Scott Cooper: Hi guys, welcome back to another episode of Horse Show Bestie. I'm your co-host Scott Cooper. Crysta Brown: And I'm your other co-host Krista Brown. Hi, Scott. How are you? Scott Cooper: Hi Crysta! I'm good. You're still in California. Crysta Brown: I am, like I said, I'm on tour. Scott Cooper: Bus, another club. Bus, airplane, another club. Crysta Brown: bus. Yeah, literally. But that's been cool. So I'm like in between work sort of got back from ⁓ a convention and then spend like a week chilling out at KQ's. And then we're going to head to the Arizona Paint Horse Show on Tuesday. And then in theory, I'll peace out after that. ⁓ Scott Cooper: ⁓ cute. ⁓ If want to take Chip to Arizona, you can ⁓ pay it, but I'm not payingfor it ⁓ Crysta Brown: No, so here's the thing, the thought did cross my mind and then I was like, it'll be on my dime though. yeah, lies. Scott Cooper: Maybe maybe I'll pay for the haul We'll splitsies I did have that thought. You were like playing around with Chip this week, which we'll get to in a second, but I was like, I don't know. You could go have fun. He's sitting around home bored. So you know, I just. Crysta Brown: He's been, well, it's been fun getting to know him, but it's so funny. So like there's certain horses and like maybe this is very specific, like horse trainer experience, whatever. But like some horses I sit on and I'm like, you are my horse. like some, like, okay, Hootie, Hootie's my son. Like he might be Linda Taylor's horse, but he is my son. But Chip, it very much feels like my nephew. Like I'm like, you are Scott's horse. Scott Cooper: Hootie is your son. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. ⁓ Crysta Brown: and you ride like Scott's horse, but like we can have our own special relationship, but you are not mine. That's how it feels. Yes, exactly. Yeah. Scott Cooper: Right. He's like, you're not my real mom. Yeah. Well, and I, this will kill his resale, but it doesn't matter. So I'll probably never sell him. He is so programmed for me. And which is funny because I feel like, but I think, I think he has kind of like a dual brain because I think he very much rides for care in a different way than he rides for me. Crysta Brown: Yes. Mmm. Scott Cooper: So I think he's like, you're not Karen and you're not my dad. So we have to figure out our own way because I think how I write him is different than how Karen does. ⁓ But he, I babysit the shit out of him. my gosh. As you found out Crysta, ⁓ I've tried to get him less dependent on me ⁓ his every single movement over the last year or so, but. Crysta Brown: Hey guys, a quick word from our sponsors. Scott Cooper: For years, Naomi Clayton of NAC Equine Services has helped paint and quarter owners, breeders, and trainers streamline the often overwhelming process of marketing and placing horses in the great new homes. She has a proven background as a paint and pinto breeder and amateur show exhibitor, as well as nearly a decade of experience as an equine sales agent. NAC Equine Services doesn't just post ads. For each listing, she also creates a detailed marketing plan, organizes photos, Crysta Brown: Only a little. Scott Cooper: We kind of revert back to it. And honestly, like, I actually feel more comfortable when I'm like 1000 % in control and not making him just pack me around because I know it's it'll be a 10 if I do it, it'll be a six if he does his own shtick. Crysta Brown: You So like, okay, the first day I wrote him, I was just kind of like cruising around, know, walk, loping, trying to be like, what if you held your own self up at the lope? And he was like, meh. then we did our little video together. So was like, you know, not that serious. So then I don't think it was the next day, whatever, like a couple of days later, Karen put them on my list to do trail together. And I was like, ⁓ that's interesting. I don't think I've ever done trail on Chip. Scott Cooper: creates sale videos and manages communication so you don't get bogged down in the details. Her commitment to professionalism and finding the right home shows in the countless clients who rave about their friendly, efficient and smooth experience from first contact to the final sale or purchase. Whether you're looking to sell or find your next partner, trust a service with real industry knowledge and reviews that speak for themselves. NAC Equine Services has competitive and transparent pricing, $50 listing fee, th Crysta Brown: So, you know, we go up to like the top arena and we like go to do trail and like the first couple of obstacles, I was like, it's not like it was bad. Nothing we did together was bad, but I was just like, I know you're capable of more. I'm clearly like, there's some button I haven't found some like something wasn't clicking. Then I realized, yeah, yeah. So I had to find the Scott button, which apparently is just like, keep your fricking inside leg on the entire time in. Scott Cooper: signed contract and 5 % commission. Find her on Facebook under the NAC Equine or check out her website at nac-equine-services.com. Crysta Brown: Now back to the episode. Scott Cooper: the Scott button. entire time and actually half the time both both feet honestly. Crysta Brown: Yeah, yeah. And if I went over the logs, like, let me literally lift your rib cage for you. He was like, thank you. This is what I require. was like, so then we were like having this very gentle argument with each other where I was like, I don't want to. What if you just did it? And he was like, was like, see, I've kind of learned this way for years now. And that's going to be a no go for me. And then I was like, you know what? Fine. And he was perfect through everything. Scott Cooper: Alright, now you know my pain. And he's like, you can't make me unless you make me. He's like, make my dad work for it. It's fine. Like, yes, he did. said, honestly, so when he was injured a few years ago, I got the chance to ride several other horses in our barn just to to ride. I think I rode ⁓ Moose and and I'm trying to think who else, but a lot of Zippos. ⁓ Way different experience. Holy cow. ⁓ They're like, touch me. Crysta Brown: Yeah. Mmm. ⁓ Mm-hmm. Yeah. Scott Cooper: do not touch me unless you have to. And that was like really hard for me I ⁓ actually babysitting Chip in that way. ⁓ So it ⁓ wasn't good time, especially for me and Moosey. Moosey was like, get off me now. I'm like, I'm trying to help you. And he's like, you're not helping. You're actually driving me insane. Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. Well, actually, ⁓ there's something so interesting about, I ⁓ think you're less of a horseman for understanding what type of horse works for you. And ⁓ actually think in a lot of the trainers that I admire, ⁓ kind of see them riding a lot of the same bloodlines. ⁓ I kind of love that we all kind of find that ⁓ lane that really works for us. ⁓ can kind of find your success there. ⁓ Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Crysta Brown: Karen Qualls amazing with zippos. Like something about her and the zippos, they're just like, well, know, symbiotic. They love each other. That's not the right word. It doesn't matter. ⁓ But yeah. And so I just think that's like a really interesting thing when people kind of find, but then when you get to ride a lot of different horses, it's like there's some where I get on, like I'm saying, some of them I just click. I'm like, ⁓ I love you. We were made for each other. We are besties. You are my new favorite. Scott Cooper: Amazing. Yes. Crysta Brown: And then there's other horses where I'm like, yeah, I can figure out how to get along with you, but like, I don't feel that like, avatar connecting the little hair thing together. It's just not that. Scott Cooper: Yeah. Yeah, I, first off, I can't say I'm upset that you didn't have like instant click with Chip, because that's my child. ⁓ And it would make me little jealous. I was thinking about ⁓ when I first got back on him after his injury, I legitimately cried, because I was like, ⁓ my God, like just because I was happy for him and happy having back up, that was my son. But also I was like, I know how to ride this Crysta Brown: Hehehehe But it's like your son. Yeah. Scott Cooper: Like, ⁓ my God, such relief to just be like, this is home. Like this saddle is home. So that was like so refreshing. And yeah, it was really nice. But you guys went trail riding yesterday. Like not not city trail. Well, actually kind of city trail, but like on the trail in the wild. Crysta Brown: Yeah. Mwah. Yeah. No. Well, yeah, we saw the world. saw things. Yeah, somehow. for those who don't know. Yes. OK, so. Scott Cooper: And this was Karen's idea. I was shocked by that because she just gets so annoyed when I took him Crysta Brown: Yet so let me give you context because basically when I wrote a couple weeks ago, I just like stopped by Karen's for a day and they all like walk the horses up those steep hills to the arenas. And I was like, here's the thing. I'm not doing that. We have horses for a reason. I'm not walking next to you. And so I got on Hootie and I like rode up the hill and everybody was like, wow, I didn't know you could do that. Scott Cooper: Okay, to be fair, you guys, there's a bunch of Highland cows in the pasture, like right next to that little road that goes up there. And I will say half the time, the horses lose their ever loving minds when they go up there. So that's probably part of why we don't ride them. Crysta Brown: I respect why somebody else may not want to. I just refuse. That's just not going to be my journey. I was like, yeah, no, sorry, not happening. So like, obviously on the horses that I don't know well, I'm not going to take chances on and do things like that. But like Chip and Hootie, I was like, they're fine. We're going to live. We're going to survive this. So then I kind of made a joke. I was like, yeah, know, trail riding Chip up to the trail arena. And Karen was like, ⁓ you should do the big trail loop. She was like, maybe on Saturday after lessons. And I was like, huh. Scott Cooper: Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Crysta Brown: And then I kind of waited to see if she would follow up on that idea. Cause I was like, that's a pretty wild idea for a very traditional horse trainer. Like I got to see what she does with this. So, you know, we kind of got done with our stuff and, I don't know, she and I like our vibe. This visit together has very much been like, we don't really want to leave the barn. Just kind of hanging out. So, ⁓ we were finished with lessons and we packed some stuff in the trailer, which is my least favorite thing in the whole world. Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Crysta Brown: And then she was like, ⁓ are you going to go on your trail ride? And I was like, you know what? Absolutely. Let's, let's do this. So she like verbally gives me the directions of like how to get to it. And I'm not going to lie as I was like wandering with Chip outside the barn gate, was like, what if I get lost? Like, I have no idea where I'm going. Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Just follow all the people walking. Everyone walks that loop. There's a million people. Crysta Brown: Yes, so the only thing I wasn't sure about, so it's like a long way on that road though. Yeah, so that was a little like I just started to get unsure of like, did I miss a turn? Like when does this turn into an actual trail? But then I thought maybe it's completely groomed the whole way because again, I have no idea what I'm about to experience and I just for the record, I offered to like saddle Hootie for her to come with me and she was like. Scott Cooper: Yeah, it's like probably a mile down. I was gonna say, I wonder if she would go with you. Crysta Brown: I offered, I was like, do you want me to saddle one? And she was like, nah, I want to walk around and do this and that and whatever. I was like, okay, fine. So I went on my own, but okay, so you kind of go up that groomed path. Like you get off the paved asphalt road and then you start going up that like a little bit of groomed path and then you're supposed to turn left and like hook up the actual trail, right? Yes, initially. Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. like crazy steep. Crysta Brown: I went past that because I kind of thought it was like, is that someone's driveway? I had no idea what was happening. So I went past that and then I get up to the top and I see like asphalt paved road and like definitely a children's park. And I was like, I don't think I go over there. Thank God there was a city worker. So I asked him and he was like, oh yeah, it's just back behind you, whatever. And then I figured it out. Yeah. Other than that, he was a very good boy, especially for a horse that doesn't go on trail all the time. He paces up. Which, okay, anytime you've, I don't know if anybody has tried to trail ride their show horse, but usually you like take them out and they like show walk. And I'm like, ⁓ my God, please forward, forward, please. I'm so bored. knows what he's doing. He like locked in. Yeah, he was like cruising along the first mile. He kept like swinging his neck, looking at things, which I thought was really funny. Like he's just like, what's over here? What's over there? About the two mile mark, you could feel him like, okay, shit, I'm tired. Scott Cooper: Mm-mm. Yeah, he loves it, too. Crysta Brown: And he just kinda, like his head dropped lower and lower and he's like sweating and then he was just like everything was like get to the next thing. So anyway, we had a great time. Scott Cooper: Yeah. I love that. I actually miss that. And I'm glad you did that because I realized how much I missed doing that when I first got him. Yeah, I was living much closer, but my cadence would be I would go have a lesson on Thursday after work. Because I don't know, okay, she usually is done by like three ish, but she would like go home and have dinner and come back in her flip flops to the barn or whatever. She was very accommodating for me. And so I Crysta Brown: Hmm. Yeah. Scott Cooper: go after work and get there at like five and then we'd have a Thursday night lesson. Then we do Saturday big group lesson. And then just to like get extra time with him and get to know him more on Sunday because we didn't have lessons, I would just go out there and I would trail ride him around there. So he's gone on several of those trail rides with me and it's, it was really nice. It was a good way for me and him to bond without like having to have instruction or whatever. And yeah, he was always just like. Crysta Brown: So cute. Scott Cooper: you could tell it was nice for his brain to get out of the ring. And I love that spot along the road. I forget which one, Payton, guess, where it's got the fence on the side and it's just like flat. We used to like lope down that and like it was super fun. then, yeah, I guess like he kind of became better at showing. Crysta Brown: Yes! Aww, I love that. Scott Cooper: Karen didn't necessarily tell me not to trail ride anymore, but like we just kind of stopped doing it and she's like, yeah, he's kind of nice to be doing dumb stuff like that. I don't know. Now I'm like, I really don't care. Like he's fine. I think it's good for their brains. I think everyone should take their show horses out to something new and like give them a different obstacle or whether it be chasing cows or trail riding or like whatever it is, like break up their brains a little bit. Crysta Brown: I mean, okay, it's not for every horse and it's not for every rider, right? Like some horses genuinely can't handle it and it's only going to kind of uncork them and it's not going to be fun for anybody. I think some riders could. Okay, I'm just going to say it so for real, but like sometimes I'm around riders that are like way too overly confident for where their ability is at. And they're like, I want to take my green three year old out on a trail ride. And I'm like, Scott Cooper: Zippos. Don't... Don't worry about zippos. So, Crysta Brown: ⁓ I don't I want you to be safe, you know, like I I'm really big on I love doing extra curriculars, especially when you have that kind of like maybe in between your horse where Yes, like they're a great show partner for you But like they're not the most high level western pleasure like you know what I mean? And it's like they can be kind of more general purpose and you can just play and have fun I think it's great to just do extra curriculars and extra things but I think it takes the rider having enough knowledge to completely change the cues, like you have to have it within yourself to understand ⁓ what horse is going to understand. Like if you decide to go play with cows with Chip, you're still going to put your feet in disperse stop because you know that's what he understands. ⁓ Yeah. so I do think like I totally am in agreement with you. I love my horses, like seeing the world, acting like horses, seeing new things. I think it's so good for them. ⁓ so I know, I know a lot of, well, not maybe not a lot. Scott Cooper: Correct. Crysta Brown: But there are dressage riders who will go work the flag with cutting trainers because it really helps their horses learn to manage their shoulders on their own because it kind of gives them like a visual point and a goal. And I think like cross training can be so valuable to all of us. But I just want to add the caveat of like, I want you to be safe. And I think we have to be accurate at assessing ourselves and our horses and trying to assess if something is going to be a positive experience or terrifying. Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Something to do, yeah. I Crysta Brown: and I don't think it's worth taking chances. Scott Cooper: The first time I took Chip trail riding after I got him that probably was an instance of like me not knowing him very well and being overly optimistic and not caring. Luckily he was a very good boy. But you know, I in hindsight, maybe I should have gotten to know him a little bit better before I take him him out and do that. But also like, whatever. I mean, they're horses, we can manage them. But he he does have a good time. And I as soon as I get back in the saddle, I do want to go. Crysta Brown: Hmm. Scott Cooper: I'll it with them again. You know, maybe a good time. Because sometimes too, like especially if I don't have a show on the horizon, or I really like in this period right now where I'm like, I don't know if I'm gonna show this year, I don't really know what to work on like, going and doing more trail patterns and more horsemanship patterns like isn't really all that beneficial for us are really that exciting. And it would be nice to actually just drive there and like go do an hour trail ride. Crysta Brown: Go have fun. Yeah. Yeah, he was a boy. Yeah, that's something I've really enjoyed about my video lesson clients is they all ride their own horses all the time. And like, it's not like I'm the horse trainer on it all the time and then they come for their lesson. It's such a different dynamic because they're constantly on their horse. And I feel like I'm not saying that I don't like full-time training. I do. And it can be wonderful for our horses, but Scott Cooper: Hmm. Crysta Brown: Also, I really enjoy how developed my riders are and how developed their connection is with their horse because they are doing stuff like that. Like they are taking their horse to like just a you know shared arena day with them and their friends and and things like that and I just I wish there was a perfect way to balance having trainer time on your horse to help develop your horse but also in the perfect world every single person would have a small arena in their backyard and home horse so that they're Scott