10/20/2026
Tuesdays at Goldtree 🐴🌳
There’s More Than One Way to Make a Good Pony
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that there’s more than one way to make a good horse. Or in my case, a good pony.
My background is a little bit of everything. I grew up in the hunter/jumper world, spent years managing a boarding barn, and have been fortunate enough to gain exposure to some incredible AQHA breeding programs, from all-around horses to cow horses. I’ve shown reining and boxing, taken cutting, cow horse, and barrel racing lessons, learned to rope (not particularly well 😉), and now raise cattle while living the ranch lifestyle.
Needless to say, my experiences have shaped how I raise and develop my ponies today.
I’m what I like to call a DIY amateur. I’ve stood my own stallion, bred and raised ponies, and taken on much of the responsibility of training my OWN youngsters, managing their development, riding them at home, and preparing them for shows.
I don’t have a consistent trainer, but that doesn’t mean I do it alone. I’m lucky to have some incredible horsemen and women in my corner, including USEF ‘R’ judges and AQHA judges. I take lessons, ask questions, and occasionally send a pony to someone I trust for additional training. And let’s face it, finding someone small enough to ride ponies isn’t always easy! 😂
I’ve learned some expensive lessons along the way, but one thing I firmly believe is that a good training program doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s.
Sometimes a c**t starter, a Western trainer, or simply a different perspective can make all the difference. Good horsemanship crosses disciplines, and I believe that versatility helps create confident, well-rounded ponies.
My ultimate goal is to raise and develop safe, capable ponies that can become wonderful partners, especially for kids.
So, welcome to Tuesdays at Goldtree! I’ll be sharing the breeding, foaling, training, showing, challenges, successes, and occasional chaos that comes with doing things a little differently.
I’m certainly not claiming to have all the answers. I’m still learning, and that’s half the fun.
Because good horsemanship isn’t about whose name is on your tack trunk. It’s about the horse you’re developing. 🐴
