On The Move

Pace Freed is the founder of X Factor Roping, a video and production company that specializes in producing instructional team roping content and roping livestreams. Originally from Idaho, Pace spent much of his early life working to become the best roper he could be. On this journey he realized there was a need in the market for instructional content and thus, X Factor Roping was born. Today, Pace and his wife run X Factor which is one of the most prominent production companies and instructional apps in the team roping space. Join Joe and Pace as they discuss struggles of building a business, the incredible consistency needed to be a competitive team roper, rope horse futurities, and much more.

To find out more about X Factor Roping, you can go to https://xfactorteamroping.com/ and get started with a free trail today!

This Episode was brought to you by Nick Dowers' Cowboy Week. To Find out more about Cowboy Week, you can go to https://nickdowers.com/cowboy-week/. Use Coupon Code "ONTHEMOVE" at checkout for a discount off your subscription!

Casey Bieroth is a rancher and cowhorse trainer from Mountain City, NV. Join Joe as he sits down with another "founding father" of Cowboy Week as he share his story from the ranch to the show pen. Topics discussed include conditioning futurity prospects, the increasing value of the ranch horse, and the slow process of becoming a better trainer.

If you'd like to learn from top hands like Casey, you can access Nick Dower's online learning platform, Cowboy Week by going to https://nickdowers.com/cowboy-week/.

Use Coupon Code "ONTHEMOVE" for an additional discount at checkout!

Dr. Fabian Roa is a doctor of veterinary medicine currently working for the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, VA. Originally from Costa Rica, Dr. Roa developed his passion for animals while working on his family's cattle ranch and learning to ride the Costa Rican Pasos his family bred. Once graduating vet school, he spent time in Weatherford, Texas and Dubai before coming to Virginia for his residency. Dr. Roa joins Ben and Joe to share his international experience in veterinary medicine. Topics discussed include life on a Central American ranch, dancing horses, and the people side of veterinary medicine.

In this episode of On The Move, Ben and Joe welcome a very special guest Kayleigh Burke, a horse trainer from Blacksburg, Virginia, and Joe’s wife and business partner.

Kayleigh shares her journey from growing up in a Northern Virginia lesson program to riding on a collegiate team and later coaching college riders herself. The trio dives into the realities of running a horse training business with your spouse, and Kayleigh offers her honest perspective on teaching in lesson programs, the importance of foundational horsemanship, and how those early experiences shape her approach to training and showing today.

Together, Joe, Ben, and Kayleigh explore the balance of life, horses, and horses and running Joe & Kayleigh's business, McDonald Equine.

Tune in for an open, down-to-earth conversation about building a life—and a program—around a shared passion for horses.

Vernon Purdy is a saddle maker and farrier from Greenville, Texas. Vernon owns and operates Vernon Purdy Saddles which specializes in making a wide range of western saddles with Vernon’s specialty designed saddle tree. This saddle tree came from Vernon’s career as a farrier which had lead him on a deeper journey to understand soundness in a horse. It became evident to Vernon that one of the biggest impacts on a horse’s soundness was saddle fit, which led him to design his own tree and start his own saddle shop. Vernon joins Ben and Joe to share his story of pursuing soundness in a horse and what he’s learned along the way.

Steve Meadows is a horseman from Staunton, Virginia who has made a living showing in various disciplines within the AQHA and APHA. Originally from West Virginia, Steve is fourth generation in the horse industry. Rising to prominence in the AQHA, Steve was the first rider to ever win the triple crown of Western Pleasure in 1999. In 2012, Steve chose to change his focus to the Ranch Horse events where he has had sustained success on a national level. Steve joins Ben and Joe to share his journey as a horseman and discuss the Ranch Horse discipline. Topics discussed include the importance of giving a horse a job, staying motivated as a horseman and what it takes to be successful in the show pen.

In this episode of On the Move, horseman Dustin Sippola shares his remarkable journey through the world of colt starting, ranching, and horsemanship. From competing in Road to the Horse to cowboying at the legendary Gang Ranch in British Columbia and even working for a sheik, Dustin recounts the lessons, challenges, and humor that shaped his path. He reflects on mentorship, the art of training horses, the balance between competition and personal growth, and the importance of self-belief. With stories from the saddle and insights from the arena, this episode captures the spirit of a life dedicated to horses, hard work, and continual learning.

We sat down for our for our first solo episode in a while, catching up and talking through everything from horse clinics to the day-to-day realities of working with horses and running a training business. We dug into the differences between one-day and multi-day clinics, what it takes to help horses and riders make real progress, and how staying adaptable in your approach keeps the work interesting. Tune in and enjoy!

www.mcdonaldequinellc.com

www.cunninghamhorses.com

Joe sits down with Max Morin, a reining horse trainer based in Aubrey, Texas, who’s built a name for himself developing top-tier 2-year-old prospects. Originally from France, Max’s love for horses started young—even when he had to learn from horsemanship videos in a language he barely understood. He shares how he made it to the U.S., landed a job with legendary trainer John Lyons, and eventually carved out a place of his own in the performance horse world.

Max opens up about his journey, the mentors who shaped his horsemanship—like John & Josh Lyons and Nick Dowers—and how he’s now focused on blending strong fundamentals with elite performance. It’s a story of grit, passion, and the pursuit of excellence in and out of the arena.

Cole Cameron is a horseman, clinician, and competitor from Bluff Dale, TX. In this episode of On the Move, Ben sits down with Cole to discuss his journey in horsemanship, from personal experiences and career-defining moments to the evolving landscape of clinics and expos. They dive into the challenges of teaching, the importance of financial literacy for trainers, and the realities of balancing family life with a demanding career. As a past Road to the Horse competitor, Cole shares his insights on the event, reflecting on his experience in the competition and its impact on the industry.