The Educated Cowgirl Podcast

01/10/2025

Such a vast field of honorees this year! I love it!

Finding exceptional talent in the expansive Western industry is not just possible—it’s a guarantee. From agriculture to media, corporate boardrooms to rodeo arenas, hardworking, dedicated, and ambitious young women are making their mark in every corner of this dynamic world. Their drive and cont...

01/10/2025

Congratulations to my podcast guest Alyssa Logan on this incredible honor and accomplishment! She has definitely earned it!
MTSU Horse Science Program

Alyssa is a scientist, educator, coach, and equestrian, serving as an Assistant Professor and Horse Judging Team Coach in the Horse Science Program at Middle Tennessee State University.

01/05/2025

I highly encourage everyone to listen to this episode for yourself as it is very informative, provides a lot of education we need to know as the horse industry!

In the ever-evolving world of horse regulations, the Horse Protection Act (HPA) revisions have recently sparked much debate and concern with

01/05/2025

We talk about this in my episode with Alyssa Logan

Incorporating early training strategies for two-year-olds can have transformative benefits in the Western performance horse world, fostering sounder prospects with increased career longevity. While these benefits are well-documented in racing disciplines, they directly apply to the physical demands of Western performance events, such as reining, cutting, and cow horse competitions.

Early Training in Western Performance Horses

1. Stronger Skeletal Development: Western performance horses require significant joint stability and bone density to handle the quick stops, spins, and turns that are staples of disciplines like reining. Early, controlled training stimulates bone remodeling, creating denser, more robust skeletal structures. This reduces the risk of stress fractures and soft-tissue injuries later in life

2. Enhanced Longevity: Horses started at two years old often experience longer careers due to their bodies’ adaptability to stress. In the Western performance world, longevity is crucial, as these horses often compete for many years. Early training ensures their musculoskeletal systems are prepared for repeated high-impact movements

3. Injury Prevention: Starting with training at two years old can help prevent overuse injuries commonly seen in horses introduced to intense work later. By gradually exposing them to the physical demands of performance, young horses develop resilience, reducing the risk of injuries like suspensory strains and joint degradation.

4. Behavioral and Mental Development: Early training doesn’t just build physical strength—it also fosters mental maturity. Horses exposed to structured work early tend to be more confident and focused under saddle, key traits for success in Western disciplines.

Reflecting These Benefits in the Industry

Western performance horses often undergo rigorous schedules, including futurities that begin at three years old. Preparing a two-year-old with appropriate training & riding ensures that by the time they enter the competitive arena, they are physically and mentally ready. This preparation contributes to a longer competitive life, allowing these horses to perform at peak levels beyond their futurity years.

Best Practices for Starting Two-Year-Olds

• Controlled Exercise: Begin with low-impact activities, such as groundwork, longeing, and light riding, to gradually build strength and coordination.

• Professional Oversight: Work closely with veterinarians and trainers to monitor growth and development, avoiding overloading young horses.

• Customized Nutrition: Provide a diet tailored to support bone and joint health, such as supplements rich in calcium, phosphorus, and omega-3 fatty acids.

By applying evidence-based practices to Western performance horse training, the industry can produce sounder, more competitive athletes capable of thriving in demanding events for years to come. Early training is not about rushing development but preparing young horses to meet the challenges of their future careers with resilience and strength.

For a more in-depth understanding, you can explore sources such as:

[Paulick Report] https://bit.ly/4iVCrVP

[Texas A&M] https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/00966654-27f2-44ea-ba3d-f3ba60c0b62b/content

[Pub Med] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2100207/

[Mississippi State] http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/breaking-horses-not-bones-properly-raising-young-horses-avoid-costly-injuries

From the www.WZEQUINE.com blog!

01/03/2025

I am so excited for this!!!

🧡 𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙈𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 & 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘿𝙖𝙮 🧡 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙜 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙮 18 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙙 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝, 𝙏𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙨!

REGISTER 💻 https://www.bossmaresinc.org/lead-the-herd-2025

𝘼 𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙣. 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙪𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, 𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝, 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙖 𝙡𝙚𝙜 𝙪𝙥 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨!

Boss Mares, Inc.

01/02/2025

Congratulations Kaci O'Rourke!!! ❤️

01/01/2025

𝑾𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝒀𝒆𝒂𝒓!!! 🌟

I hope and pray that this year brings you many more blessings in 2025!!

12/24/2024

𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒔!!!🎄
Blessings of joy, love and peace this holiday full of laughter and memories to last a lifetime!

12/23/2024

𝓜𝓮𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓒𝓱𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓶𝓪𝓼 𝓔𝓿𝓮 𝓔𝓿𝓮!! 🎄
Season 2, Episode 2 is 𝓛𝓲𝓿𝓮!

Hey Cowgirls! Do I have the best early Christmas present for you! I am so excited to share my incredible conversation with Kaci O’Rourke the first woman to win the NRHA Open Level 4 Futurity!

We talk about so many great and important topics in this episode from her journey to the Futurity with Thiago, judging, her story to become the professional she is, and so much more! I know you will be so inspired by what she says and this is such a historic moment for every woman and young girl in the horse industry who dreams of accomplishing the same one day!! You can click on the link in my bio to listen to the full episode!

Pond Hill Performance Horses
Kaci O'Rourke
NRHA - National Reining Horse Association

12/22/2024

Can’t wait for y’all to hear my conversation with Kaci coming on Monday!! Thank you again Kaci for coming on! ❤️

12/19/2024

Check out the full episode at the link in my bio or wherever you get your podcasts!

12/19/2024

𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 2 𝑬𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 1 🌟

Hey Cowgirls!! I am so thrilled to be launching season with a fantastic episode! I am sharing my amazing conversation I had with Savanna Mauch from Lamar Community College where she shares her passion for providing students with the best hands-on education possible to help them be successful in their careers and become the next great leaders in the horse industry!

This is the perfect time of year to have this conversation as it is the end of the year and high school students are thinking about what is next after graduation! Savanna and I talk about a variety of topics about college opportunities in the industry! To listen to the full episode click on the link in my bio! 🎓🐎
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12/19/2024

I am so grateful and excited to be interviewing this lady tomorrow

Kaci O'Rourke & THE FIREMAN, born May 22, 2021
TRUST YOUR DREAM!
"To share and support a small part of someone's dream and success is a huge victory."
Owned by Peter and Courtney Morgan.
Bred and raised by Tamarack Ranch.
Sired by Inferno Sixty Six x REDHOT WALLA, Lte: $74,764, PE: $808,903 (By Walla Walla Whiz)

12/13/2024

Little hint as to what the next episode will be about!

Are you in high school and considering all the educational opportunities in the horse industry for after graduation? We are proud to offer this course with AQHLearn where you will be able to explore the opportunities and learn how to navigate the process of finding the right fit for you! AQHLearn has individual, classroom and educator memberships.

Check it out! https://learn.aqhuniversity.com/

12/12/2024

Hey Cowgirls! I can’t believe how far I have come and how far this podcast has come since I started almost two years ago now!! Thank you so much! I am so grateful and love you all!!

I am so excited that Season 2 on The Educated Cowgirl will be starting next week with two incredible episodes! I have recently started to see the direction I want to take the voice and message of my show that I believe will benefit the equine industry and educate others! I can’t wait for y’all to hear!

12/08/2024

Go cowgirl!!! First woman to win the nrha Futurity!!!