You are listening to the Horse Radio.
Speaker BNetwork, part of the Equine Network family.
Speaker BWhat a beautiful day for horses in the morning.
Speaker CYou are listening to the number one.
Speaker AHorse podcast in the world.
Speaker CHere is your entertaining look at the.
Speaker AHorse world and the people in it.
Speaker CI'm Sarah Honager.
Speaker DAnd I'm Kristi Landwehr.
Speaker DAnd you are listening to this special monthly NRHA episode of Horses in the Morning on the Horse Radio Network for this Thursday, June 12th.
Speaker CGood morning Horse World.
Speaker BIt's the second Thursday of the month.
Speaker BThat means it's time to slide in to the national reigning horse association episode of Horses in the Morning.
Speaker DForeigning Horse association episode.
Speaker DWe're going to listen in to hear Kim Ulstetter chat about her journey as last year's NRHA Derby non pro champion and find out more about how the Bob's custom saddles that are awarded at this prestigious show are made.
Speaker DListen in.
Speaker DSarah, you are just recently getting back from a fabulous trip with the National Reining Horse Association Youth officers to Washington D.C. can you tell us more about what that trip was all about?
Speaker COh my gosh, I would love to.
Speaker CThis is one of my favorite trips we do every year and we could not do it without the help and partnership of the American Quarter Horse Association.
Speaker CIt's actually their youth officers and leadership team and nrhyas and they train for weeks on issues that are affecting the equine industry.
Speaker CAnd then we all go to Washington D.C. and they meet with folks to just talk about it on the Hill.
Speaker CAnd they actually had over 34 meetings with different senators and congressmen.
Speaker CYeah, it's a crazy amount.
Speaker CAnd that's in two days.
Speaker CI mean they are really, really hitting the pavement the second they get there.
Speaker CAnd our industry should just be so proud of the young people coming up in it.
Speaker CThey are just stars.
Speaker DYou think about how many people that are citizens of the United States, first of all, hasn't have never been to D.C. second of all, have definitely never gone up on the Hill to talk to any of our congressmen or congresswomen or anything.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DAnd yet here are the youth and what did they range in age from?
Speaker COh gosh, 14 to 19.
Speaker DAwesome.
Speaker CYou know, some of them, this was their first time on a plane.
Speaker CAnd and you think about, I think, I mean, I don't know how old this survey is, but I remember hearing that most Americans greatest fear is public speaking.
Speaker CAnd so you have kids that sometimes have never even been on a plane going to D.C. and having to speak to these senators, congressmen about issues that they really just became familiar with weeks ago and I don't know very many adults that would have the confidence to do that.
Speaker CAnd they were in professional attire, they were so well spoken.
Speaker CWe received so much feedback that our youth were actually better prepared and looked more professional than some paid lobbyists.
Speaker CSo that's pretty exciting.
Speaker DYes.
Speaker DIt is life changing for these kids though.
Speaker CYeah.
Speaker DAnd just they'll never forget.
Speaker CThey, they will not.
Speaker CAnd you know, I just come back really proud of them.
Speaker CThey come back and are such efficient, wonderful public speakers.
Speaker CThey can get their points across, you know, their elevator pitches on point and just seeing them transform in two days, it's a really, really neat process.
Speaker CAnd I think it speaks to partnerships too.
Speaker CYou know, being able to do this with aqaj, we were able to have a meeting with the USDA and just really special unique opportunities.
Speaker CAnd you know, I think it's something to learn from too.
Speaker CWe all just can grow together when we help each other.
Speaker DI'll tell you mentioning the public speaking though, I do want to continue on this youth track for a second.
Speaker DWe do have a public speaking contest that's going on at our derby here just next week for those that are listening.
Speaker DAnd it is sponsored by Cinch, which is really exciting.
Speaker DAnd that is actually going to take place on Friday the 20th.
Speaker DCan you tell us a little bit more about that contest?
Speaker DYeah.
Speaker CThis contest is really a fun opportunity for scholarships.
Speaker CAnd it there's two age categories, 13 and under and 14 to 18.
Speaker CAnd there's three different categories within those age groups.
Speaker CSo whether they want to recite a general, whether they want to talk about a community service presentation or just a prepared speech on any sort of topic, they can enter this.
