Let us know how we're doing. Please understand that we can't reply or see your info.

Tucker Daubs has crossed my news feed more than a few times of late. He's a gun guy and a cowboy in the high dessert country of Colorado. Sometimes those of us in an older generation need to see someone of a younger generation doing the kinds of things we did as kids to give us hope for the future.

Tucker is a thoughtful guy with an interesting perspective. He talks about the work that they do, the country and how it influences the work, and the horses. We do also talk about guns and knives and all the fun things he gets to carry and review. Horses, cows, gun and knives! You can't have more fun on a horse with your clothes on.

You can find Tucker at the following links:

https://fourpeakscattleco.com/

https://www.facebook.com/tucker.daubs

https://www.instagram.com/tuckerdaubs

https://www.youtube.com/@tuckerdaubs

https://www.tiktok.com/@tucker.daubs

Let us know how we're doing. Please understand that we can't reply or see your info.

This guy has been coming across my reels a lot lately. He's just riding along with some catchy music and pointing up to some text while he briefly demonstrates it.  The advice is solid, concise, and the music is catchy. He's onto something for sure. Scott Purdum owns/operates Advantage Horsemanship and bills himself as a rider confidence coach and horse behaviorist. He seemed interesting. 

What you're going to hear is a couple of like minded guys having a genuinely fun conversation. Turns out we're both into whiskey and had some on hand. If you like candid and don't mind a bad word or serveral, you'll love this one.

You can find Scott at the following links:

https://www.advantagehorsemanship.com/

https://www.youtube.com/user/AdvantageHorseman

https://www.facebook.com/advantagehorsemanship

https://www.instagram.com/advantagehorsemanship/

https://x.com/scottpurdum

Let us know how we're doing. Please understand that we can't reply or see your info.

Brent Graef is a well known and respected clinician and horseman. He and his wife, Kris were kind enough to have this conversation with me. I think it will be evident right away how genuine Brent is in what he does and says. We begin talking about one of his main gigs these days, halter starting weanlings and then talk about his clinics and philosophy.

For more than two decades, this soft spoken, kind-hearted, West Texas cowboy has been traveling the country helping horses and their humans gain a better understanding of each other. Brent is passionate about his quest for finding ways to give the horse a better deal. He is equally passionate about treating his students with that same respect. Brent has coached everybody from back yard horse lovers, to world class competitors, high level dressage riders, working ranch cowboys, and other horse professionals. Brent’s life-long journey handling horses began on the plains of West Texas, where he recalls doing his first cattle drive at age 5 and starting his first colt at age 11. Prior to teaching Horsemanship Clinics, Brent earned his living on horseback, starting colts and working the family ranch and feed lot. Some call it ‘natural horsemanship’. Brent simply refers to it as seeing things from the horse’s perspective. If we can work with the horse’s nature, using an understanding of how horses think, we can communicate in a way that develops a relationship of unity based on trust. He puts an emphasis on making the right thing obvious for the horse, instead of always making the wrong thing difficult. Brent gives clear, practical advice to elevate your skills to improve suppleness, balance, softness, and responsiveness. No fluff, gimmicks or tricks. Brent’s style of horsemanship has been influenced by the teachings of Tom & Bill Dorrance, Ray Hunt, and others. He lives near Amarillo, TX, with his wife, Kris.

You can find Brent and Kris at the following links:

https://www.brentgraef.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BrentGraefHorsemanship/

https://www.youtube.com/@brentgraefhorsemanship5385

Let us know how we're doing. Please understand that we can't reply or see your info.

Sarah Louise Lilley is an equestrian, actor, and now she's a Clinical Emotional Freedom Technique practitioner. She says that confidence isn't a mindset- it's safety in the nervous system. 

She works with riders who have fears, trauma, anxiety, and other nervous system dysregulation problems to help them reach a place where they can function and be successful again. She has a unique back story from her career as an actor, being an equestrian living in New York City, and caring for her husband after his stroke.

Sorry for the echoing on my audio. 

You can find Sarah at her website linked below:

https://www.emotionalfreedomwithsarah.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sarahlouiselilley/

Let us know how we're doing. Please understand that we can't reply or see your info.

Tamara Lee Barrett cut her teeth in the Hunter/Jumper world. A few years ago she could no longer stomach a lot of what she was seeing. Delving into Natural Horsemanship, Positive Reinforcement, and other modalities with the horse's mental wellbeing at the forefront, she started a new path. 

Today her training is centered around Connection, Movement, Posture, and Nervous System Regulation. Believing these elements should be woven throughout  the horse's environment, care, and training produces remarkable changes in behavior and physical development. 

She's an advocate for horse welfare and a fellow podcaster. You can catch her podcast, The Optimized Equine, on all platforms. I was even a guest of hers not too long ago. 

Find Tamara at the following links:

https://tamaraleebarrett.com/

https://www.facebook.com/tamara.barrett

https://www.instagram.com/tamaraleebarrett/

https://www.tiktok.com/@tamaraleebarrett

https://x.com/TamaraLBarrett

https://www.twitch.tv/tamleebarrett

https://www.youtube.com/@TamaraLeeBarrett

Her DIY snap covers

https://youtube.com/shorts/EapfKfxbQXo?si=53L9xTNGbhiy4Y58

Let us know how we're doing. Please understand that we can't reply or see your info.

 It's time for our newest Q & A with Nicole Shoup. Nicole takes your questions from our facebook group, Bits, Spurs, and Good Sense, and brings them to the podcast. 

We talk about the term "sacking out". And then get into desensitizing, freeze and things to keep in mind. This leads to shut down horses and that rabbit hole. Next, what about horses that don't like to be caught? 

