08/04/2026
I want to address the buckle situation from our April and May shows.
First, we had several buckles left over from our February and March shows, and many exhibitors have already picked up those leftover buckles for the classes they won.
What many people don’t realize is that I handle every single aspect of these shows myself from paperwork, entries, and payouts to awards and everything in between. Thankfully, Amanda has recently stepped in and taken a huge load off my shoulders by helping with awards and sponsors, and I am incredibly grateful for her.
I’m also a mom. This summer I made the decision to not host shows and not even focus on selling horses so I could give my children my full attention and create memories they’ll remember forever. I don’t regret that decision for one second.
Because of that, I have not yet had the opportunity to sit down and go through every class from April and May to verify who has already received buckles and who still needs one. That process takes time, and I ask for a little patience and understanding.
What is discouraging is hearing that concerns are being taken to other people or discussed behind my back instead of simply reaching out to me. If there is ever a question, I will always do my best to make it right. Communication goes a long way.
Please also remember that many of you leave our shows with thousands of dollars in awards, and we are still giving away year-end awards, additional buckles, saddles, and so much more. We truly try to give back to our exhibitors more than most producers ever could.
I’ll be honest if the constant complaints, gossip, and lack of patience continue, I’ll have to seriously reconsider continuing to provide buckles, go above and beyond with awards, or even continue producing these ranch horse shows. There comes a point where no matter how much you give, it feels like it still isn’t enough.
To everyone who has shown grace, patience, and support—thank you. You are the reason we keep doing this. Your kindness never goes unnoticed.
And to those who are unhappy, that’s okay too. No one is ever required to attend our events. We work incredibly hard to put on shows we’re proud of, and we will continue to focus on the people who appreciate that effort.