Speaker CAnd I think the neatest thing about NRHYA that we don't talk about enough is that there is no minimum age of when they can start earning scholarships.
Speaker CSo if There is a 10 year old listening that wants to go and recite a general, they could potentially win a $700 scholarship and just keep stacking these scholarships until they get to college.
Speaker CSo, you know, we often talk about our big scholarships, but stacking all these smaller ones and starting young when the reigning horse foundation gives nearly $90,000 in scholarships a year, almost all of that can really add up and make such a large difference for families as youth start looking at college.
Speaker CSo I would absolutely encourage youth to take a look.
Speaker CIt's on our website.
Speaker CYou could also email youthrha.com and join in on the fun.
Speaker DAnd I'll tell you with a mom right now of two children in college.
Speaker DYes.
Speaker DTo all scholarships that are possible.
Speaker CExactly, exactly.
Speaker CWell, so you just got done with some traveling too, Christy?
Speaker DI actually did.
Speaker DIt was very exciting.
Speaker DWe were at the national reigning horse association European Futurity in Cremona, Italy.
Speaker DAnd I had never been to Italy before.
Speaker DAnd I was able to go to the northern part, Cremona is right outside of Milan, and before the horse show started, was able to see Venice and Lake Como and Parma, where parmesan cheese is made.
Speaker DThat was pretty awesome.
Speaker DAnd I was asked, do you like the 12 month better, the 24 age cheese better or the 36 aged cheese?
Speaker DAnd it was like a test.
Speaker DAnd I knew there was a right answer and a wrong answer and I chose right.
Speaker DI actually said that I thought the 36 would be the best and it tasted so good and he was very excited.
Speaker DHe thought my palate was very mature.
Speaker ASo that was your palate.
Speaker CThe cheese and your palate were both mature.
Speaker DThat's right.
Speaker DThat's right.
Speaker DSo I brought home quite a bit of cheese and we've been enjoying it ever since.
Speaker DBut oh my gosh, the show was amazing.
Speaker DAndrea ended up being the champion of the Open and just had a fabulous run on his horse Haas that he actually brought in, owned by a Californian couple and everybody was there to enjoy.
Speaker DThey brought the horse in actually from the United States and oh my gosh, the energy was so high that night.
Speaker DThe Italians really know how to put on a party.
Speaker DThe draw party had so much energy.
Speaker DThe VIP lounge was amazing for both non pro and open finals and it was just really good.
Speaker DSo, so kudos to the team.
Speaker DOver in Cremona, you just knocked it out of the park.
Speaker CThat is so cool.
Speaker CWell, the videos just looked awesome and, you know, I saw pictures of him signing autographs and it really just seemed like a kind of storybook ending for that event.
Speaker CSo it's so neat that you got to be there to see it.
Speaker DWe are so excited to have Garrett Morris on the show today.
Speaker DHe started at Bob's Custom Saddles in August of 21.
Speaker DHe's a tack collector at heart, collecting bits, spurs, bridles and saddles from notable makers in the industry from past and present.
Speaker DHe has been involved in the performance horse industry from a very early age, starting with reining and getting into cutting and cow horse.
Speaker DHe's a jack of all trades at Bob's, from ordering the raw materials for the saddles, the silver orders and designs, and finishing the saddles that go out to their dealers and customers.
Speaker DLike us, because we have the non pro and the open championship saddles at our derby that is coming up and we are so excited.
Speaker DWelcome to the show, Garrett.
Speaker BThank you so much for having me.
Speaker BIt's been, it is an honor.
Speaker DSo Garrett, before we dive into some of the details of the award saddles that we're going to be seeing at derby, can you please tell us about the history of Bob's Custom Saddles and how you personally got involved with them?
Speaker BAbsolutely.
Speaker BYou know, Bob's Custom Saddles has been around since 1977, started by Bob Haley.
Speaker BAnd it's just been a, one of those brands to me that was always kind of the pinnacle of, of a saddle that you look for and that you wanted, especially when I started very early on.
Speaker BI'm 37 now.
Speaker BI started off in the, you know, performance horse industry when, you know, probably getting into it around 10 years old and, and it was always that, oh man, I've got to get a Bob saddle.
Speaker BI've got to get a Bob saddle.
Speaker BThat was just kind of always the, you know, kind of my, my Everest that I had to get to.
