Every rider wants the secret to better runs, softer horses, and more consistency in the arena. But what if the answer isn't a new bit, a new drill, or a completely different training method? In this episode, we're talking about why most training problems come from weak foundations rather than a lack of advanced maneuvers. We'll discuss consistency, pressure and release, the importance of transitions and basic exercises, and how learning to read your horse can transform your training. Because the horses that look impressive in competition were built through countless hours of simple, boring, consistent work.

Links & Resources:

• Follow me on Instagram and TikTok at Rfr_rodeo for behind-the-scenes content

• also visit our sponsors Tacktical and Ranch Dress’n using code Rfr_rodeo, Rocket Donkey and BuckedUp using code RachelF10, and Swingn9t using code RachelFenske14

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your rodeo friends! Got a question or topic you'd love to hear about? Send me an email at [email protected] 

See you next week! Keep those barrels tight and your dreams big!

A pretty horse can still be a bad purchase. In this episode, we're talking about some of the biggest red flags to watch for when shopping for a horse. From missing records and inconsistent stories to dangerous behaviors and pre-purchase exams, we'll discuss how to protect yourself from expensive surprises and make smarter buying decisions.

Links & Resources:

• Follow me on Instagram and TikTok at Rfr_rodeo for behind-the-scenes content

• also visit our sponsors Tacktical and Ranch Dress’n using code Rfr_rodeo and Rocket Donkey using code RachelF10

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your rodeo friends! Got a question or topic you'd love to hear about? Send me an email at [email protected] 

See you next week! Keep those barrels tight and your dreams big!

Have you ever looked at a feed tag and wondered what half the ingredients actually do? Why are some feeds packed with corn and oats while others rely on beet pulp, rice bran, or soybean hulls? In this episode, we're breaking down common horse feed ingredients, what purpose they serve, and how feed companies build different formulas for different horses. Understanding ingredients can help you make smarter feeding decisions and avoid falling for marketing claims.

Links & Resources:

• Follow me on Instagram and TikTok at Rfr_rodeo for behind-the-scenes content

• also visit our sponsors Tacktical and Ranch Dress’n using code Rfr_rodeo and Rocket Donkey using code RachelF10

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your rodeo friends! Got a question or topic you'd love to hear about? Send me an email at [email protected] 

See you next week! Keep those barrels tight and your dreams big!

Most horse owners spend hours researching supplements, grains, and additives—but the truth is, good nutrition starts with understanding the basics. What NSC actually means,and why it matters for some horses more than others. How to read a feed tag instead of falling for marketing buzzwords. Why ingredients like beet pulp, soybean meal, oats, corn, flax, and rice bran are used, and what each one contributes to a horse's diet. The difference between alfalfa and grass hay, and why neither is "better" without considering the horse in front of you. How to stop buying feed based on trends and start feeding based on science, workload, body condition, and health. One of the biggest lessons I've learned is this: There isn't a perfect feed. There is only the feed that's right for your horse. Understanding nutrition gives you the confidence to ask better questions, spend your money wisely, and make decisions based on evidence instead of opinions.

Links & Resources:

• Follow me on Instagram and TikTok at Rfr_rodeo for behind-the-scenes content

• also visit our sponsors Tacktical and Ranch Dress’n using code Rfr_rodeo and Rocket Donkey using code RachelF10

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your rodeo friends! Got a question or topic you'd love to hear about? Send me an email at [email protected] 

See you next week! Keep those barrels tight and your dreams big!

In my first Lasix episode, we covered what Lasix is, how it works, and why it remains one of the most controversial medications in horse sports. This week, we're taking the conversation a step further. Recent research has challenged some long-held beliefs about Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) and asks a difficult question: Have we become so focused on preventing every trace of bleeding that we've stopped asking what bleeding actually means? We'll discuss what researchers are rethinking about EIPH, whether all bleeding is harmful, how Lasix has shaped the racing industry, and what the future might look like if the sport continues moving toward medication-free competition.

Links & Resources:

• Follow me on Instagram and TikTok at Rfr_rodeo for behind-the-scenes content

• also visit our sponsors Tacktical and Ranch Dress’n using code Rfr_rodeo and Rocket Donkey using code RachelF10

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your rodeo friends! Got a question or topic you'd love to hear about? Send me an email at [email protected] 

See you next week! Keep those barrels tight and your dreams big!

Ulcer treatment is NOT as simple as throwing horses on omeprazole and hoping for the best.

