Keith Kitchen Cutting Horses

Metallic Starshine was on point yesterday winning second in the open.

I READ THIS ON ANOTHER TRAINER'S PAGE AND THOUGHT AFTER A LONG HORSE SHOW SEASON... something to think about...From 2015 and still rings true!

"Trainers and coaches are the nuttiest group of people you will ever know. Who else gets up in the middle of the night to make your dreams come true when they could be sleeping? They find 100 ways to explain things they have told you a million times with the hopes that you may just get it this time... when in the corporate world you would be just fired for your incompetence. They keep us safe and make sure we have fun. They shake off their own bad rides to get you ready within minutes. They focus on you-- even when they shouldn't and manage to make it all work even when they shouldn't. They work tirelessly to make you new great horses and will support you even when you refuse to change horses even though it makes everybody's job tougher. They put your needs first... Often at the expense of having a personal life. Yes, they get paid for their services, but figure out their hourly wage, you will see real quick that the math sucks. So next time you decide to have a melt down... Think hard and please remember that the professional has invested way more in YOU than YOU realize... Just Thank Them!!"

A good owner is worth their weight in gold.
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An owner that trust your experience, knowledge and love of the horse.
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An owner that is loyal and honest. One that communicates when they have questions or concerns.
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An owner that’s positive and understanding when a run doesn’t go as planned.
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An owner that appreciates the months and years that we put our hearts and souls into building a champion.

We appreciate all of our great owners 🙏🏼

Dearest Riders,

Please let me remind you of something very important. Horse showing, riding and training are insanely difficult. If you have a crappy ride, a less than stellar show ring result (or if you made your trainer want to pull their hair out today), it just means there's more to learn. The people who had good rides today are not exempt from disappointing rides tomorrow. They also have bad days and, if they're very experienced riders, they've had a whole bunch of bad days.

There will always be someone out there on a more talented horse, someone with a bigger bank account, someone who never struggled to learn to sit the trot...life isn't fair. You probably can't win the lottery or grow 5 more inches of leg. You can, however, wake up every morning and be thankful that you're able to ride horses. Work hard at becoming the best rider you can be with the body and the bank account that you have right now. Work at being the rider your horse wants up there on his back. Your horse's opinion of your riding is more valuable than any judge's opinion could ever be.

Good day at Blue Ridge WCHA Cutting. DLB Another Reynbow was on target marking a 73 to win the $5k Novice and Too Good N Metallic had a tough strong run marking a 73 to win the Open Derby.

For my fellow barn owners/ trainers out there!

Lessons learned long and hard in the horse business as a professional..

1. It's easy to fall in love with your customers. They become a family who you spend a lot of time with. However, in the end they will do what's best for themselves. And, for you and them, those paths may not be the same. Prepare to get your heart broken. Keep business and personal relationships separate.

2. People will not always trust in your experience and will second guess you. They will think they know better because they read it in a book, or saw it online. Don't try to be all things to all people. Do what you are good at. Run your barn in a way that you can sleep at night knowing that you did right in your mind by them and their horses. The clients opinion of that may be different than your beliefs, but you have to live with choices that leave you at peace. That may mean confrontation, hard conversations and even asking people to move on for your own peace.

3. Horses are easy 99% of the time. It's the people who come with them that make things complicated.

4. Remember that horses need to be horses.

5. People will always judge you, and have opinions. The better you are, the more haters will have opinions.

6. Success isn't measured by ribbons and show placings. It's measured in happy animals and the quality of their lives.

7. There is always an exception or quirk that doesn't " follow the rules" in horse care. Do what works, not what the books say works.

8. When you get annoyed by seeing somebody's car pull in to the barn, it's time to let that person move on. Your barn should be a happy place. It literally only takes one bad sour apple to ruin the whole atmosphere and dynamic in a barn.

9. Let it go.... if someone moves on don't be upset by it. Ignore what they say. Don't take it personally. Every barn is not a good fit for every person.

10. This is a business. If a person or horse isn't working for you, or the compensation isn't offsetting your cost, it's time for them to go. The exception to this is your retired horses, see #11.

11. Horses only have so many jumps, so many runs, so many rides. Don’t waste your horses. Teach your students they aren’t machines. You owe it to your retired horses to have a safe, comfortable and dignified end. Your schoolies worked for you. When the time comes they can no longer do that, either give them a pleasant retirement, or put them in the ground where you know they are safe. Do not dump them at auctions or onto other people where you are not 100% sure that they will be cared for.

12. There is no shame in euthanasia for a horse owner. Always better a week too early then a second too late. Do not judge anyone for their reasons for doing this.

13. Most clients fall Into two categories. Those who are "high maintenance", open in their opinions and will confront situations head on. The second is the quiet type who will not say a word and will not openly talk with you about their expectations or issues. You have no idea they have a problem until it's too late. The people in between these two are the clients you want. They will be long term and make life easy.

14. Know your worth. KNOW YOUR WORTH. Your time and experience has a monetary value. Don't do things for free, even if you like the person. Every bit of time or effort you give to clients has value. So when you don't value your effort, neither will a client. They will come to expect "freebies", which always leads to resentment from someone.

15. Be honest. It's not always easy. But in this business it takes forever to build reputation and seconds to destroy it.

16. Remember horses are dangerous. Always use your best judgment and air on the side of caution when working with horses and students. Their lives and your own life can change in an instant.

17. Get paid up front. Keep good records. People don't go to the grocery store and ask for food they will pay for next week. Good business practices keep everyone honest and sets boundaries for clients.

18. Normalize passing on price increases. Service industries, especially ones like ours always "feel guilty " when raising prices. You are not there to subsidize someone else's horse habit. Prices have been going up on costs, so should your fees.

19. The buck stops with you. Your employees mistakes fall back to your responsibility. Always verify and check on important care aspects of daily activities.

20. Make time for family and rest. Too many of us get burnt out from the stress of expectations in this industry. In the end, boarders and students come and go. Your family is who you will have left.

Thanks for reading my thoughts. I hope it can help support some of you feeling burnt out, and maybe help some people who are starting out in their journey into this industry.

Written by Rhea Distefano

What a fabulous weekend playing in the sand at Will Rogers with the World Cutting Horse Association, who always puts on a good show! The cows were tough this weekend but Keith had our horses ready to play! Our big winner for the weekend was Momish, who came out of the weekend in the top ten of all earning horses for the weekend show! Momish and Keith pulled checks in the 25 Novice horse on Saturday and Sunday 🥈and she and Sara Allstadt laid down 💰earning runs in the 50 Amateur as well! We are so excited for Too Good N Metallic (aka Bud), who laid down a solid 73 run on tough cows to win a solid check in a field of 49 on Friday! Jerri Frerck and Hotter Than Spot marked a 73.5 to win second in the 15k on Saturday. GD McAllister came out to join the fun on Peptos Smoker and laid down a scorching 75 in the Open Herdwork on Sunday! DLB Another Reynbow has continued her streak this year, winning the Open Herdwork on Monday! All in all, it was a fantastic weekend for Keith Kitchen Cutting Horses and we’re looking forward to the next one!