Cooper: Yeah. Yeah. Crysta Brown: doing that type of stuff to develop as a horseman and then having their show horse in a training barn. But like if wishes were fishes, I want that. It's so nice. And you can see the difference in the riders and horses that have that opportunity because it's so good for my riders, honestly. like, again, not when you're like a super baby novice, like everybody stay safe. But when you are a developing rider, when you get in those tricky situations with your horse and you look around, you realize, Scott Cooper: That's literally my dream for this year. I'm manifesting that. Crysta Brown: ⁓ nobody's coming. Like I have to figure out how to stay safe and get down the trail. I think it makes a horseman out of you because you don't have a choice. You don't get to rely on the trainer. You have to come up with what's going to fix it in that moment. Scott Cooper: Yeah, yeah, that is literally my dream is to like just buy a new fancy one that can go to Karen's and meet training and then have Chip at home so that I can stay in shape. I can have him close by and like it'll just be fun. ⁓ I will say like there's been times where I haven't gone to a show or whatever and Karen's gone for a while and I will go ride Chip and it's way different to like work on technical stuff when you don't have that set of eyes when like I've learned I've Crysta Brown: Yeah. Scott Cooper: become really kind of dependent on her watching. Like Western Riding for example, I remember one day last year she was at some show. I went out and was working on that and just like was clicking and I was just like getting so frustrated. ⁓ finally, I just kind of stopped because like you also there's ⁓ like a ⁓ off point and fighting with your horse. ⁓ I found like I can get really emotional and like. Crysta Brown: Yeah. Scott Cooper: I don't want to do something that's going to set them back. ⁓ That is that's growth for me because in my early 20s, that was not what it is. ⁓ But there was it was nice to have that fallback of knowing like I would train or come home because I kind of like after a while I was just getting frustrated and whatever we were doing wasn't working. I'm like, you know what? Screw it. This can wait till Karen gets home. Like I don't need to fix this today, but I would like to be able to fix that stuff. And I think that just comes with more. Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. right. Scott Cooper: and probably someone like you watching and helping from afar. I imagine that's kind what your PIVO lessons are of like, this horse is doing something dumb. The rider knows a horse better, but you kind of have to talk them through it. Crysta Brown: Yeah, it's kind of cool, right? Because if you are that amateur that either has a home horse and you're like, I really need to deep dive on my positioning or like I did a lesson this morning. Shout out Natasha. I did a lesson this morning and we were kind of working on the Western riding because came home from the horse show, realized her biggest struggle at the horse show was kind of ⁓ prepping her horse into the lead changes and like maintaining her Scott Cooper: you Crysta Brown: just kind of figuring out within herself what she can do to help her horse do the job of the Western riding. So like we were able to like, you know, really deep dive in and like set up the cone line and like practice the changing lanes. And like, I think it can be a really interesting tool for me to give exercises. Like usually what PIVA lessons look like for me is I kind of give them between two and four exercises depending on how we get through them. And then they keep practicing without me. And then I won't see them. know, most people subscribe to either weekly or bi-weekly, but like I won't see them for a while. And then we come back and it's kind of like, sometimes they come back to me and they're like, I got kind of stuck or I think I pushed you hard or you know, whatever it is. And then we have to kind of like go back through and reassess. But a lot of times they come back and they're like, ⁓ my gosh, I'm feeling so much progress. For me, that's the stuff that gets me out of bed. I... I know, okay, any horse trainers listening to this that are like in burnt out mode, sick of it, just know I get it and I totally feel you. But when I start to feel that, like, I'm so tired. I've been on the road for weeks. I miss my husband, like horses. I love them so much. This isn't real life. I come back to what really brings me joy in this. And you know, Karen and I were talking about this yesterday. I'm at a weird place in life where my focus really isn't horse development where yes, because I used to get to like really hone in on horses all the time. But now I'm I'm on other people's random horses and you know, I'm gone for this amount of time and then I come home and it's like Ricky Bobby is yearling in the bubbles and it's so it's like for me when I get to like come back to a lesson my writer and they're like, I thought about our lesson last week and like I came back to it and I've we've really got this figured and then I watched them ride and I'm like, yeah. Scott Cooper: It's rider development. Crysta Brown: Like you are totally getting it. That is so much fun. And I hope it's just as much fun for my ammies as it is for me. Because it's like when you can like give somebody the tools and they just take them and run with them, that's so, ⁓ there's something about that. Scott Cooper: Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I'm a huge fan of full-time training as we all know because I, know, situations like this right now. I do like, I want the tools. Like if I ever bring Chip home, it honestly, it scares me for situations like that of like, do I fix this if I want to go show him again, but we have problems and he's getting sticky in one of his lead changes. Like how do I do this without hauling him back to the trainers? And so like having you in the industry space is super helpful. Crysta Brown: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Can I? But can I reassure you, I think a lot of people feel that way. something that was said to like baby trainer me that's really resonated and changed my program was you can't be afraid to break it. So I was really struggling with, it's Krista, so anxiety, everything is anxiety for me. But like I was really struggling with anxiety and I was just very anxious to take the wrong path when I wasn't sure. Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Crysta Brown: Like I'm now at a point where I've got a pretty well built out tool belt There's still lots of tools that I pick up here and there but like I'm pretty good but I would get stuck when I've got like this green horse who every time I lope off he gets like squirrely behind and I don't know how to get him to where he just confidently lopes off and Maybe I pull out pull out this tool. Maybe I get the hammer maybe I get the screwdriver but like that confidence of which path do I start opening up and commit to, really would get kind of locked up in the decision making process. And so my friend had my friend come up to a half day with me and Chris Brady, he's amazing ⁓ trainer. He just kind of said to me, he was like, you can't be afraid to break it. He was like, you're a decent horseman. If you break it, you're going to figure out how to fix it. And it might take you a while, but you're going to learn a lot from that process. And I was like, huh. And honestly, like, after those words were said to me and I just like confidently would pick a path. I was like, this is what I feel. This is what I think. It totally changed the game. And so I think having horses on your own training, whether you're a DIY or you're actually the horse trainer, there's so much mental game to it of like being confident in your choices, committing to what you think is right, but also trusting your own feel in a way that I don't think you have to develop when you constantly have someone watching and observing you. Scott Cooper: Yeah, and like a good reminder that there's no wrong way to do anything. Like just look at all these trainers. They're not all doing the exact same thing to get their horses to look the way they do. I mean, it might be pretty similar, but like there's gonna be different routes people take. Crysta Brown: No. If it's not abusive, give it a shot. You know what I mean? Like, there are obviously lines where you need to check yourself and go, I'm taking this too far. Like, clearly the source has a misunderstanding. I need to go back down the rungs of the ladder and simplify this versus pushing through. But with that set aside, try it. Like, you have to be confident to try and just, like, I think so much of my catch writing even changed when I just started getting on and I was like, what if I press this button? What if I press that button? Whereas I think a lower developed version of my writing would have just waited for someone to tell me. And I would have rode very timidly trying to see what, you know, for them to correct me or like, ⁓ well, you should do this or you should do that. ⁓ Whereas now I'm just like, meh. Does this work? Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Crysta Brown: Does that work? What if I close my calf? What if I do this? And until someone tells me it's wrong, I just assume that I can trust my own feel. ⁓ Scott Cooper: Right, and maybe it gives the horse a chance to like pick what actually works better for them. Crysta Brown: For sure. Because there's also like, do you, okay, I don't know if it feels this way for you, but when I get on horses, I don't know. It's like this little dance, this little conversation between us, right? Like when I was doing Trail of Chip, I'm like, I don't want to put my leg on like that. He's like, you don't have a choice. Right, but we're having this like little conversation between the two of us. And I'm like, okay, but like, I want you to go there. And then I'm like going to the jog overs. He's like, if you don't. Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. You have a choice if you want what you want. Crysta Brown: put your leg on, I'm gonna pick the path. I was like, you know, we're like having this little dance between the two of us. But I think you as a rider have to give yourself the opportunity and the time for that horse to even give you the feedback and then like be a good listener to it. Anyway, that's one of my, I mean, no secret, I love horses. Like I just think all of that is like so much fun. Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. But I ⁓ do think like, ⁓ as we have to the horses a chance to give us some feedback. those of you who don't know, I work in a school that has 130 horses, and we teach all the ninth graders to ride. ⁓ Not we by me, but in general, which is so cool. They're very ⁓ ranchy, gymkhana type horses. ⁓ And way they ride is very different from how most of us Crysta Brown: which is so cool. Scott Cooper: all arounders ride and I've had a chance to watch them teach kids and ride some of their horses and one of the interesting things that ⁓ I picked up that I really appreciated about their style of training is like like the stop for example they teach the kids like you need to ask your horse to stop give it a second they literally make them count to three they go whoa one two three and then they rain check them so they're Crysta Brown: Mmm. Scott Cooper: giving the horse legitimately three seconds to think about the verbal cue and then they, know, if they're not stopping then you give it to it. like anytime they do transitions, which I get for us in the all-around world, like we don't get that luxury. Like I think of a horsemanship pattern, if you're so, we need it right now. In that same way, I have been able to like incorporate that into my riding a little bit to give my horse time. Crysta Brown: to think about it. We need it right now. Yeah. Scott Cooper: Because one thing I like about Karen is she always talks about being fair. And I think that's really appropriate for ⁓ our relationships with our horses. So if you ask them to do something and it's right this second and you get super pissed that they didn't happen right that second, let's be real with ourselves. That's probably not that fair. So if I think about a stop with Chip, I'm going to give him, if we're long trotting into a stop and then a spin, as we're long trotting, Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. Scott Cooper: I'm going to start giving him little subtle cues that like I'm going to ask you this soon, which is always a fine dance with him because he's like, well, I know when we're to stop. So I'll just stop right here. Yeah, right. You have to ride that fine line of like, this is coming, buddy. Not yet, but like this is coming. And for some horses, that's going to be five seconds. For some, it's going to be one second, like whatever it is. But like be fair to the horses and allow them to give you some feedback. And again. Crysta Brown: Yeah. Well, if you're too obvious, they anticipate, but you're so right. Yeah. Scott Cooper: I realize that's a privilege that we don't always get in all around, but you can you can subtly do it. You can really subtly do it. Crysta Brown: No, I think you're dead on. I was just giving a lesson a couple days ago where we were talking about the like, and stop. And what I mean by that is if you just jam your spurn and like expect that horse to stop, they are going to jab their front feet in the dirt. That is what is going to happen. When you are trying to build that function of a correct stop of a horse, like tucking their tailbone, breaking over in their hawks and like driving down, Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Yes. Crysta Brown: and lifting their shoulders into a stop, you have to collect them and then stop. And so for me, when I tell people, I think about it like, and stop. It's like, here I'm coming and we're stopping. And some people will come like, hmm, whoa. But it's so quick. You think about that, hmm, whoa. Was that like what, one second of me talking there? Scott Cooper: Yes. Mm-hmm. I like that one. Crysta Brown: but it's giving your horse that moment to react to you before you actually do it. Same for showmanship with me. When I stop, I actually say, whoa, as my foot goes to like match the other foot and stop versus saying, whoa, as my feet stop because it's like, I'm coming and we're stopping. Scott Cooper: Yeah, well, and like in showmanship too. mean, that can be the difference between a wonky stop where their butts off to the right or straight on. ⁓ Just an example, like with chip with the horsemanship thing, I do kind of a similar thing where, and again, people like your horse will learn this over time. So if it's not in that like one to three second range, it's okay, it can get shorter because it's kind of a lot shorter chip. I do the same thing where if I'm going if I'm going at a faster pace and I want him to stop, Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Scott Cooper: I say whoa with my voice before my body does anything to ask, my body asking, especially my feet. So let's just call it what is. I stop Chip super hard with my feet. But I give him that verbal cue before I'm like, breaks are on now. But my whoa feet is like, that's his cue and then he'll stop on a dime. Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Hmm. Scott Cooper: But if I all of a sudden just go, whoa, and throw my hand up, of course he's gonna throw his head up in the air and be like, what was that, where did that come from? You don't wanna give your horse opportunity to ask, where did that come from? Crysta Brown: 100%. You're so right. Yeah. Drop your Ami card. Who needs it? Scott Cooper: Guys, I'm a horse trainer now. I'm a people trainer. Fuck no. ⁓ Not a chance. ⁓ Crysta Brown: ⁓ Okay. So just to transition I think you should update. Like, how are you? How are you physically? I think people are worried about you. You need to tell us. ⁓ Give us an update. Scott Cooper: Feral. Feral. Um, where do we want to start? So we as of today, we are exactly six weeks out from the day that I almost died. Which is exciting. Bone growth should be healing. So I actually go to my ortho for a recheck at the end of this coming week. So it will be almost at the seven week point. But they'll do x rays and check on my arm. But honestly, it's been going okay. I'm I've been in OT and PT a lot. Everyone's like are you back at work? I'm like girl. I was back at work like a week after honestly I was when we were driving home from the from mammoth on You know that I've been in the hospital for four days we get in the car And I'm like answering emails, and then I got an email from HR. They're like can you just chill? Can you stop working don't work right now? And I was back in it. I was super bored. I was like well somebody to do with myself And there's like a lot going on at work, too, so I didn't want to fall behind but Crysta Brown: Yeah. Yeah. But are you bored? Yeah. Yes, that's how I am. Yeah. Scott Cooper: Yeah, I took off a whole like three days of work and by the next Monday I was like, I'm fine. I can use voice to text, whatever. Anyway, so I've been back at work the whole time going back to the office as normal. I finally got my custom orthotic splint for my arm about two weeks ago, I guess, which is better than like the one that was there. But honestly guys, I'm only wearing it like half the day. I know I'll probably have to wait till the ortho recheck this week to like get the confirmation of like, you don't have to wear this. But I also feel like even if they say that, like I'll wear it sometimes just it makes you feel a little bit safe. Yeah, it makes you feel a bit safer, a little less vulnerable. ⁓ But yeah, I kind of keep it off like most of the day, honestly, because then I can actually move my wrist. Crysta Brown: support. Yeah. Scott Cooper: OT and PT have been going well. OT is like really focused on getting mobility back in my hand, my arm. ⁓ Like that like pronate, what is this called? When you like, I don't know, like put your hand out in front of you flat with your fingernails up and then like rotate it, flip it over. Yeah, like I can't do that with my right hand yet. The twisting of it, yeah. So working on doing that, but like I've been able to eat again with my right hand. Crysta Brown: I don't know. ⁓ the twisting of the hand, Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Scott Cooper: Like use a fork. I've been able to, I even wrote a card with my right hand and you guys, very exciting this morning, I wiped my butt with my right hand. Like the first time, like in six weeks. was like, ⁓ hallelujah. ⁓ Yeah, so it's coming back. I call it my ET arm though, cause like the muscle's totally atrophied and it looks icky to me. But ⁓ no, it's, getting there. Like I'm trying not to do too much, but. Crysta Brown: Wow! Wow. Aww. Yeah. Scott Cooper: Like I don't want anyone to imagine me anymore as like frail, laid up at home. Like my life's pretty normal-ish, again, other than I can't ride and I can't like, you know, go do my sports, but I'm riding the Peloton stationary bike every day. I'm starting to incorporate some band work for strength, walking the dogs. I literally would go ride today if I wasn't scared, I would screw something up because I'm crazy like that. I know, I know, I'm not supposed to yet. I know. Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. No, you're fine. I'm just curious how you are feeling. Like, yeah, like, how do you feel? Scott Cooper: mentally. How do I feel? ⁓ That's a great question because baseline for Scott is full of ADHD. ⁓ Yeah, a little bit on the edge like should be medicated again. ⁓ I think restless is kind of the easiest way to describe it because now that like I'm feeling better, I'm like, ⁓ if I feel better, I can just go do it and getting a little Crysta Brown: Always on the edge. Scott Cooper: of this status quo and so I'm gonna like be really tempted to push myself. ⁓ So that's kind of where I'm at where I'm like, okay, let's just be done with this. Like I'm just, I wanna go ride again. I wanna know I have something to look forward to. Like I would love to be like, okay, I'm gonna go to zone two in May, but like, I don't know if that's gonna be able to happen. ⁓ So yeah, but my OT said I could start swimming again lately, so that's good. Crysta Brown: Yeah. Yay! Scott Cooper: And the scars are all closed up and healed, so... ⁓ And even felt well enough. Well enough, guys. Yesterday I started my laser hair removal journey. Crysta Brown: That is not... ⁓ my god, that was not my bingo card. That is so funny. Scott Cooper: Not in your bingo card, that's the most un-cowboy thing about me. Although let's be real, not much is cowboy about me. No, I'm sick of shaving and you know what? This is what happens when I'm bored, is I like do stuff like this. I'm horse shopping. Okay, we'll call it that. yeah. We're looking for horses that I'm not ready to buy, obviously. Although you know, no, the bright one pops up. The one you sent me today was cute. And you know, then thinking about... Crysta Brown: I love it. Yeah. You're optimizing. Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Scott Cooper: chip in his future and what we do and then thinking about like, ⁓ should I, should I sell my road bike right now? We'll get a tri bike for when I get back. And like my mind is just all over the place. Yes. Dreaming. Yeah, that's, that's what it is. When I'm sedentary, I dream. And then that drives Craig crazy, crazy. Cause I'm like, Hey, what about this one? What about this thing? What are we going to do? And yeah, so no more crying for me people. I'm just fine. Crysta Brown: I'm right. Dreaming, yeah. Yeah. think that's fun. Scott Cooper: So you can see that like if you look at my hand you can kind of move for those you aren't watching the video like I can flex my wrist back and forth like a little bit the scars gnarly though this is you can see the backside one Crysta Brown: I kind of... Ooh. So, ooh yeah, fun fact, right? When I had my surgery on my left wrist navicular, that was the motion that they thought I wasn't going to get back was like that for, sorry, the backward rotation, right? So my, can go thumb forward, but this backward, they are shocked by how much motion I got back. They said I would only get back 30%. And I think for horse, Scott Cooper: That's really tight for me. Yeah. Crysta Brown: I'm not a doctor. Don't take advice from me. This is an advice. I think for horse people, there's kind of something magical in our healing process. And I think it's because you're active, you're outside, like you're not a sedentary person. And it's like, you know, you're out lunging one and they kind of jerk their head on the lunge line and it like, a little bit of an injury, but then you kind of heal and you improve. And I don't know, I do think we often end up with like not miraculous recovery, but like I've many times I've had an injury and doctors have been like, how, are you back to this point? So I don't know, I do think there's something kind of magic about maybe how full body what we do is maybe how many different opportunities. I mean, you're not doing horses right now, but you do everything else. Scott Cooper: ⁓ Oh my God, just like walking the dogs. mean, the amount of times the dogs have like seen a squirrel and ripped the leash out of my hand on my like bad hand because I'm holding it lately and I trust them. And then like Chloe sees the squirrel and pulls it out and like, that hurt. But I have to remember that like, like she did that yesterday and it like caused me to panic for a second. I realized I'm like, oh, the reason it hurt is because of the tendons and those are okay to be pushed a little bit like Crysta Brown: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Why did I trust you? Yeah. Scott Cooper: My OT is pushing my tendon and trying to stretch out anyway. So it's not like I'm going to re break it. But yeah, like they're doing stupid stuff. I put a duvet cover on this morning. Like I'm like you said, I'm using my hand as much as I can. And that's kind of under the OT guidance of like, if you can do it, do it. Like that's just going to help with mobility. So that's kind of probably why I'm like not wearing my splint as much just because it's a it's annoying and it's hot. It's been very hot in California. It does not breathe. ⁓ So my arm's perpetually sweating. Crysta Brown: Yes. Right. Hoo hoo hoo! Yeah. Yeah. Scott Cooper: But yeah, it needs to do stuff more. Crysta Brown: Can you speak to, so I had put out like an Instagram story, like what do people want to hear from us? What do they want to talk about? You and I both dealt with horse lameness. That's a part of having horses, by the way. If you don't want to deal with horse lameness, don't have horses. Yeah, but we've both dealt with that. We've both had moments of personal injury. Some folks I think wanted us to speak to how do you cope with the feelings of like, do I give up? Scott Cooper: Don't buy a horse. Crysta Brown: Like have you had any moments like that? I know I have, to be honest. What do you think was the difference? What got you through? Like what was kind of the messaging maybe going on for you? Scott Cooper: No, 100%. I can think of an exact moment. about, I don't know, it's been three years ago or so where I'm standing in the kitchen with Craig. Another vet bill had come in for CHIP, lameness. So I don't have a horse to ride and I am just bleeding out money at this point. And I saw this bill come in and I just immediately start crying. So I'm like, I can't take this anymore. Like I cannot deal with this. This is so stressful. This is supposed to be the thing that brings me the most joy. And it is the thing that is stressing me out the most. And in that moment, I almost gave it up. I was like, let's just given that it's like a pasture pet, I cannot deal with this anymore. And it's okay to let yourself feel those feelings in the moment. I think I was like, I know I'm feeling this way, I'm going to give myself some time to internally process this and is that something I really want to do? Because I think the worst thing to do is make those decisions in really knee-jerk ways. whether it's after a bad show or whatever it is, Crysta Brown: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Scott Cooper: really beneficial to give yourself the time to think about what you really want. And ultimately, that love of the horse and the thing that brings me the most joy wins over it being stressful. And guys, everything's gonna be stressful. I could buy a boat. But guess what? That boat's gonna stress me out too. whatever you choose. Right. You could you could do pottery and it's gonna piss you off. Like, everything is gonna is gonna bring you some Crysta Brown: Yeah, life is stress Everything is hard. Yeah. Yeah. Scott Cooper: Everything is hard unless you're like just sitting watching TV for your life. Like things are going to push you outside your comfort zone a little bit. I think the biggest thing when I think about like wanting to give up was always going back to foundation of like little Scott watching the Black Stallion and Black Beauty. And like this is what I obsessed over because inevitably if I were to in that moment if I were to have given Chip away as a pasture pet and not dealt with it. you better believe if within like two months I would have been back looking for another horse, like that's just how it works. So it's okay to feel those feelings and it's okay to make a break, but. Crysta Brown: Yeah. Yeah. Scott Cooper: I'm not going to tell people either like, don't give up. Because sometimes like, that's sometimes you need a break and that break can be a year can be 20 years like whatever it is, do what's best for you. But like make sure you factor in everything. And are you going to be happier without this thing? I guess that's kind of my my gauge that I use is like, will I be happier without this? If I think this has caused me stress right now? Well, Crysta Brown: break. Sometimes you do need to take a break and that's so okay. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Scott Cooper: actually not having this problem make me happier or is just going to make me miserable again? What are your thoughts? Crysta Brown: Yeah. mean, a couple of things. I think you're touching on something, a skill that I have developed as I've like become more of an adult, which is like, if it doesn't have to be dealt with right now, wait. Like there are those big decisions. think in my youth, I was there was that like satisfaction of impulsivity. Like I'm going to change it right now. Like the feelings are too big. I'm going to make it happen. And I think as I've gotten older, I've really learned that there's power for me in going, this isn't a decision I have to make right now, so I'm going to give it five days, and then let's reassess. And maybe still putting something time bound so it doesn't just eat away forever, but just going, it's OK to not deal with something emotional right in that moment. It's really good for me to kind of let the big emotions settle and then decide how I want to attack it. ⁓ Like you're saying, sounds like it was a conversation you had with Craig. me, I mean, when I get in my moments of like, for me it really hits when I'm just exhausted. That's a theme for me. When I am just like, I've been on the road, I'm so tired, I feel like I'm kind of not achieving the goals I set out to achieve. Scott Cooper: Yes. Crysta Brown: ⁓ this is costing me You know, it's not maybe so much of financial costs But it's an opportunity cost of like I could be at