K&M Stables LLC

09/05/2026

A good trainer shouldn’t want a student dependent on them forever.

The goal is to build riders who can eventually think, feel and make decisions for themselves.

That means learning how to warm up their own horse instead of always having someone else get one ready for them. Learning what their horse feels like on a good day so they can recognize when something feels off. Learning when one needs more work, when one needs less, and when the smartest thing they can do is leave it alone.

It means being able to walk into the arena without someone telling them every single move to make.

Of course there are times a trainer needs to step in. Sometimes I need to get on one. Sometimes a student needs more direction. Sometimes we need to go back to the basics and work through something together.

But the end goal should always be progress toward independence.

I want my students to understand WHY we’re doing something, not just memorize instructions.

Because eventually I want them to be able to make a run, come out of the arena and tell me what they felt before I tell them what I saw. I want them to recognize their own mistakes, recognize when their horse needs help, and start figuring out what adjustment needs to happen next.

That’s how you build horsemen—not just riders who can follow directions.

And honestly, I think one of the biggest compliments a trainer can get is watching a student handle a situation correctly when you never had to say a word.

At what point do you think a trainer should start stepping back and making a student figure more things out for themselves?

08/12/2026

**Training Tip Tuesday: Softness doesn’t start in the face.**

This weekend, one of the riders here was struggling with a mare who kept doing something unusual with her face. I could see what she was talking about, but I didn’t want to assume I knew why it was happening just from watching. I asked to ride the mare because sometimes you need to feel what is happening before you can understand where the problem begins.

Once I was on her, it became clear that the problem wasn’t really in her face. Her feet and body weren’t in the right place, so the lack of connection was showing up as a brace in her face. Within about five laps, she was working in perfectly beautiful circles to the right—not because I worked harder on her face, but because I helped her feet understand where they needed to go.

You can make a horse laterally soft while standing still, but real softness has to connect the reins to the feet and travel through the entire body. When the feet aren’t connected to the reins, the brace may show up in the face, but the face isn’t necessarily where the problem began. The better those pieces become connected, the softer the whole horse becomes.

This is why professional eyes on your horse can be so valuable. A good coach can help you recognize what you’re feeling, sort out where the problem is actually starting, and keep you from spending weeks trying to fix the place where it happens to be showing up. That is exactly the kind of problem-solving we work through at my clinics and in my virtual coaching.

If you’re ready for help sorting through what you’re feeling with your horse, send me a message to learn more about upcoming clinics or virtual coaching.

08/12/2026

How much do you actually watch your horse?

Not ride them. Not train them. Not ask them to do anything.

Just watch.

Watch how they walk out of the stall. How they stand tied to the trailer. How they eat. How they move around after a haul. How they warm up before you really start asking for anything. How they cool down. How they interact with other horses. What they do when they’re comfortable versus when something feels a little off.

I think knowing what’s normal for each individual horse is one of the most valuable tools we have.

Sometimes the first sign that something needs attention isn’t a head bob or an obvious problem. It’s the horse that normally cleans up suddenly leaving a little feed. The one that usually stands square constantly resting the same leg. A change in attitude. A different way of carrying themselves. Something small that you’d probably never notice if you weren’t paying attention on the ordinary days.

Good horsemanship isn’t only what happens when you’re in the saddle.

What’s something you’ve caught early simply because you knew your horse well enough to notice something had changed?

08/07/2026

We are ready to rock and roll, now! After waiting 6 long weeks, we’ve finally got the truck back!

08/05/2026

If this ain’t the truth 🤣

08/03/2026

Two-time NFR qualifier Britany Diaz was having a hard time keeping her mare Dasher Dude from fading into the first barrel. Barrel racers who have experienced the same challenge on their own horses describe what feels like a magnetic force pulling the horse to the barrel and out of position.

The problem was, "Rootie" wasn’t staying square or responding to the cues Diaz was giving with her inside hand and leg. Diaz turned to her hauling partner and veteran NFR qualifier, Lisa Lockhart, for advice. Compiling Lockhart’s suggestions with Rootie’s needs, Diaz created this problem-solving drill.

Check it out ⬇

🔗 https://bhnmag.co/antifade-drill

07/24/2026

07/24/2026

If you feel hot, your horse feels even hotter.

Horses have a much harder time processing heat and humidity than humans. And among horses, foals usually cannot handle as much heat as adult horses. A mare may be fine, but her foal may be getting sick from being out on a hot day.

Horses with heavy muscling or excess fat or in poor condition will also be more susceptible to heat exhaustion. Keep in mind that exercise is a major source of body heat and strenuous work on a hot, humid day can lead to problems in a short period of time for even the best-conditioned horse.

Does this mean you should not ride on a hot and humid day? Not necessarily. It just means you should take precautions and use common sense. And remember: don't push it! If your horse looks tired, it’s time for a drink, a cold bath, and a break in the shade.