Cross C Equine

04/24/2026

We love the come over cue for more than just a party trick. It teaches understanding positive pressure, yielding different body parts, and trust with being above & behind the eyes. This big ottb really enjoys his scratches so of course he was willing to do what took for a good pat!

Please no negative comments towards the body condition, all parties are aware and working on improving it!
matters **tstarting

04/24/2026

04/18/2026

“FEEL FOR THE THOUGHT...

You need to know what you want from your horse... You need a clear vision.

Break that down and start where your horse is physically and mentally ready to start...

1. Know what you want...
2. Ask for what you want...
3. Feel for your horses thought...
4. Release on the correct thought.

That's communication...
That's how simple horse training can be.

Where we make it difficult is when:

We ask for too much too soon...

We keep asking too much after they got it...

And we skip repeating those same boring repetitions each day... so the horses foundation never becomes as solid as it should when we take them to the next level.

You want a solid horse?

You better be willing to do the work.

You get back what you put in.

Think it…
Ask for it with clarity...
Feel for the correct thought...
And then the release rewards the horse.

It’s not the pressure that makes the horse better...

It’s the timing of the release.”

Borrowed from:
Jared H Searcy
ReelCowboy

04/18/2026

Does anyone have any interest for a “rag” or cotton rope hackamore?
Will come with leather hanger.
$75 plus shipping
Could offer different color rope with enough interest!

**tstarting

04/17/2026

One thing about me is I rarely stand in one spot when ground working a horse for exercise purposes. In my mind if I consistently pick one spot in my arena to ground work my horse then my horse will associate only being asked for his/her attention in one spot under saddle or not. When we ride we use the whole arena don’t we?
The other part, notice the consistency in fluid motion? There’s no abrupt stops or major increases speed. There’s a consistent amount of drape in lead rope. Sure she’s fumbling through her roll backs some and she’s not the most collected but I give her because we’re in ankle deep sticky mud. As this horse should she respects 1) my body language
2)her halter at all times. That’s all we can ask for! The amount of effort they want to put in after that is up to them!

04/12/2026

90 DAYS WITH A C**T STARTER

What to expect and NOT expect in 90 days with a c**tstarter...

1. 90 days is NOT a finished product.

2. 90 days is just a START.

• A start to a solid foundation.
• A start on learning cues, feels, maneuvers.
• A start at learning how to move out confidently through out the different gaits.
• A start at understanding how to use all 5 main body parts independently.
• A start at being exposed to new environments.
• A start at building a horse that is safe, confident, and balanced.

3. Here’s what you should NOT expect:

• A finished performance horse.
• Mental maturity beyond their age.
• Every hole filled in a set time frame.
• Zero mistakes.
• A robot.

4. Every horse is DIFFERENT.

• We can't expect a 5 year old to learn and get used to requests, bits, boundaries the same as a 2 year old would. A 5 year old has had more time laying on the couch eating popcorn being supported by a welfare check compared to the 2 year old.
• We can't expect a horse who has received poor training in the past to learn and achieve the same results in the same time frame as the horse with a clean slate.
• Each breed and bloodline come with their own unique personalities, quirks, sensitivities, and physical abilities.
• A horse from the plains of South Dakota will not have the self-preservation instincts of a Mustang off the boulders of Utah.

**** Things to keep in mind...

• The level of knowledge & experience matters in the trainer, owner, and rider.

• The goal of a good c**t starter is not to impress you with quick results. It is to help start building you a solid foundation in your horse that will last. That requires your c**t starter being 100% honest with you.

• The more we all understand these facts the easier our life will be... When it comes to the job of the trainer... The reality when creating expectations by the owners... And the future of the horse.

• Our expectations should be made considering the history of the horse, their genetics, and their capabilities... NOT what we want them to do because we saw something cool on a screen or they are all that we can afford. A $1,000 prospect isn’t going to be the same as a $20,000 prospect.

• A solid start takes patience, repetition, and doing the boring work correctly over long periods of time.

• If a trainer promises you a “finished” horse in 90 days, you better ask what corners are being cut. Unfortunately, there are alot of trainers who will promise owners unrealistic results just to get their business. And as a owner it is real easy to fall for it. Listen to your gut!

• REAL foundation work:
Isn’t flashy...
Isn’t rushed...
Isn’t cheap...
And definitely isn’t completed in 30 days.

• You don’t get softness without structure.
You don’t get confidence without clarity.
And you don’t get reliability without repetition.... Time matters.

If you’re sending a young horse off for training, make sure your expectations match reality...

Make sure your trainer values longevity over applause and your business. A good trainer will put the horses interest in front of being dishonest just to keep you as a client.

A "Start" is exactly that... A START.

📸: Jared H Searcy
ReelCowboy

03/27/2026

Some know and some don’t I’m a big time podcast listener.
I listen to all different kinds because there is something to be learned from each.
As I do not rodeo or run barrels anymore I still can’t deny listening to those who have achieved success in high levels. That’s exactly what Lisa Lockhart has done!
My biggest take away from this podcast episode is she puts her horse(s) first. I will say this again, the horse comes FIRST. I don’t mean she has all the most expensive modalities or spends high dollar amounts on special feeds & supplements.
What I mean and quote from Lisa - “They have a lot of turn out time.” What seems like such a simple concept but is incredibly over looked.
She continues on to say she only enters up at rodeos that match the caliber of horse she has at the time if she’s bringing one along or enters a rodeo where her seasoned horse has a continued pattern of success. “If we aren’t winning any money and my horse doesn’t like it, we don’t go!” This instills confidence and keeps things positive for the horse(s) and her.
“You really have to consider your horse power and navigate from there.”

They say it’s a long way to the top, especially with a horse. The hardest part is the first step as there’s a lot of planning and things to consider. All too often people like to jump in both feet to things that their horses are simply not ready for. You want a great show horse that will last for years to come? Great do your prep at home then start their showing career with shows where you are still relaxed when mistakes are made and the facility isn’t intimidating.
You want a great ranch horse? Great do your prep then start their career with simple tasks like riding pens.

If you’re building a horse for you, take the time and let me be a horse. You’ll thank yourself later.