home with my husband enjoying our life together But instead i'm like on the road and there are times where it doesn't feel Worth it. And if you're in one of those moments, I just want you to know You are not the only one I've felt that I know everybody has felt that and honestly, especially for any horse trainers listening I really wish more of us would get open and honest talking to each other because one of the most powerful experiences for me has been being able to go to those trainers maybe 10, 20, 30 years ahead of me and bring the honest conversations of like, sometimes I don't feel like I'm going to make it. Sometimes I don't feel like I'm good enough. Sometimes I don't feel like I'm. I don't have enough try hard or you know, this is just costing me everything or I want to have a family someday. How is that even going to be possible? Like it feels like horses can cost everything and it doesn't always feel worth it. And the more I get into those conversations, the more I'm reaffirmed value. Like you know what it is? Sometimes I get into those conversations and I'm sad when I listen to the trainers that have come before me speak to how alone they felt when they were in those moments. and how grateful I am that I have those relationships and connections to lean on. Because I think that happens to all of us. I think the other piece I thought of as you were talking is so a part of like my work at AQHA convention is we were a part of the AQH lead. And a lot of the reason AQH lead exists is to try to speak to that 18 to 35 age demographic where people are young professionals, busy horses are just not a priority for them. And a lot of, I don't remember the statistics, but it's like, we lose a lot of members of APHA, AQHA when they hit that 18 mark and they're out of the youth. And it's like, why? And some of that can't be helped by the organization. It's like, you your parents sell your horse when you go to college, what are you going to do? And A lot of the conversations we had were people still want to feel connected to this community because it meant so much to them, but they feel like they can't without horse. And that was another question that came up, something what people want to talk to us about is how to stay connected without a horse. Yes, Scott, what do you have? I already know what you're saying, but go ahead. Scott Cooper: ⁓ my God, I went through this in my 20s, but do you want to finish your train of thought before I answer that? Crysta Brown: No, because I know what you're going to talk about and it's exactly what I want to talk about. So go ahead. Scott Cooper: Yeah, so I went through this. I showed in 4-H and Open Shows as a youth kid. I never showed breed shows. We did not have that kind of money. But I got my 20s. I got a free horse off Craigslist when I was in college. And then I eventually sold him because he was a dingbat. And then I got this mare. I bought it for $1,200. That was the most money I've ever spent on a horse. I felt like I was ballin'. Turns out she was crazy too. But anyway. Crysta Brown: You right. Scott Cooper: So and I had to sell her because I literally had no money like my car got repossessed because I didn't have money. Yep, that was the second time actually you guys I was a hot mess hot mess. Also do not use your car payment money for a new tattoo. My to be fair frontal frontal lobe is not fully developed yet. Obviously, I was so dumb. Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. which is my favorite story. Love that. Bad call. It wasn't developed, that's not your fault. You're fine now, it's okay. Scott Cooper: But anyway, so I had this mare, I had to sell her and I was heartbroken because I like really didn't want to do this again. I really I really did love her. You know, she's a little hot spicy chestnut quarter horse mare out of her by Oh God, what's his name? Max Goodenplenny, which anyway, they're a little difficult, apparently. Wish I would have that beforehand. Anyway, so sold her I remember I put her on the online the internet. Crysta Brown: Okay, yeah. Scott Cooper: auction. I forget what it's called, but the Mike Jennings one. You know, hoping to get like five grand to help kind of get my life in order. This mare went for like $900. Like I, I was devastated. So not only am I losing a horse, I'm barely getting any money to help recoup any of the debt that I'm currently in. It was awful situation. The shipper came, I helped put it on trailer and I just balled for like Crysta Brown: you Yeah. Scott Cooper: hours. It sucked. It really, really sucked. It was like really a low point in my life. Also, my partner had just broke up with me my cards. That was a very, very bad few months. But I then at least had my frontal lobe was finally developing enough to be like, I can't afford this. Scott, you can't afford this. Like, you can't have a horse or a horse is a luxury. And you can't afford it, which is probably the case for a lot of those 18 to 30 year olds. Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm. Scott Cooper: that AQHA lead is referring to is you're either in college or fresh out of college, parents aren't paying the bill anymore, whatever it is, you cannot afford it. And guess what? That's okay. That's okay. Your 20s are supposed to be a hot mess. If you showed your entire youth, go be like a beach rat for a while. Go to Miami and shake it on a yacht. Get out of horses for a second and take a beat. Crysta Brown: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you don't have to, it's fine. Yeah. Yeah, there you go. Sure. Yeah. Scott Cooper: If you don't have a yacht, a pontoon boat on like Minnetonka works just fine. But I was very lucky enough that Iowa and Minnesota Paint Horse Clubs both had asked me to start ring stewarding and start announcing. And I did it because ⁓ I needed money. was like that 300 bucks I made from a weekend. Yeah, that 300 bucks I made like made or broke my month. Like if I didn't do those shows, like there were some things I couldn't pay for. It's part necessity, but I got connected to horse people in a way that I never had before. I'd always just been in open shows or been at boarding barns. Finally, that was my first step into this current community. ⁓ I did that for eight years, y'all. I worked probably anywhere between six and eight shows a year, ring stewarding. I got to be really involved in the industry. I don't know how people got to know me as a ring steward because you're not interacting that much. I don't know, whatever. I really got, they saw my face. We'd smile each other when they tried it up for showmanship. it did so much more than just give me a paycheck. It helped me build community. It helped me feel really connected to the horse world. It let me know what was current, what's current trending, what are the themes? Crysta Brown: Yeah. But they saw your face. Yeah. Yeah. Scott Cooper: I could keep going on for that forever, but like, I'm here to tell you, like, you don't need a horse to be connected into the horse world. There are banders, there are braiders, there are haulers, there's show management, there's so many things that you can get involved with. And I was lucky enough to make connections like Jesse Luth, who like let me come to her barn and just ride once in while. Like it was so nice to just like have a friend nearby that like Crysta Brown: Yeah. Scott Cooper: there's no obligations. She wasn't trying to sell me a horse, wasn't trying to sell me package of lessons and she just knew I like I wanted to be on a horse. know, Monty would like let me ride his pleasure horses on lunch breaks at shows and like that was super fun. And you know, it comes back, you'll get back to where you want to be eventually. Crysta Brown: For sure. I think, you know, the cheesy phrase like this too shall pass, I do think is really relevant. I think, you know, a lot of times when people book calls with me, they're kind of in like a crisis state. Not always, but like that's sometimes the phone call we get and they're like, like my horse is lame. Like you're saying like my boyfriend just dumped me. Like it's all happening and it's all at once. Yeah. Car got repoed and it's like, ⁓ well my. Scott Cooper: Yeah. Yeah, it's real. Has anyone's car got repo'd? Crysta Brown: My last horse died after only owning it for three months and it was not my fault. And then this horse now has like a genetic disease and I'm just like, ⁓ God, like there are so many people going through those crazy situations at the same time. And I do think like the power of community through that is so important and like it's worth leaning on. I Scott Cooper: sucks. Yeah. you Crysta Brown: I think there can be a part of this industry that wants to keep things secret because it's like, what if you need to sell that horse and nobody should know that it's lame? And like, I'm really over that. think just as a generation, like as millennials, can we just like break that generational curse? Nobody cares. Nobody cares. I, I'm sorry. Scott Cooper: I am too. Let's be so for real, what horse hasn't ever gotten lame or gotten sick? Like it's a living animal. Come on, like give me a break. Crysta Brown: When I go to buy a horse, I would much rather have an honest conversation about what you've done to help maintain it so that I understand. And I actually trust people. I trust a situation less when they're like, ⁓ he's never taken a lame step. I'm like, really never lies. That just means you either don't notice, don't know, or aren't telling me. So anyway, I just think we need to stop hiding things. think the more you can find safe community, right? Like be wise about who you trust, but like, Scott Cooper: Bullshit. Bullshit. Right. Right. Crysta Brown: Be brave about seeking out safe community to have these conversations with. There's so much wisdom within our sport. Like I'm saying, like I talked to those who've gone before me. When I