Austin Shepard, NCHA Hall of Fame Rider, two time NCHA Futurity winner, and NCHA Open World Champion with over $10 Million in LTE. Austin has trained some of the most elite cutting horses in the industry today, including: Highbrow CD, Bet Hesa Cat, Bamacat, Bama Jelly, Dual Reyish, Wood She B Magic, Kittenish, Kinky Bootz, Fancy Deville, Countess Catrina and dozens more.  

Topics we discuss: •Buster Welch •The evolution of the performance horse •Pregame rituals and mindfulness practice •Show shirts •The American Performance Horseman •Lessons learned the hard way •Top horses in the industry today

Enjoy the show!

The Converse Cowboy

Mark Michels, owner and founder of 'Performance Horse Central' visits me on the show at the Teton Ridge booth during the '2023 Metallic Cat NCHA Futurity'.  'Performance Horse Central' has revolutionized how spectators and competitors stay in tune with the performance horse industry today.  

Mark is the mastermind behind PHC and the primary reason that it has become a staple for the performance horse industry.   Enjoy the show!

The Converse Cowboy

Cade Shepard sets the tone for the 2023 NCHA Futurity, marking a 225 in the 1st go.  He visits the show at the Teton Ridge booth to discuss his run.  We talk about what makes this horse special and his strategy for events like the Futurity.  Enjoy the show!

The Converse Cowboy

Luca Fappani, professional Reining Horse Trainer, $625K LTE, has a bright future ahead of him.  With some of the best to ever play the game in his corner, we discuss the role that his father and NRHA legend, Andrea Fappani, ($8 Million LTE) has played in shaping his mindset in the show pen.  We discuss what shows like 'The Run For A Million' and Teton Ridge's 'American Performance Horse' are doing for the performance horse industry.  Enjoy the show!!

The Converse Cowboy

Glad to have Matt MIlls visit the show in Las Vegas at 'The Run For A Million'.  Born and raised in Southern California, Matt began riding horses at an early age. He enjoyed a successful career as a youth rider, earning multiple championships throughout California in a variety of disciplines including western pleasure, horsemanship and trail. In 1996 he switched his focus to reining and a few years later established his own training operation in Scottsdale, Arizona. Recently he made the move to Weatherford, Texas. 

Matt is consistently ranked on the NRHA Top Twenty Professionals Riders list and has NRHA lifetime earnings of over $1,000,000.00. He is regularly a finalist at major NRHA events and has received several titles including NRHA Intermediate Open Futurity Reserve Champion as well as multiple titles at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC). He has also earned several large futurity and derby titles including RMRHA Summer Slide, High Roller Reining Classic, SWRHA Futurity and NRHA Cowtown Classic. In addition to his youth, skill and natural riding ability, he is well known for his professionalism, showmanship, and charismatic personality. Consequently, he is in high demand for clinics in the United States, Europe and Mexico.  Enjoy the show!!

The Converse Cowboy

Truly a pleasure to visit with Chelsea Edsall (@cheersitschelsea), this episode is entertaining and informative.  Tune into this episode to hear more about the performance horse world from a trainer's wife perspective.  We cover a number of topics throughout this interview, ie. Texas living, IG Lives, Cowhorse mental health, The Run For A Million and much more.  Enjoy the show!   Subscriber Benefits, (Subscribe only on Apple Podcast).                                                             • Early Access To All Shows  • Ad-Free Listening • Exclusive Content  • A minimum of 10% of subscription profits will be donated to charity • (New episodes released weekly) As always thank you for your support!   Stay Grateful!!   The Converse Cowboy

 

Al Dunning has owned and operated the Almosta Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona since 1970. Over the years, Al has developed his multi-faceted equine business with a focus on the development of champion horses and riders. With over 45 World and Reserve World Titles, Al and his students have dominated in AQHA, NCHA, NRCHA, and NRHA events. His love of teaching has taken Al all over the world, conducting clinics and sharing his techniques and philosophies of horsemanship.  Enjoy the show!   Subscriber Benefits, (Subscribe only on Apple Podcast).                                                             • Early Access To All Shows  • Ad-Free Listening • Exclusive Content  • A minimum of 10% of subscription profits will be donated to charity • (New episodes released weekly)   As always thank you for your support, enjoy the show!   The Converse Cowboy

NRCHA Million Dollar Rider, and 2016 Worlds Greatest Horseman Champion, Clayton Edsall joins me on the show in Las Vegas during 'The Run For A Million'.  Enjoy the show!!

Subscriber Benefits:  (Subscribe only on Apple Podcast).                                                             •Early Access To All Shows  •Ad-Free Listening •Exclusive Content  •A minimum of 10% of subscription profits will be donated to charity •(New episodes released weekly)

As always thank you for your support!

Stay Grateful!! The Converse Cowboy

Truly a honor to have living legend, Boyd Rice join me on the show in Las Vegas at 'The Run For A Million'.  Boyd has lifetime earnings in excess of $4 million in the Western performance horse industry. Well respected professionally as a horseman and as a human.  His successes have come from natural talent, hard work and family support.

Among Boyd's many accolades are, NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Championship and Worlds Greatest Horseman Champion, along with multiple aged event finalist in Ft Worth.  Boyd Rice is no stranger to the winners circle.  Tune in to this episode to hear his mindset and strategy before showtime. 

*Subscriber Benefits:  (Subscribe on Apple Podcast).                                                             •    Early Access To All Shows  •    Ad-Free Listening •    Exclusive Content  •    A minimum of 10% of subscription profits will be donated to charity •    (New episodes released weekly) As always thank you for your support, enjoy the show!

The Converse Cowboy

With NCHA lifetime earnings in excess of $9 Million, professional cutting horse trainer and living legend, Matt Gaines needs no introduction.  The NCHA Hall of Famer and 2016 NCHA Futurity Champion joins me on the show at the Kimes booth in Las Vegas to talk about his strategy and mindset for events like the 'Run For A Million'.  Enjoy the show!

Now Offering Subscriptions:  (Subscribe Only On Apple Podcast).                                                            

• Early Access To All Shows 
• Ad-Free Listening
• Exclusive Content 
• A minimum of 10% of subscription profits will be donated to charity
• (New episodes released weekly)

As always thank you for your support, enjoy the show!

Stay Grateful!!

The Converse Cowboy