Speaker BAnd my, my first Bob saddle I actually won with with the NRCHA when I won a world title back in 2008.
Speaker BAnd I.
Speaker BThat was my first Bob saddle.
Speaker BAnd that's kind of what for you.
Speaker DThat's awesome.
Speaker BAnd I, and I'm actually sitting there looking at my saddle right now.
Speaker BIt's sitting in front of my, sitting in my, in my, in front of my desk.
Speaker BSo it is something that I get to look at and, and you know, a lot of good memories with that one.
Speaker BBut it was my first Bob saddle and I got, you know, kind of my first Bob's Rayner, you know, shortly after that, you know, picked it up used and just kind of just started, you know, that kind of started the, the, the long, the long history of it.
Speaker BAnd, and then I got into the Bob's in 2021 when I was looking for a different career.
Speaker BBefore this, I was in the restaurant industry and I just, I was in there for about almost seven years total.
Speaker BAnd I just surprised I last that that long and was looking for a change of pace and something I was a little bit more familiar with.
Speaker BAnd this, this came about and it's been a, been a great decision on my end to do that.
Speaker DThat is awesome.
Speaker DSo why is it called Bob's?
Speaker DTell us a little bit more of the history of the company itself.
Speaker BYeah, so, you know, when Bob Haley started it back in 1977, you know, he started with, you know, with a couple saddle makers, you know, the Rios brothers.
Speaker BAnd you know, he started the shop that they were working out of, was over here in Phoen, Arizona.
Speaker BAnd he was, you know, making, you know, we've got all of our records, all of our saddle orders we have going back to the very first one.
Speaker BSo we have all that stuff that we can fall back on and rely on and, you know, and then as the company grew and evolved and got more popular, Bob sought out to fit horse and rider.
Speaker BWhen it came to the, when it came to the saddle, he was trying to put everybody in what we call, you know, the winning position is what we've always called it.
Speaker BAnd so he was trying to fit horse and is what his ultimate goal was.
Speaker BAnd he would take the raw trees and he would, you know, take a, take a grinder and a rasp and he would, you know, make, shape the bars that he wanted to shape them.
Speaker BAnd so he worked very, very closely with the products, you know, with our, with the people that make our products to, to find the best sources to make the highest quality product in the industry.
Speaker BEverything from our leather to our tree manufacturer that we've used from almost the beginning and, and then just down to the, down to the designs to the functionality of each and every part on that saddle to give everybody kind of that advantage when it comes to riding, you know, whether you're just beginning or you're a, you know, $9 million Andrea Papani that, you know, that has done this his whole career, you know, you're.
Speaker BWe try to cover every base for everybody.
Speaker CWell, that attention to detail certainly shows and it makes us so proud to have Bob's custom saddles as an NRHA corporate partner.
Speaker CAnd you all actually create our NRHA derby and non pro saddles that we award and you collaborate with another partner of ours, Montana Silversmiths, to create these.
Speaker CSo can you tell us a little bit more about what makes these saddles so unique?
Speaker CAnd I mean, for those of us who've seen them in person, they are stunning.
Speaker BThank you.
Speaker BWe, we have over the past, really, over the past year, we, you know, here in the office, me and the rest of my team, Gabby and Jameson, we've really kind of got to have some creative input on these saddles.
Speaker BAnd with Montana Silversmiths, they've been super, super great to work with and they send us obviously beautiful silver.
Speaker BEverything's from the, you know, from the rear Ds, breast collar Ds, conchos, and then the buckles that you see on the housings.
Speaker BAnd then, you know, it kind of elevate our game on how we need to make these saddles look.
Speaker BAnd so, you know, we, with the look of them this year, you know, we did some different tooling, we did some different, you know, kind of a different look to them overall just to try to try to elevate that standard, you know, I mean, you look at a long standing, you know, legacy like Montana Silversmith that puts out the best quality products in the industry, you know, no matter what it is.
Speaker BAnd it makes, it makes you elevate and have to step up your game to match that.
Speaker BAnd so that's kind of where we are very lucky.
Speaker BAnd to be able to present these saddles, you know, at such a prestigious event like the NRHA derby is very, it's an honor for us, you know, to the, to the person that worked, you know, tirelessly for, you know, countless hours and days to get to this point.
