06/25/2026
I didn't say it first and I definitely won't be saying it last.
The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know.
Pretty humbled by all the knowledge I had the privilege of accessing over the weekend.
I couldn't take the young one I wanted, due to a broken bone in the stifle, so I shopped until I dropped and didn't have a horse to take for the clinic.
Wanda Derek Denham post caught me when it said to STOP SCROLLING haha!
It was 3 days to clinic time and I saw one I liked. Sight unseen, I knew she would stand behind her horse, I sent it and picked up this guy. We call him DUDE. Hey Dude.
Handled, quiet and a good mind, my only competition was me.
If you're a mom you know. Something changes after kids and suddenly I think twice about climbing on.
My ONLY goal this weekend was to fill the gaps in my starts and learn what more I could do to prepare for those first rides, build some confidence in a group setting and have some fun.
I have nothing to prove. I just want to do a better job on every horse that crosses my path.
Braden Bernier absolutely crushed my goals and then some. Credit where credit is due, you guys. I told him straight up that the moment we were going to lope is where everything I do usually falls apart and in my head, the past had me shaking in my boots. Well, thats why we prep him he simply says. Proceeds to climb on, hands me the rope and we move through each transition effortlessly as my horse had proved ready.
That moment was incredible. To see the new tools work. Each step leading up to that lope prepped my horse for it all to be no big deal.
I cant wait to implement what I learned on all of my horses and more.
It honestly takes guts you guys, but the more you know, the easier it gets and the more predictable your ride is. Usually (insert Braden laugh).
HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ALL TRAINERS. I promise, there is more to learn. Always.