One of my favorite questions that I have ever recieved is in this one too. Jam, or jelly? There's a lot to ponder. Does said fruit have seeds that get caught in teeth? is the texture soothing, or annoying. Is the jelly prismatic and gorgeous to just look through? 

What's the most misunderstood piece of equipment I use regularly? 

A big can of worms opens up when Nicole asks me how many wrinkles should the bit be adjusted to. 

You can find Nicole at the following links:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091774544130

https://www.youtube.com/@NicoleShoupHorsemanship

https://www.tiktok.com/@nicoleshouphorsemanship

Let us know how we're doing. Please understand that we can't reply or see your info.

Justine Staten is one of those people behind the scenes who has more to do with your ability to own a horse than you'd ever imagine. She's the Exexcutive Director of the Kansas Horse Council, as well as the Event Manager of Equifest. I can personally attest to her managerial abilities for a large event with a lot of moving parts and people. She's also the Chairperson for the Coalition of State Horse Councils and is on the Board of Trustees for the American Horse Council.

In this conversation, Justine tells us all about Equifest of Kansas, presented by the Kansas Horse Council. Equifest will take place Jan. 23-25, 2026. This year the event will be at the Stormont Vail Events Center, One Expocentre Dr., Topeka, KS 66612.

I'll be presenting along with Craig and Cole Cameron, Chris Cox, Chief Phillip Whiteman, Jr., Geno Middleton, Jerry Diaz, Nicolas Diaz, Staci Diaz, Marcelo Guzman, Robert Eversole, and Sally Batton.

Here are the links to learn more:

https://www.equifestofks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/StormontVailEventsCenter

Breyer Midwest and Other Special Guests:

https://www.equifestofks.com/specialguests

Let us know how we're doing. Please understand that we can't reply or see your info.

It's that time of year when we all decide to get fit and invest in ben gay and ibuprofen. Let's get you some guidance for that this year. Ifa Simmonds is a fitness coach who specializes in the unique needs of equestrians. He owns and operates the Equestrian Fitness Academy to help riders grow their fitness to improve their riding. We met last year at Kansas Equifest as presenters and I took one of his classes. Ifa's the kind of guy that you naturally gravitate toward and his wholesome and genuine nature is evident right away. 

He was a personal trainer with an interest in horses and one particular client showed him a need within our industry that he jumped on. As riders, we need to stabilize, hold, balance, and cue in ways that are not typical of most athletes. As a rider himself, Ifa understands our world and has the vocabulary to convey what he's doing and how it affects the ride.

Continueing his education at the only university program in the world that specializes in this niche, Ifa is already out working with clients, and putting together customized programs.

You can find Ifa at the following links:

https://ifafit.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ifa.fit/

https://www.facebook.com/p/Equestrian-Fitness-Academy-100082976244941/

Let us know how we're doing. Please understand that we can't reply or see your info.

When you get the chance to talk to someone who's competed at the 5 star level in eventing all over the world, you take it. 

Sinead Halpin Maynard is one of the top Three-Day Event riders in the world. She has competed at the top levels for over 20 years representing her country for the majority of those years. Her top accomplishments include representing the United States at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy in 2014, traveling to London for the 2012 Olympics as first reserve, reserve for 2016 Rio Olympics, 2010 Nations Cup in Holland, podium finish at Burghley Horse Trials in 2012 and a top 20 in 2011, National Champion at Rolex, Kentucky 2011 and top three finisher on two other occasions. Sinead also is ICP level three certified and coached Area 11 Young Riders to multiple team and individual golds over several years.

Sinead also enjoys teaching, learning, and exploring the horse-human relationship. She has recently started hosting a Podcast with Ride IQ, enjoys writing for The Chronicle, Practical Horseman, and several other publications. Her primary focus is on bridging the gap between good horsemanship and High-Performance Sport. She is the wife of horseman and event rider, Tik Maynard, and mother of renowned superhero Brooks Tobin and Mini me Violette Layne. Together with her family and oversized puppy, Ferdinand, Tik and Sinead reside in Citra, Florida, and run Copperline Farm, named after James Taylor’s famous song, which was one of Sinead’s father’s favorite artists.

You can find Sinead at the following links:

https://www.copperlineequestrian.com/

https://www.facebook.com/A.C.E.Copperline

https://www.facebook.com/A.C.E.Copperline

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYAYaLOyD18PbLBDxlFnIijxB9Wdt6Shx

If you might be interested in our bit course:

https://www.thebitcourse.com/

Let us know how we're doing. Please understand that we can't reply or see your info.

Our guest this week is Ty Evans. Ty is in a niche in this horsemanship world. He specializes in mules and donkeys. Raised in Utah, Ty's father was a horse/mule trainer too. Ty, with his wife, Skye, own and operate TS Mules and Mulemanship Clinics.

Ty has already been running the roads doing clinics for a long time and he's articulate and also keeps things simple and understandable. He's based in the vaquero arts and often rides his mules straight up in the bridle. Funny and thoughtful, I think you'll appreciate Ty's point of view and way of explaining things. I also highly recommend his podcast, Everyday Mulemanship.

You can reach Ty and Skye at the following links:

https://tsmules.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TsMules

https://tyevansmulemanship.vhx.tv/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC23jJUR3sE8nYa2GMDMF6wQ

https://www.instagram.com/tsmules/

Links Ty mentioned that we need in the show notes:

Outfitter's Supply

On the Range Youtube channel, (wasn't able to find it)

#scarety

If you'd like more information about our upcoming online Bit Course:

https://www.thebitcourse.com/

Use coupon code "HowandWhy" to save 25% until Dec. 31st.