of fresh cattle. I saw cutting horses for the first time and immediately knew that this was what I wanted to do. I moved to the States in 2001, and worked for Brad Mitchell for five years before going out on my own.
Biggest mistake I’ve made in cutting: Not realizing that there is a lot more to this business than just training horses.
Biggest myth about cutting: I’ve heard countless people say “I will never be competitive at the upper level.” With the proper matching of horse and rider, along with the appropriate coaching, anything is possible.
Favorite quote: “W.I.N is an acronym for What’s Important Now.” This can be related to working horses on a daily basis, or preparing yourself mentally to go show. Focus on what is relevant and don’t dwell on the things you cannot change. I ask myself this question every day.
Most memorable moment in cutting: I’ve been fortunate enough to have many individual accomplishments, but nothing sticks out more than the Trainers Challenge that I have won at several different shows. I realized that my horses and my clientele are competitive anywhere. I believe their success is the ultimate re flection on our program.
Training Philosophy: Each horse and owner is different. When it comes to training, I try to keep in mind what each client’s ultimate goal is and whether or not that goal is fitting for the horse. At the end of the day I believe consistency is key and everything comes back to foundation.