talked to those trainers that have been doing this for decades more than I have, I'm always like reassured of, ⁓ like I'm not the first person to feel this way. I'm not the first person to wonder. And even sometimes like when I've talked to trainers about like motherhood, they're like, yeah, it's just really hard. And I'm like, ⁓ Scott Cooper: Mm. Crysta Brown: Okay, good to know, you know, like the conversations like that I think are really powerful, but I think there are so many ways to be involved without a horse. Like say you need to either take a break from having a horse or you just find yourself horseless right now. I don't, I think you can end up accidentally grieving two things at once if you completely exit the community. And I encourage you, okay, yeah, like you're talking about show management. My club is in a position right now where I'm kind of like, we need some people that can be organizers. We need people who can help us with our marketing, with our social media. And like your voice would be so valuable. And especially if you're not showing, because part of the problem sometimes clubs get into is if all of your volunteers are participants, there's no one to run things. So it's actually wonderful if you're willing to run the show office, like honestly. Scott Cooper: I show you. Right, exactly. Crysta Brown: Whatever your skill set is, it can bring value to your club. You know, for me, I'm more of a horse trainer, but I can be a great clinician and I can like offer to the club. Do you want to do a ride the pattern? I'm happy to help. ⁓ if your skill set is more, ⁓ office type work, like, ⁓ my gosh, we need amazing admins in this sport. So bad. And I'm going to add. the little, little detail. I understand that a lot of clubs maybe aren't super interested in new voices and there's an old guard, but just remember you can outvote those people. If you just get enough people involved that think the same way you can hostile take over. And actually I think it can be really fun to play the politics, but you have to remember it's not that. Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Anarchy. Crysta Brown: serious. Like if you're the type of person who's going to get involved in a club and get overwhelmed by the politics, maybe that's not the path for you. Just come ring Stuart leave, right? But if you're someone who can kind of enjoy the social game, I think there's a lot of fun to be had. It can be a good time. Scott Cooper: It's not that serious. I was going to say, in the world of horses, it's definitely its own niche world, every skill someone has, say in whatever office setting or whatever, whatever skill you have outside of the horse world can somewhere apply inside the horse world. If you're a graphic designer, guess what? You can make ads. If you're a photographer, guess what? You can go photograph. If you're a content creator, you can go to a show and make a bunch of TikToks. Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. Scott Cooper: I can think of a thousand examples. Crysta Brown: If you are a graphic designer, can you please contact your local club right now? Because if I see another AI ad for a horse show, I'm going to fling myself out a window. I cannot do it. I actually cannot do it. Please, graphic designers, we need you so bad. Scott Cooper: I'm gonna lose my mind. you guys. I swear I swear on anything, anything right now I swear on a wildfire. If I see an AI ad for like a horse, you know, the ones we put in the Chronicle or whatever. If I see one built by AI, I'm going to riot, just absolutely riot. Like, please don't. They're so bad. You can tell they always have this weird dumb haze over it. Listen, and we are not chat haters. We both use chat a lot, but like stop using it for arc. Crysta Brown: Ugh. They're so bad. You can tell. We can tell. We can tell. Love chat GPT use it wisely not for that Yes, yes, so anyway all that to say your unique skill set can bring value to our horse world and we want you in the community and like we welcome and if you're not finding community in your little bubble just cast a net wider because That was something sorry. That was something so amazing about a QHA convention actually Scott Cooper: Use it wisely and also like let's use our artists. Yes. Yeah, you know, go. No, go ahead. Crysta Brown: I really enjoyed the diversity of voices I heard from when I was sitting in on the different ⁓ committees. I feel like there are so many kind of interesting checks and balances and like people aren't afraid to question each other. And there's kind of an, from what I experienced, this is my personal experience. is what Krista saw that day at this convention. Okay. What I experienced, I was really Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Crysta Brown: shocked and amazed by the level of respect. Like respect was the baseline. We came in understanding that we respect this other person's voice, but because I respect you, I'm going to come at you and offer a different perspective and we're going to see what you have to say about that. And I saw a lot of value in the back and forth, you know, and there's kind of people who can speak to our sports heritage and go, Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Crysta Brown: You guys aren't considering when we originally created this, the intention was blank, but then you have the diversity of other people going, well, but do you feel like this specific rule is safeguarding that heritage? Maybe we need to make an edit and that back and forth really like made me go like, guys, we're doing fine. Like everything's going to be okay. There are amazing people involved with this. like, I felt so welcomed. Scott Cooper: Yeah. Crysta Brown: which maybe it was because I was a part of lead, but like they specifically said like to, ⁓ one of the like big group meetings, if you see like young people with the blue thing on there that says they're part of AQH lead, like go out of your way to introduce yourself. Like they really are taking an initiative to try to welcome in some of these younger voices that are in that demographic that's being lost a little bit. And I saw people have like, Scott Cooper: That's really nice. Mm-hmm. Crysta Brown: all ages, like all different walks of life. Like the ranching committee was everybody from like showman, very successful showman in the ranch show and in the ranch classes to actual ranchers that just like never stepped in the show pen. Right. But they were there to advocate for the heritage and the importance of the American quarter horse as a traditional ranch horse. And I just thought that was so cool to see and experience. Scott Cooper: Right, have never been into a show, ever. Because why would you do that? That's stupid. Crysta Brown: I got to talk to the marketing committee about social media. That was really cool. And I was like, so ⁓ excited to be welcome to speak to a space that I do have some, maybe expertise is the wrong word, but I have some comfort sharing at least, and could kind of offer. I think it would be really cool if AQHA did this type of a series, or like, I really think this tool is, I think the tool of social media is being under. Scott Cooper: Who? Mm-hmm. Crysta Brown: utilized by our associations at the moment. I think if we want to reach the next generation, I'm sorry, but social media is the tool. And I know that our Breed Show organizations are very conservative businesses, but I think the Gen Z vibe is so over the gatekeeping is so over the traditional Scott Cooper: Yes. Yes. Crysta Brown: ⁓ definition of professionalism, I think we want to see real humans and we want to laugh and have fun and that doesn't mean that we can't take our horses seriously and take what we're doing very seriously. But it can come across in my opinion gatekeeping when the only things we release are like this person won this, this person won that. It doesn't feel like there's any space for me and I think when we show the Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Yes. Crysta Brown: fullness the humanness of this horse world. I think it helps people go I want to do that. So anyway, it was a really cool interesting conversation to be a part of. I loved how many different types of humans I met throughout that experience and I hope if you are sitting on outside right now missing the horse community, please come get involved because there are other people like you. I promise there's so many different people. Scott Cooper: Yeah. Two comments and one question before I lose these tracks. This is circling back a little bit, just about doing ring stewarding, announcing whatever working shows. Y'all, can use that on your resume. I legitimately brought working horse shows up in multiple interviews and honestly is the reason I got a job because I joked about organizing people on thousand pound animals and bossing them around and getting them to run a show efficiently. Crysta Brown: Yes. Yes! Scott Cooper: that is work experience. And that's like my favorite interview question to get is like, what's something not on your resume that is relevant? I'm like, well, let me tell you, like this, like it's production, it's great. ⁓ And also put it on your resume. I did that for a while before I like could build more. Being, yes, yes. And like boards and stuff is really applicable as well. What I wanted to say about the, you're talking about the dialogue, that is a great example of Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. Yeah. being on committees as well that also can go on your resume. Mm-hmm. Scott Cooper: the fact that in-person discussions, debates, whatever you want to call them, are so much more effective than being online and being a keyboard warrior. Like, it is. I mean, there's just so many people who will make one flippant comment on a post or whatever it is, or honestly, say some shit they won't say in person. And you know what? That's