Speaker BYou know, it's a, it's an honor for us.
Speaker DWe're going to have the saddles proudly displayed right outside of the show office and the vendor center in the Bennett Event Center.
Speaker DSo for anyone that's going to be at the event, please come on over and check that out where it's going to be amazing.
Speaker DSo Garrett Bob's does and creates many western saddles for a variety of disciplines.
Speaker DBesides Raining, can you please tell us the other types of saddles that you create for the western industry?
Speaker BYou know, we, we make it all.
Speaker BWe do everything from, you know, from silver western pleasure saddle all the way up to a mounted shooting saddle, barrel racing, saddle team roping.
Speaker BYou know, we're, we're still in the developmental phase of our cutting saddle.
Speaker BWe're still trying to, you know, we're listening to all the riders in that industry trying to, you know, get, you know, get, get their input to make sure that we're trying to get these as close to what everybody wants.
Speaker BYou know, when you've got so many different people and so many different custom options, it's, it's a, you know, gets a little difficult at times to, to nail that one feel that people are looking for.
Speaker BSo you're trying to appeal to the masses, not just one person, but we are, you know, lucky to be able to have our hand in, you know, many different industries, you know, in the cow horse and, and you know, we've been to the, just the everyday pleasure rider just, you know, down that wants to go on a trail ride.
Speaker BIt doesn't matter what the person wants to do.
Speaker BWe can, you know, we can make a saddle for what you're wanting to do from a trail ride all the way to the NRA futurity.
Speaker CWell, you.
Speaker CSpeaking of the futurity, earlier, you spoke about, you know, the winning position and some of the Rayners that use Bobs.
Speaker CBut what is it specifically, do you think that makes Bob's custom saddle so alluring to our Rainers specifically?
Speaker BYou know, it's kind of a, kind of a loaded question that I've been asked before and, and I wish there was a simple answer, but it's kind of a, kind of a few different things.
Speaker BIt comes down to just the, you know, how the tree and how the saddle fits on a horse.
Speaker BYou know, if you've got an unhappy horse, you're not going to have a fun ride, you know, and you're not going to be able to be, you know, productive and you're not going to be able to get anything done, and then it has to feel good to you.
Speaker BWhen you start getting into our, our world of custom, you have so many different options, down to, you know, the seat style, down to the, the padding, whether it's a regular narrow cut seat or just a regular width seat.
Speaker BI mean, there's so many different options that come into play.
Speaker BAnd everybody's got their own, everyone's got their own preference, you know, I mean, you've got everybody from, you know, from Gabby that works here with me in the office, she prefers a hard seat on her saddle.
Speaker BI prefer, you know, double pad, you know, whatever it might be.
Speaker BEveryone's got their own preference, but we can accommodate those custom options for each and every rider.
Speaker BAnd so when we try to, you know, we, when we try to get somebody fit in what they, what they're looking for in a saddle, we always encourage everybody to go out there, go out there and do your homework, do your research and touch and feel as many different of these saddles as possible.
Speaker BYou know, whether you're sitting in them or you've got a trainer that rides in one of them, each one of them has a saddle number, you know, that's unique to that saddle.
Speaker BAnd we can look back and figure out what you liked about it, and we can kind of dive into the, into the blueprint of it and figure out what you like, what you don't like.
Speaker BAnd, you know, it's, it's kind of, you know, like not to go off on a long answer, but it's just a combination of a lot of different things.
Speaker BYou Know, whether you like to ride with a higher rising seat, you know, because you feel like you're getting kicked forward and you want something that pushes you back, or, you know, we try to accommodate everybody's riding style, you know, from, you know, from the person that's just learning how to ride and, you know, to.
Speaker BTo the pro.
Speaker BYou know, the Bob Avila model has been one of our most popular models for.
Speaker BFor many, many, many years.
Speaker BAnd because it just.
Speaker BIt fits a wide variety, that tree in particular, fits a wide variety of horses.
Speaker BBut the specs on that saddle fit so many different versatile riders.
Speaker BAnd so it's been a great saddle for us along with our Lady Rayner model.
Speaker BAnd don't let the Lady Rayner part fool you, because we have, you know, gentlemen that ride in that one, too.
Speaker BBut the Lady Rayner model, you know, is.