In Part 2 of this ulcer series, we discuss:• How ulcers are actually diagnosed• Why squamous and glandular ulcers are different• Omeprazole and how it works• Why some horses relapse repeatedly• The role of nutrition and management in prevention• Treatment mistakes people commonly make• Why medication alone often isn’t enough

The goal shouldn’t just be treating ulcers.It should be understanding WHY they developed in the first place.

Links & Resources:

• Follow me on Instagram and TikTok at Rfr_rodeo for behind-the-scenes content

• also visit our sponsors Tacktical and Ranch Dress’n using code Rfr_rodeo and Rocket Donkey using code RachelF10

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your rodeo friends! Got a question or topic you'd love to hear about? Send me an email at [email protected] 

See you next week! Keep those barrels tight and your dreams big!

Ulcers are one of the most common and misunderstood problems in the horse world.

A horse does NOT have to look skinny to have ulcers. And not every ulcered horse shows obvious symptoms.

In this episode, we discuss:• The difference between squamous and glandular ulcers• Why horses are naturally prone to ulcers• Behavioral vs physical signs of ulcers• Why body condition score alone means almost nothing• Nutrition and management risk factors• The hidden ways ulcers affect performance and attitude• Why so many ulcer signs get dismissed as “behavior problems.”

Sometimes what people call “attitude” is actually discomfort.

Links & Resources:

• Follow me on Instagram and TikTok at Rfr_rodeo for behind-the-scenes content

• also visit our sponsors Tacktical and Ranch Dress’n using code Rfr_rodeo and Rocket Donkey using code RachelF10

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your rodeo friends! Got a question or topic you'd love to hear about? Send me an email at [email protected] 

See you next week! Keep those barrels tight and your dreams big!

The horse world praises people who never stop.

The riders who push through injuries.
The ones who never miss a run.
The ones who stay strong no matter what.

But nobody talks enough about what happens when survival mode becomes your personality.

In this episode, I open up about the difference between true mental toughness and burnout — because there’s a point where constantly pushing yourself stops building you and starts emptying you.

We discuss:
• The emotional exhaustion that hides behind “hard work”
• Why burnout often looks like numbness, irritability, and loss of passion
• The pressure ambitious people put on themselves to always keep going
• Why rest feels uncomfortable when your worth is tied to productivity
• The difference between discipline and self-destruction
• Learning that slowing down does not mean giving up

Sometimes the strongest people are the ones carrying the heaviest things in silence.

And sometimes healing starts the moment you stop treating yourself like a machine.

Links & Resources:

• Follow me on Instagram and TikTok at Rfr_rodeo for behind-the-scenes content

• also visit our sponsors Tacktical and Ranch Dress’n using code Rfr_rodeo and Rocket Donkey using code RachelF10

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your rodeo friends! Got a question or topic you'd love to hear about? Send me an email at [email protected] 

See you next week! Keep those barrels tight and your dreams big!

People always say:
“Just relax.”
“Just enjoy it.”
“Just have fun.”

But when your dreams matter deeply to you, it’s rarely that simple.

In this episode, I talk about the emotional pressure behind rodeo, competition, and ambition — and why so many athletes struggle to enjoy the thing they love most.

We discuss:
• How passion slowly turns into pressure
• The fear of wasting potential or falling behind
• Why perfectionism steals joy from the process
• The emotional weight athletes carry quietly
• Learning how to be present instead of constantly chasing the next goal
• Reconnecting with the reason you started in the first place

Sometimes the hardest thing isn’t working harder.

Sometimes it’s allowing yourself to enjoy where you already are.

Links & Resources:

• Follow me on Instagram and TikTok at Rfr_rodeo for behind-the-scenes content

• also visit our sponsors Tacktical and Ranch Dress’n using code Rfr_rodeo and Rocket Donkey using code RachelF10

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your rodeo friends! Got a question or topic you'd love to hear about? Send me an email at [email protected] 

See you next week! Keep those barrels tight and your dreams big!

In a world full of opinions, social media, pressure, and competition, it’s easy to forget why you started riding in the first place. This episode is about learning how to stop performing for everyone else and reconnect with riding for yourself again.

Links & Resources:

• Follow me on Instagram and TikTok at Rfr_rodeo for behind-the-scenes content

• also visit our sponsors Tacktical and Ranch Dress’n using code Rfr_rodeo and Rocket Donkey using code RachelF10

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your rodeo friends! Got a question or topic you'd love to hear about? Send me an email at [email protected] 

See you next week! Keep those barrels tight and your dreams big!