Kristin Yde • Barrel Racer

Kristin Yde • Barrel Racer 2016 American Semi-Finals Qualifier • 2016 SRA Champ & Horse of the Year • 2016 Carousel Farms 1D Champ • 2016 SEBRA National Champ • WPRA/IPRA/SRA/SEBRA

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Everybody talks about speed, but speed isn’t always what makes a horse fun.If you could only pick one, would you rather ...
06/19/2026

Everybody talks about speed, but speed isn’t always what makes a horse fun.

If you could only pick one, would you rather have a horse that’s:

• Extremely talented
• Extremely consistent
• Extremely easy to ride

There’s no wrong answer, but it’s funny how priorities change the longer you’re in this sport. What sounds good on paper isn’t always what you’d choose after hauling thousands of miles and making hundreds of runs.

For me, the answer today might be different than it would’ve been 10 years ago.

Which one are you picking and why?

What’s a barrel racing opinion that would get you kicked out of a Facebook comment section?I’ll start:Just because a hor...
06/18/2026

What’s a barrel racing opinion that would get you kicked out of a Facebook comment section?

I’ll start:

Just because a horse is running fast doesn’t mean it’s well trained.

Speed and training are not the same thing.

Some horses win despite holes in their foundation because they’re talented enough to overcome them. The truly special ones are the horses that are both talented and broke.

What’s your unpopular barrel racing opinion? 👀

Sometimes it’s the simple things.We’ve been needing some rain, but we also needed just enough cooperation from Mother Na...
06/17/2026

Sometimes it’s the simple things.

We’ve been needing some rain, but we also needed just enough cooperation from Mother Nature to get some hay cut. Thankfully, the weather finally lined up and a fresh load made it to the farm.

As horse people, we spend a lot of time focusing on training, competitions, and day-to-day routines, but none of it happens without the basics being covered first.

Nothing beats opening up a load of good-quality hay and knowing the horses are set.

Very thankful for the farmers who make it happen and for a trailer full of fresh hay heading into summer.

When people talk about what separates average competitors from great ones, the conversation usually turns to talent, mon...
06/17/2026

When people talk about what separates average competitors from great ones, the conversation usually turns to talent, money, connections, or horsepower.

Those things can help.

But consistency is what keeps showing up at the top.

The riders who make progress year after year aren’t always the most naturally gifted. They’re the ones who continue doing the boring things long after the excitement wears off.

They condition when nobody is watching.
They stick to a plan when results aren’t immediate.
They work on fundamentals even after they’ve had success.
They keep showing up after the bad runs, missed checks, and frustrating weekends.

Most people can stay motivated when things are going well.

The best competitors stay disciplined when they’re not.

Success in this sport is rarely built on one great run. It’s usually built on hundreds of ordinary days that nobody else sees.

What do you think is the biggest separator between average competitors and great ones?

Everybody loves talking about the horses that are winning right now.What often gets overlooked are the months—and someti...
06/16/2026

Everybody loves talking about the horses that are winning right now.

What often gets overlooked are the months—and sometimes years—spent building the horse before anyone notices.

The hauling.

The exhibitions.

The slow days.

The confidence-building.

The small improvements that don’t make headlines but matter anyway.

Most good horses don’t become good horses overnight.

They become good horses because someone was willing to keep showing up, stay patient, and trust the process long before the results matched the effort.

In a world that celebrates instant success, patience is still one of the most valuable skills a competitor can have.

What’s a horse that taught you the value of patience?

What’s something you wish more people understood about barrel racing?Not what annoys you.Not your biggest pet peeve.Some...
06/15/2026

What’s something you wish more people understood about barrel racing?

Not what annoys you.
Not your biggest pet peeve.

Something you genuinely wish more people understood.

Maybe it’s how much time goes into preparing a horse.
Maybe it’s the mental side.
Maybe it’s the financial commitment.
Maybe it’s how long it takes to develop consistency.

Curious to hear everyone’s answers because there are a lot of misconceptions about what goes into making a good barrel horse.

Drop yours below. 👇🏻

(And yes, I know everyone’s answer is going to be “it’s expensive.”) 😅

One of the easiest ways to gain an edge during the summer isn’t complicated at all.Ride early. Or ride late.The riders w...
06/14/2026

One of the easiest ways to gain an edge during the summer isn’t complicated at all.

Ride early. Or ride late.

The riders who stay consistent through the heat are usually the ones willing to set an alarm before sunrise or climb on after dinner when everyone else is calling it a day.

Your horse doesn’t care if conditioning happens at 6 AM or 9 PM. What matters is that it gets done.

Summer has a way of exposing who is committed and who is waiting for perfect conditions. The weather may change your schedule, but it doesn’t have to change your goals.

Some of my favorite rides happen when the barn is quiet, the temperatures are manageable, and the rest of the world is still asleep—or already winding down for the night.

Are you more of an early morning rider or a late-night rider during the summer?

Day 1 Didn’t Go Your Way. Now What?Not every show starts the way you hoped.Maybe you tipped a barrel.Maybe you made a ri...
06/13/2026

Day 1 Didn’t Go Your Way. Now What?

Not every show starts the way you hoped.

Maybe you tipped a barrel.
Maybe you made a riding mistake.
Maybe your horse felt great and the clock just didn’t reflect it.
Maybe it was simply one of those days.

The competitors who consistently do well aren’t the ones who never have bad runs. They’re the ones who don’t carry yesterday’s mistakes into today’s run.

A bad first day doesn’t automatically mean a bad weekend.

Watch the video. Learn what you can. Make any necessary adjustments. Then move on.

Your horse deserves a rider who’s focused on the next opportunity, not replaying the last one.

What’s your biggest challenge after a disappointing run—overthinking, confidence, or trying too hard to make up for it?

Would you rather know the truth?One of the most valuable things a trainer can give a client isn’t a winning run or a fan...
06/12/2026

Would you rather know the truth?

One of the most valuable things a trainer can give a client isn’t a winning run or a fancy video.

It’s honesty.

Every horse’s journey looks different. Some make progress quickly. Some need more time. Some exceed expectations, and some take a few detours along the way. That’s just part of working with horses.

As a trainer, it’s easy to only share the highlights. The good rides. The breakthroughs. The wins.

But the reality is that clients deserve the full picture.

If a horse is progressing exactly as planned, great. If they’re struggling with something, the owner should know that too. Honest communication builds trust, sets realistic expectations, and ultimately creates better outcomes for both horse and owner.

The best client-trainer relationships aren’t built on telling people what they want to hear. They’re built on keeping people informed, answering questions, and being transparent about where a horse truly is in the process.

At the end of the day, I’d rather have an uncomfortable conversation than let a client be surprised.

Question: If your horse was in training, would you rather get updates only when things are going great, or hear the whole story along the way?

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1362 Chic Ennis Road
Benson, NC
27504

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