Speaker BIs designed to reduce the bulk underneath your leg for closer contact with you and your horse all the way down to the seat padding.
Speaker BIt's got a narrow, padded seat, so, you know, you're getting down in closest contact possible with your horse.
Speaker BAnd that way you can have that best ride possible and keep you in that position to.
Speaker BTo get the advantage, to learn, you know, you don't want to be fighting yourself when you're riding your horse to.
Speaker BTo, you know, if you're fighting against yourself, you're being counterproductive.
Speaker DThat is so true.
Speaker DSo, Garrett, what are some exciting things that are coming up in the future for Bob's custom Saddles that you would like to share with our listeners?
Speaker BYou know, we're.
Speaker BWe're just working on developing, you know, kind of some.
Speaker BWe've got some new silver designs that we're kind of, you know, that we work on.
Speaker BAnd that has been a lot of fun from a creative standpoint on my end.
Speaker BI'm a. I'm an artist at heart, and it has been fun to be able to have that creative outlet.
Speaker BAnd then I'm just lucky that I have one of the best.
Speaker BWe have one of the best silversmiths in the industry that is able to put our.
Speaker BOur.
Speaker BOur dreams into reality.
Speaker BAnd so we've got some fun, some new fun stuff that'll be coming up for the Run for a Million this year for the saddles that we're proudly presenting there, being the official saddle sponsor for that event.
Speaker BAnd then we are just working diligently on trying to put out the best product possible with each and every saddle that comes out of our.
Speaker BOut of our doors.
Speaker BThat is what we strive for every day.
Speaker BAnd you know, we're just trying to, you know, we've trying to, you know, trying to get our name out there a little bit more.
Speaker BAs far as, you know, we still get phone calls every day of people that, you know, have not heard of us.
Speaker BYou know, they've, you know, hey, I have a friend that rode one of your, or has one of your saddles and I wrote in it and I didn't know much about it.
Speaker BCan you tell me more?
Speaker BAnd you know, so it is long of a product as we've had in business.
Speaker BIt's still fun to get people calling in that don't know about our product and that we get to kind of educate a little bit and help them look for their next saddle.
Speaker BYou know, whether they're looking for a used one or a brand new one, it doesn't matter.
Speaker BYou know, we appreciate every single one of our customers that, that, that take their hard earned money to write our product.
Speaker BAnd we are, you know, we're proud to be in, you know, represented in 13 different countries roughly with, with some of our dealers all the way from Israel to Australia, France, Italy, Canada.
Speaker BYou know, we're, we're, you know, we're worldwide and we're very, you know, very proud of that.
Speaker CWell, Garrett, I have learned so much today.
Speaker CI thought I knew a lot about Bob's how I, you know, worked with you all over these years, but I've learned so much and I know our listener have as well and would want to know more.
Speaker CSo what is the best way for them to get in contact with you guys and continue learning more about Bob?
Speaker BThey're, they're more than welcome to reach out to us through our website.
Speaker BBob's CustomsAddles.com they, if they contact us through the, the email address through our website, it comes directly to, to myself and Gabby who I work with six feet away.
Speaker BAnd we, you know, the emails come directly to both of us and we monitor those emails.
Speaker BYou know, we're a small office, you know, that does a lot things.
Speaker BYou know, her, her and I, we've got our pl.
Speaker BWe've got our hands full for sure and you know, trying to monitor, you know, dealers and, and customers and whatnot and the day to day operations.
Speaker BBut they're more than welcome to call in as well.
Speaker BYou know, if they have any questions.
Speaker BIt doesn't matter what it is.
Speaker BThere's no dumb questions in this industry you can call in with.
Speaker BYou know, we, we love to help and educate and try to find people their right saddle to, to get them on their next venture.
Speaker BLike I said, if you're just wanting to get into.
Speaker BWe had a lady that contacted us.
Speaker BShe was, you know, it was her lifelong dream to start riding a horse and she was in her 60s and she was looking at one of our saddles to, to start that venture with.
Speaker BSo, you know, it doesn't matter what, what stage you're at.
Speaker BWe're here to, we're here to help.
Speaker DWell, Garrett, working myself with the corporate partners of nrha.
Speaker DIt is such a pleasure to work with Bob's and to discontinue, to grow and expand our relationship.
