KT Barrel Racing & Horsemanship Clinics

09/05/2026

09/05/2026

Sometimes before we label the horse, we need to look at who’s riding it.

“He’s anxious.”
“She’s too reactive.”
“He gets worked up.”
“She won’t relax.”
“He’s always looking for a fight.”

Okay… but does the horse act that way with everyone?

Because that matters.

Horses absolutely have their own personalities, quirks and tendencies. But riders bring a personality into the equation too. We bring our timing, nerves, habits, expectations, pressure and reactions — and horses get very good at learning all of it.

Put the same horse under two different riders and you can sometimes see two completely different animals.

That doesn’t automatically mean one rider is better than the other. Sometimes personalities simply clash. A rider who likes to micromanage may struggle with a horse that needs to be left alone. A timid rider may unintentionally give a pushy horse too much room. A sensitive rider might be perfect for one horse and constantly a step behind another.

And occasionally the horse everyone calls “difficult” becomes pretty uncomplicated when the communication changes.

That’s one of the harder parts of horsemanship: being willing to ask whether the horse needs to change… or whether we do.

Have you ever watched a horse completely change with a different rider?

09/04/2026

💥💥💥🛢️🛢️🛢️🐴🐴

09/03/2026

🙌🏻

Let’s talk about bits…but more importantly, let’s talk about the hands holding them.

I like a horse light and reactive. Some people might even say “over-bridled,” but when I touch the reins, I want an immediate response. I want that horse to come back to me or meet me in the middle without me having to pull, hold, or ask repeatedly.

That kind of sensitivity works in my hands because my release is just as quick as my request. The second the horse responds, I give back. To me, the release is what keeps a light horse confident instead of making one anxious or afraid of the bridle.

Put that same bit and that same sensitive horse in hands with a slower reaction time or a delayed release, and the outcome can be completely different. What feels light and responsive to one rider may feel nervous, trapped, or reactive with another.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the bit is bad, the horse is difficult, or the rider is wrong. It means the entire picture has to match: the bit, the horse, the rider’s hands, their timing, and the response they’re trying to create.

A bit is only part of the conversation. Your hands and especially your release determines how the horse learns to answer it.

09/03/2026

Paid Ta Boogie by the infamous Jets Pay Day aka Boogie! My friend Brenda Mann Kreft came over to look at a full sister to This Gals Got Credit that was on target for the futurities. She owned Boogie and needed to sell her before she could purchase another horse. Marsee had won the 4 D saddle on a paint pony Ronda Butler ran across and I was looking for a step up. So I asked if we could try her for Marsee. As fate would have it seemed like a great fit so we traded. We started out slow running in the 3D, gradually getting more confident and faster! I guess the thing that stands out the most in my mind was the year Marsee ran Goldie (Florida Flit) at our FL NBHA State Finals and Boogie in the youth. No rollovers back then! She ended up winning both and was less than a tenths difference in her times! This mare gave Marsee the confidence to ride to win! After moving to OK and joining the MRCA a youth rodeo association, she ended up in a dead heat to win the year end with a tough competitor whose family trained and competed on great winners. She showed up with quite the “ Gun” to run at the finals. We had more am******on in the barn too so I asked Marsee if she wanted to change horses her answer was “ no ma’am, Im gonna dance with the one that brought me”. Ill never forget that ❤️ Boogies incredible consistency and no hit barrels and Marsee’s confidence in her, cinched the year end title and the average! What an incredible team ❤️ Great memories and blessed to be Marsee’s mom❤️


equine

09/02/2026

Yesterday we talked about what sellers should disclose.

Now let’s flip it around: what should buyers be asking?

Buying a horse can be intimidating when you’re inexperienced because sometimes you genuinely don’t know what questions you’re supposed to ask. And “Is he safe?” or “Does she have any issues?” can mean ten different things to ten different people.

Ask specific questions.

Has the horse ever bucked, reared, bolted, flipped over, kicked, bitten or pulled back?

Any history of alley issues, gate problems, anxiety, buddy sour behavior or needing another horse nearby?

Does the horse require maintenance? Injections? Special shoeing? Daily medication or supplements?

Any previous injuries, surgeries, lameness or time off?

How does the horse haul? Stand tied? Bathe? Clip? Shoe? Handle being stalled? Turn out with other horses?

What level of rider has actually been riding the horse successfully?

And if you’re inexperienced, take your trainer with you.

Not just someone who has owned horses for a long time. Take someone knowledgeable who understands your riding ability, your goals and what you can realistically handle. A good trainer may notice things you don’t even know to look for, and sometimes the best money you’ll spend is having someone tell you, “This is not the horse for you.”

Then do the PPE.

A pre-purchase exam isn’t about finding a perfectly clean horse. Those are pretty hard to come by. It’s about gathering enough information to make an educated decision about whether that particular horse is appropriate for the job you’re buying it to do — and understanding what you may be taking on financially and physically.

Use your vet when possible, or an independent vet who isn’t financially connected to the sale. Tell them what you plan to do with the horse so they can help you evaluate the findings accordingly.

Sellers should be honest.

But buyers should also ask questions, bring knowledgeable help, do their homework and protect themselves before the money ever changes hands.

The first horse I bought as a teenager turned into an absolute nightmare, and looking back, there were so many things I simply didn’t know to ask or look for. You can’t ask questions you don’t even know exist yet.

So instead of making newer horse owners learn every lesson the hard way, let’s spread some knowledge and hopefully help somebody avoid ending up in one of those situations.

What’s a question you wish someone had told you to ask before you bought your first horse?

09/01/2026

Its amazing🤠

IT’S HERE. 🎉

Introducing SUCCEED® Competition Formula — a daily digestive tract program for competition horses.

Developed to support the entire digestive tract during competition stress, with additional amino acids and B vitamins.

Designed for the moments that matter.

Available exclusively through the SUCCEED® Competition Formula Challenge.

Learn more: https://www.succeed-equine.com/competition-formula-challenge/