05/15/2026
THESE SIMPLE NOTES CHANGED MY LIFE
I debated on sharing these notes. Not because I’m ashamed of them, but because I know how social media works. People judge... People like to make fun... And people criticize things they don’t understand.
But if this helps one person the way I wish I could've had the opportunity to have been helped years ago… then it’s worth posting.
These are lessons I’ve written down over time while chasing better horsemanship, better understanding, and trying to become a better human being.
I've learned the better we become as a person, the better our horses become too.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
1. You will always have critics. And the better you get, the louder some of them become. But I’m already my own biggest critic. I don’t have time to let outside negativity control my direction. There is no one harder on me, than me.
2. I know people make fun of my posts. They talk about me in their little circles. But my posts weren't made for just them. They’re for the kid who grew up like I did… wanting to learn but not having the guidance they needed around them. They’re for the teenager who's lost and trying to understand their life. They’re for the adult scared to ask questions, and scared to stand up for what's right because they don’t want judged or criticized. If one of my post helps one person think different… then it did its job.
3. One of the greatest tools I use for training horses… is sitting alone with a horse. Sounds crazy to some people. But sitting in silence with just the sound of a horse munching on hay or breathing on the back of my neck helps me think clearer, slows my mind down, and helps me reflect on life and horses past and present.
Our personal development and our horsemanship are very similar. The results depend on the time, consistency, patience, and the investment you put into them.
4. Honesty is one of the greatest tools in horsemanship. Be honest with your clients. Be honest with the horse. And most importantly… be honest with yourself. Rushing the process to impress people almost always backfires, and the horse is usually the one who pays the price for human ego.
5. If you own a horse… you are training a horse.
Every interaction matters. Leading them. Feeding them. The way you handle them. Ignoring behaviors. Rewarding behaviors.
Your horse is learning from you every single time you are interacting with them… whether you realize it or not.
6. Horsemanship is not always sunshine, fairy-tales, or perfect highlight reels. There will be hard days. Frustrating moments. Days you question yourself as a owner, rider, and trainer.
But some of your greatest growth will come from those moments. I strongly believe this quote is true: “Frustration is where knowledge ends.” When frustration starts to take over… stop, breathe, think, reset, and try again.
7. Failure is not your enemy. Failure is one of the greatest teachers you’ll ever have. The best athletes, competitors, and horsemen in the world have failed more times than most people ever attempted.
8. Invest in yourself. Knowledge matters. Experience matters. Practicing matters. A person without knowledge is like a plant without water.
9. Ask yourself this daily: “What can I do in my training session today to make my horse better than yesterday?” That question creates purpose.
Purpose creates progress.
10. Never stop moving forward. Comfort zones kill growth. Stopping to evaluate and learn is not quitting. Stopping because the frustration beat you or hurt your ego… is. Your toughest moments are often preparing you for your biggest victories.
11. Confidence is built through experience… and experience usually comes through failure first.
A confident leader is not someone who never gets scared. A confident leader is someone who can help their horse work through fear without falling apart themselves.
12. Trainers need trainers too. The best horsemen I know are still students. You will never know it all. We need to always be learning, asking questions, and searching for better ways.
13. And finally… STAY HUMBLE. No matter how much you learn, one horse or one bad decision in life can humble you very quickly. One experience will remind you there’s still so much to get better at.
That’s the beautiful thing about horses… They will expose the truth and your ego. But they will also give you the opportunity to build your character, and you as a human if you let them.
Dream BIG. NEVER QUIT!
📸: Jared H Searcy
ReelCowboy