Speaker DAnd always the saddles are at not only our derby that's taking place right now, but also our futurity that of course will take place in November, December this year.
Speaker DSo thank you again for being on the show today.
Speaker DWe really appreciate it.
Speaker BThank you.
Speaker BIt was an honor.
Speaker BThank you for having given me the ability to do this.
Speaker BIt has been a great honor.
Speaker BI do appreciate it.
Speaker DSo, Sarah, I was so excited.
Speaker DI got to go actually to Bob's Custom Saddles a couple of times when I've been in Arizona and they are of course in that whole Scottsdale area where we have a lot of our reiners.
Speaker DSo it was just a phenomenal shop.
Speaker DAnd like Garrett said, it is small.
Speaker DThey get so much done with such a small group of staff and it kind of reminds me of nrha, right?
Speaker DWe get a lot done with such a small group of staff and they're just a really kind of family atmosphere in their shop.
Speaker CTiny but mighty, it sounds like.
Speaker DYes, very much so.
Speaker DSo it was such a pleasure to have him on and now I'm so excited to hear what Kim has to say as one of our past champions of the non pro.
Speaker CAfter a thrilling runoff, Kim Yulstetter became the 2025 NRBC Level 4 Non Pro Classic champion.
Speaker CKim and her horse Aspen were also the 2024 four sixes NRHA Derby presented by Markel Non Pro Derby champions and they have earned over $160,000 together.
Speaker CKim is an NRH, a million dollar owner and lives in Scottsdale with her husband and NRH professional Martin Muel Statter.
Speaker CThanks for joining us today this morning.
Speaker AThanks for having me.
Speaker CSo Kim, you and Aspen clearly have such a strong connection and now you have won two major events together.
Speaker CCan you tell us a little bit about what that feels like?
Speaker CIt, it has to be just such an exciting time together.
Speaker AIt, it really is.
Speaker AYou know, I think it takes a very special horse to have the ability to Take you to the top at a major event.
Speaker ABut to have one that can do it twice is something really unique.
Speaker AThis one, he.
Speaker AHe's just one.
Speaker AHe'll be so hard to replace.
Speaker AI really.
Speaker AI'm not looking forward to the day that I need to sell him, but I know it always comes and he's.
Speaker AHe's just really one in a million.
Speaker AAnd this horse, I. I just feel like he's always fit me like a glove from the first day I started riding him.
Speaker DI have a question before we cut a forward for John here, How did you come up with his name?
Speaker DAspen, for his barn name?
Speaker AHe actually had that name when we got him.
Speaker AYeah, he was actually in Gunny Matheson's pasture and my husband found him as a yearling and he came with that name.
Speaker ASo I'm a little superstitious.
Speaker ASo I believe if you ever change a name, it's bad luck.
Speaker ASo we just roll with whatever they have.
Speaker DI love that.
Speaker DI live here in Colorado and we have Aspen all around us and this weekend we went on a hike and we surrounded by Aspen.
Speaker DSo I was just thinking, wow, that's a beautiful name.
Speaker DI like that.
Speaker AYeah, they are beautiful.
Speaker ASo.
Speaker AAnd it just fits him.
Speaker AIt's very unique.
Speaker DSo you had a runoff against another million dollar non pro, Jessica Keller.
Speaker DWhat was the energy like heading into that and what was your strategy?
Speaker AThe energy was great.
Speaker AI think the having the crowd support always makes it so fun to run through the gates.
Speaker AYou know, you feel like every maneuver when they're there cheering for you, it just makes you push that much harder to make it happen.
Speaker AI just say my strategy was to stay penalty free because in the first run that I had in the finals, my horse was really good and I had a one point under spin on my left turn and it was 100% pilot error.
Speaker AIt could have been prevented, but I didn't do it and I, I felt bad for my horse that I got in his way.
Speaker ASo I just really wanted to go out there and show what he could be without the rider getting in his way.
Speaker ASo that was my strategy.
Speaker AAnd really he.
Speaker AHe nailed every maneuver out there the second time we, you know, did the runoff.
Speaker AAnd I almost felt like he showed better for me that second time out, but that's the kind of horse he is.
Speaker AHe just has gotten so consistent.
Speaker AI'd say about halfway through his four year old, four year old year, he's just really come into his own and been the Mr.