not okay. ⁓ Most of the time. I will say sometimes it helps you get a little courage, but most of the time it's just enabling shitty behavior. Crysta Brown: Ooh, spicy, Scott, spicy. Not helpful. Yeah. Scott Cooper: Like yay for the importance of in-person respectful discussion my question for you is like what are Two to three things that you've taken away from a quid lead that like how we get those 18 to 30 35 year olds back in the fold without if they don't have a horse Crysta Brown: Ooh, okay. I would say the main thing I learned, okay, the AQH lead class of 2026, there are a lot of very remarkable individuals involved, I will say. Like you've got people on there that are in what I perceive as like very much big girl jobs, big boy jobs, like doing really impressive things for the horse community. And sometimes that's a space where as a horse trainer, I feel a little out of my depth. ⁓ but I really enjoyed us all kind of sitting down. Like we did a dinner together, ⁓ with the 2025 lead class and kind of having a conversation and going like, ⁓ yeah, we're all feeling some of these struggles and even some of our frustrations with the industry. It was kind of nice to have like a kumbaya and go like, we all kind of are feeling this. That's interesting. Like. Scott Cooper: You Crysta Brown: I will be so curious to see how the industry evolves when as my generation steps into more and more leadership. ⁓ I think we all have a very similar interest in tearing down the barriers. And I think the idea of the like old boys club is getting old. ⁓ I think people are in our tolerance for it is just zero. I, I'm sorry. That's just my opinion. Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Crysta Brown: But I also really enjoy the experience, knowledge, wisdom that the old guard brings to the conversation because you just spoke to something that like shifted my perspective. Okay. We were in the general meeting, I believe, and it was brought up the online voting thing, right? How, like, why can't I vote online? Scott Cooper: 100 % yeah. Crysta Brown: for some of these rule change proposals. I'm a member, I pay my dues, why can't I vote? And I first heard that and I was like, yeah, why not? Like, ⁓ I don't see why not. I think I should get a say whether I can afford to show up to convention or not. That feels really gate key B to me. Well, then some people brought up ⁓ the really important piece of the conversation, which is you would miss out on all of this discussion. If you aren't here in person, Scott Cooper: Right. Crysta Brown: You are not going to have that opportunity for your mind to be changed by hearing that different perspective of somebody who's in Minnesota having a very different showing experience than I'm having in Northern Ireland than you're having in California. You are going to miss out on the fullness of that. And yes, you could make an argument for observing it online. But then another really interesting argument was brought up that I had never considered, literally never considered was there are Scott Cooper: Right. Crysta Brown: extreme animal rights organizations who would love to see nobody sit on a horse ever again. They don't see value to it. They think it's bad for animals. And if we open the floor up without ⁓ considerable protections in place, that then gives those organizations opportunity to buy our vote and destroy us. Because then in theory, they could just buy up enough memberships and vote us all the way that they wanted to go. I never considered that and I know that sounds a little conspiracy theory, but I think that is a real consideration that we need to keep in mind because we want to protect the sport that we love. Scott Cooper: When you say it out loud, totally sounds like a conspiracy theory. And then you literally think about it for like more than 10 seconds. You're like, oh, wait, no, that could actually happen. Yeah. Crysta Brown: No, it could happen. Like it really could. And ⁓ so I found all of that like, ⁓ and just the health of being able to take in those types of different ideas. And I think that's why it is so important that young people do get involved. And it's not, this is not like an ageism thing. It's just like, that's one of the like most obvious examples I have of diversity within our sport. I would love to see more diversity. in general, but I think we can do a better job of putting our arm out to folks that don't look like us. ⁓ And the International Committee was one of my favorite parts because there are so many diverse challenges that these individual countries are having and their leadership in charge is like coming to these conversations, advocating for their country. They might be the only one. Like a lot of people, it was like the only person from like their whole country to like represent their unique challenges and come to these rule change proposals saying we would really like to see it this way. And then watching like some of them team up with other countries to kind of advocate for what they wanted to see. was like mini European union. It was so like, it was so cool. ⁓ I really enjoyed the international committee and sitting in on that. ⁓ I also think the, mean, I think we all know like my favorite people in the world work at the international department at AQHA. I want them to run the world. want that like Joanne for president. I think they're amazing. ⁓ literally, literally like they are so, good. So anyway, all of that, ⁓ I don't even remember what your question is, but I just think there is power in us hearing from diverse voices. And I think for the 18 to 35 year old demographic, they are feeling left out, but Scott Cooper: Scott Newman for Vice President. Crysta Brown: I think there are some maybe communication challenges that the marketing committee is working on to try to help reach that demographic and say like, no, we are putting together programs for you. Like we really do care about you and those programs do exist. Lead exists, emerging leader exists, right? Ring stewarding opportunities exist. Things like that exist, but I'm not sure the people that need to hear about it are. learning about it or hearing about it or understanding. they're, yeah. So I think that's kind of the biggest challenge the organizations have to face is like, how can they communicate some of the programs that they offer? I think something I also experienced on like a strategic communications task force I was on a couple of years ago is we did like a survey of ⁓ some paint members. I don't know how much of this was not supposed to be shared, but I'll be very vague. Scott Cooper: Yeah, it's not getting to them. Crysta Brown: But basically we did a s- yeah, yeah. I love when we get to the end because I'm like, can say whatever I want now. I'm like, only the real ones are in. So, but we were talking, we kind of asked like, what do you guys want? Like, you know, what's keeping you from being involved in showing and whatnot. And like so many of the responses, like the main thing I learned from it was a lot of the programs people were asking for already existed and they just didn't know. Scott Cooper: No one's listening at this point, it's fine. We can say, well, shit, no one's logged off. Mmm. Crysta Brown: Like, did you know that AQHA has a riding program where you can earn a buckle just for the hours that you practice? And I'm pretty sure it's all breed. Scott Cooper: Now we know. That's amazing. I want to buckle. Wait, can I? Wait, I can sign up for this. ⁓ fun. Crysta Brown: right? You could sign up right now. Yeah. And so if you're maybe in a country that's developing, maybe you're in an area that's like trying to grow your club, you can encourage people to participate in a program like that. Maybe you could get a local tax shop to throw in a little extra sponsorship just to get them practicing before maybe your club is ready to start offering shows and things like that. That was something I took away that I'm going to take home and work on. So yeah, that was like, I learned a lot. I had to kind of stretch a new muscle of learning how to, ⁓ not politic, but network. Like being able to, hi, I'm Krista Brown. This is what I do. Can you help me? I think trying to sit there and go, I'm trying to develop as a professional in A, B, and C way. How can you help my journey? That's like. Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Right. Crysta Brown: really powerful, but a hard conversation to start. like that was a new muscle to flex. and I had some like great people that kind of like took me alongside and showed me the way and introduced me to a lot of cool folks, but it was really cool to be a part of. would encourage anybody who's considering going to quarter horse convention to go because, ⁓ different than paint. So paint only state directors get to vote quarter horse. Every member gets a vote when it goes to the general meeting. I got to sit there with a clicker and vote. And I thought that was really cool. you can sit in on some of the committees have a closed door session, but almost every committee had an open door meeting that you could sit in on and listen. And there is a time for gallery comment. I believe on the first day it's open. So ⁓ I encourage you, like we want to hear from you. I think AQHA is actively seeking out diversity. So ⁓ yeah, come get involved. That's the sum total of this episode. Get involved, please. We want you. You're wanted. Scott Cooper: Yeah. Get involved, go trail ride, get laser, do all the things. Crysta Brown: Yeah. Yeah, laser hero. Or an IPL, which is the budget friendly option. Absolutely. Very good. Well, everybody keep in mind as you go forward in life that you can't be all of the good that the horse show world needs, but the horse show world needs all the good that you can do. And we will see you next time. Bye, everyone. Yeah. Thank you. Bye. Scott Cooper: Right, exactly. Good luck in Scottsdale. Bye.