Speaker ASteady Eddie.
Speaker ALike I feel like when I warm him up, I Can just get in and get out.
Speaker AAnd he's been very, very easy to prepare.
Speaker CWell, Kim, we're heading into NIHA Derby and I keep calling him Aspen because I just think it's so cute.
Speaker CBut his registered name, for those wanting to know, is Smoky Mountain Rain.
Speaker CSo what is your plan with him?
Speaker CIs he coming to the Derby?
Speaker CDo you have a different game plan going into this event after having just finished?
Speaker CThat's such a successful nrbc.
Speaker CKind of walk us through that, if you don't mind.
Speaker AYes, I will be showing him at the derby this year.
Speaker AYou know, it's, it's a little bit nerve wracking, I think, showing one that you tied to win it on last year and then just won the nrbc.
Speaker ABut I, I always get a little more nervous showing a great one than I do an average horse.
Speaker AI don't know why, but it's always been that way.
Speaker ABut my plan is to just, just prepare them the same I have for the last few events.
Speaker AIt seemed to have worked.
Speaker ASo I'm going to stick with my game plan.
Speaker AYou know, I try not to overdo things when I first get there.
Speaker AI know at the derby this year they run the open prelims first.
Speaker ASo I just try to keep him legged up and don't really harp on him on the maneuvers too much and run out of horse.
Speaker AHe just feels like he's now at the point in his career where he stays pretty steady and I can just do things one time and if he's good, I try to quit there and just quit.
Speaker AOn a positive note with him still being somewhat fresh to I don't run out of horse if we do make the finals.
Speaker ASo that's, that's really our plan going into it and just to keep him healthy and happy and hopefully, hopefully it works out.
Speaker DIt'll be so great to see both you and Aspen at the Derby, but you also your husband and your daughter compete as well.
Speaker DSo can you tell us some of the more special memories that you guys have had together and what it means to compete as a family?
Speaker AYeah, absolutely.
Speaker AWe, you know, we have so much fun going down the road, the three of us together.
Speaker AAnd Martin and I were really excited when Sydney decided to take up the reigning also, you know, when she was younger we got her a horse.
Speaker AWe actually got her one from Tom and Mandy McCutcheon that Carly McCutcheon had learned to ride on.
Speaker AAnd Mandy actually had to convince me to buy him because I said I don't know if we want to get into this I didn't know if Sydney was really going to have her heart in it or not.
Speaker AAnd I really think that horse helped her love the reigning because he was just so good minded and kind and just great with children and he just was really an angel, never did anything wrong.
Speaker ASo I think that really helped her develop a love for it.
Speaker AAnd now with the three of us going down the road, I mean, I guess I'll always remember when Martin won the level four NRBC.
Speaker AThat was in 2014 on blue collar tag and Sydney was, I guess she would have been three back then and now.
Speaker AYeah, she's, she's showing now a lot of times in the ancillary pen and this is the first year she has her own derby horse and actually has a three year old this year too.
Speaker ASo.
Speaker ASo it's, it's a lot of fun.
Speaker AYou know, I remember at the fraternity last year I was taking the scooter and running back between the attic one and the Norwich Arena.
Speaker AWatching Martin show in the prelims and watching Sydney show her mayor down there.
Speaker AI remember being exhausted by the end of the day, like emotionally.
Speaker ABut it's, it's so worth it.
Speaker AI mean we really, we really have fun together.
Speaker CWell, that's so exciting that she'll have a derby horse there and now you'll have even more stress as you're watching everyone.
Speaker AExactly.
Speaker AShe's actually not showing him at the derby this year but she'll, she'll be going to, you know, other shows throughout the year so.
Speaker ABut it's.
Speaker AYeah, I get super nervous.
Speaker AI don't know why.
Speaker AI always get more nervous when Martin and Sydney show than when I show myself.
Speaker ASo that's, that's the hardest part and you feel like you're out of control.
Speaker ANot that I would do it any better, but I think it's just, just being a mother.
Speaker CAbsolutely.
Speaker CWell, Kim, you obviously have had such success in the show pen and we have so many listeners here who might be thinking of trying raining for the first time.
Speaker CSo what is your biggest piece of advice that you would give another non professional who wants to dip their toes into raining?
Speaker AI'd say the first and most important thing is start with finding the right trainer that, you know, fits you and fits your ability.
Speaker AI think finding the right fit with a trainer is going to help you find the right horse.
Speaker AYou know, I think a lot of non pros struggle with finding the right horse that fits their ability.
Speaker AYou know, I think you can watch the open class and appreciate a lot of those great horses.
Speaker ABut it's not necessarily the one that marks the highest, is the one that's going to fit you the best and going to be the one that you mark on the highest.
Speaker ASo I think it's just finding that individual horse that suits your riding ability and make sure the two of you mesh.
Speaker AAnd I think just take it from there.
Speaker AYou know, you need to decide at what level you want to start at, if you want to just start locally or what your goals are.
Speaker AAnd I think it's really, really important to have an open line of communication with your trainer.
Speaker AAnd finally, I mean, I think you just got to put your whole heart in it, really.
Speaker ANothing comes easy, especially in this sport.
Speaker AAnd there's a lot of ups and downs when you think you're on top and then you struggle.
Speaker AYou can't make the finals for a while and you think, I can never do this.
Speaker AAnd then you work your butt off and then you're back up again.
Speaker AAnd it's just really a roller coaster ride.
Speaker ABut that's what I love about the raining is it's always such a challenge.
Speaker AYou know, even the times that I have one come out on top and I come out of the pen and I'm watching my run on video and there's probably five, a minimum of five things I would change on that run, just trying to make it better.
Speaker AAnd I feel like you never have it perfected, but that's what I think the beauty is of the sport, and that's what got me so hooked on it.
Speaker CWell, I love that advice so much.
Speaker CAnd I know people are going to want to know more about raining and want to know more about you and Martin's program.
Speaker CSo what is the best way that they could reach out to you all?
Speaker CAnd for those in Scottsdale, maybe they might want to go take it for a spin for the first time.
Speaker AOh, absolutely.
Speaker AYou know, anyone could call Martin anytime.
Speaker AHis number is 480-686-2919.
Speaker AOr, you know, they could message us on Facebook.
Speaker AWe've got, you know, our Mule Stutter performance horse website and they can reach out to us that way.
Speaker AWe've always got good horses for sale, you know, everything from open horses, non pro horses, and if we don't have the food fit, you know, Martin might be able to help you find what you're looking for through someone else too, or a different part of the country.
Speaker CThat's so exciting.
Speaker CAnd for you and Martin and Sydney to be at the derby together.
Speaker CAnd we can't wait to see you guys and we so appreciate you taking the time to chat with us this morning.
Speaker CAnd we'll see you so soon.
Speaker AGreat.
Speaker AThanks for having me.
Speaker CI loved having Kim on, and I just keep ruminating on her statement of just because that horse marked the highest in the show pen does not mean it will with you.
Speaker CAnd I just think that is so insightful.
Speaker CRegardless of whatever industry you're in, that is huge.
Speaker DYou just never know, do you?
Speaker DAnd that's why us horse people are kind of considered crazy by other people that do different sports, because, you know, your motorcycle doesn't have an opinion and doesn't have a bad day, and your horse might or you might.
Speaker DI mean, it's just.
Speaker DIt's amazing how two individual creatures, a human and a horse, can get together and do this amazing thing called raining with such precision when the scores are so close.
Speaker DIt's an amazing sport.
Speaker CIt really, really is.
Speaker CAnd to her point, you know, finding a professional can be so important, and whether maybe they have a horse to match with you, whether or not they do, they all obviously have such a strong network and can get you, you know, with the right professional, to meet whatever your goals are and to maybe find you the horse you need and all of those things.
Speaker CAnd the best way to get started with that journey is to visit nrha.com findapro and you can narrow it down by state or even by city and go ahead and get started with your reigning journey.
Speaker DSo to find out more about our podcast, too, we've been doing this now for a little bit, and I can't help but say I'm pretty happy that we won the American Horse Publications podcast this year for the one that we did with Casey o' Rourke when she won our Futurity last year.
Speaker DAnd it was just so much fun to have that show win.
Speaker DAnd thank you to AHP for representing those of us in media, in the horse industry and doing that fantastic award ceremony that you do every year.
Speaker CSo until next time, everyone, go out and have the slide of your life.