Are We Doing Too Much? | Horse Shows and New Babies

Summary

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Episode Overview

Podcast: Katching Up With Katie
Host: Katie Van Slyke
Episode: Are We Doing Too Much? | Horse Shows and New Babies
Date: August 4, 2026

This rich, casual episode sees Katie Van Slyke joined by guests Matt and Nate for a lively, authentic conversation that weaves together new-baby chaos, behind-the-scenes at running a horse and cattle operation, prepping for major horse shows, hilarious mishaps, and what it means to juggle family, farm, and business. The hosts and guests share updates on life changes, including new babies, expanding staff, ongoing horse show preparations, and fond (and not-so-fond) memories from the farm. Through plenty of laughter, teasing, and open reflection, themes of adaptation, teamwork, resilience, and the importance of family and fun emerge.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Paternity Leave, New Babies & Family Life

• Matt Returns from Paternity Leave
  • Matt jokes about his "uncelebrated" return to the ranch and feeling like a stranger after time off for their new baby ([00:37]).
  • "I came back, and didn't even know how things worked around here...I certainly wouldn't say that I was welcomed back." — Matt ([00:48])
• The Realities of Two Kids
  • Matt reflects on how going from one to two kids is a shockingly big adjustment— “days are all blurred” and the “potato stage” (with a newborn) being the easiest ([02:21], [02:32]).
  • “People always say, like, if you’re going to have two, you might as well have three. Like the biggest change is from one to two.” — Matt ([03:33])
  • Older sibling adapting: stories of too-high affection, biting, and the challenges of keeping siblings from overwhelming a newborn.
• Balancing Farm Life with Parenting
  • “The first thing I thought was, ‘Man, how am I going to work? How am I going to, like, do all this?’ … it’s not a vacation by any means.” — Matt ([03:31])

Farm & Garden Wins (and Mishaps)

• Corn Pride
  • Matt shares excitement about his first successful corn harvest, provoking much joking about the significance of small wins. ([06:52]–[07:39])
    • “I was so proud. Probably more proud of that than Collins.” — Matt ([07:34])
• Scaling Up: Changing Farm Life
  • Katie walks through how the operation has changed from having just three foals and no employees three years ago to today’s sizable team ([27:03]-[28:15]).

Horse Shows: Training, Competition & The 'Barn Olympics'

• First Riding Lessons, Horse Assignments, and the ‘Showdown’
  • Nate recounts a tough first lesson with Kennedy, feeling like “did a lot of things right…and also nothing right because nothing really happened.” ([09:46])
  • Matt is acutely aware of the “advantage” he holds with a more forgiving horse, Ethel, though it may not be the fanciest ([10:36], [11:32]).
  • The group compares personalities and abilities of the horses—Ricky, Ethel, Kennedy—and discuss who has the “easy mode” or “fancy” option, and how it might impact their friendly competition ([10:48]–[12:26]).
    • “Correct wins the game...It doesn’t matter how fast the car is if I can’t reach the pedals.” — Nate ([11:32])
• Judging & The Costume Segment
  • They detail the multiphase competition: Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Halter (on showing, not conformation), and a hotly anticipated Costume Class ([12:35]–[16:08]).
  • Costume strategies (with great secrecy and playful one-upmanship) and budget talk; “If I don’t win that...the trophy means nothing.” ([15:27])
• Practice Nerves and Performance
  • Matt voices worry about the added pressure when Katie (or cameras) are present during practice/lessons. Real talk about nerves and needing “private” lessons for confidence ([18:00]–[23:40]).
    • “You being there will be a problem…there are level of nerves that will be pretty present because you are there.” — Matt ([18:23])
  • Discussion about the large family/friend fan base planning to descend on their at-home horse show and the idea of making the event a cookout ([19:10]–[20:09]).

Auction Stories, Cattle Sales & Farm Culture

• Auction Lore & Farm Expansion
  • Lively back and forth about going to cattle and horse auctions, the energy of live bidding, “spotters,” and the allure of buying as a group ([31:08]–[34:34]).
  • “Auctioneers have my utmost respect...such a talent.” — Matt ([34:06])
  • Detailing their registered Simmental and SimAngus herd ([32:26]–[32:44]).

Horse Show Plans & Updates

• Show Schedule Complexity
  • Katie gives a run-down of upcoming show prep, including who will show which horses, the classes, and some maybes due to horse readiness ([25:07]–[26:43], [37:00]–[39:12]).
  • Hopes for success with Denver’s return to the NSBA World, and Penelope’s promising debut ([26:45]–[29:24]).
  • Katie is headed to Vegas for fun before the season kicks off.
  • Matt raises—tongue-in-cheek—the age-old question: “Bangs up or down under the hat at a show?” ([39:12])
• Farm Growth: From Humble Beginnings
  • Reflection on the transition from a small hobby operation into a thriving business—and the emotional journey that entailed ([28:00]–[28:44]).

Memorable/Funny Stories

• Grandparent Name Debate
  • They amusingly argue about the “OG” grandparent names and share personal family stories and odd names ([21:01]–[22:00]).
• Epic Leroy Story
  • Katie recounts the story of her first horse Leroy—the undersized, ugly, but beloved rescue horse bought with years of saved birthday money. The story turns when Leroy, presumed bombproof, bucks off a friend after being kicked in the sensitive “flanks,” causing embarrassment and a long walk home ([44:52]–[48:49]).
    • “He just looked super young…so I bought him with my own money…I wish I still had him.” — Katie, on Leroy ([45:03]–[45:38])
• Horse Handling 101
  • Katie offers a crash course in staying on during bucks or rears: “If they’re bronking with you, you try to get their head up…You try…and so. But you don’t want to…” ([47:36]–[48:19])

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On returning to ranch life after paternity leave:
  “I came back, and didn't even know how things worked around here...I certainly wouldn't say that I was welcomed back.” — Matt ([00:48])

• On life with two kids:
  “It’s not a vacation by any means. Like, there’s way less sleep involved in those two weeks than when I’m working.” — Matt ([04:13])

• On garden pride:
  “I was so proud. Probably more proud of that than Collins.” — Matt, on his first corn ([07:34])

• On nerves with an audience during lessons:
  “You being there will be a problem. There are levels of nerves that will be pretty present because you are there.” — Matt, to Katie ([18:23])

• On auctioning:
  “Auctioneers have my utmost respect…you have to go to school for that most times. Such a talent to be able to be an auctioneer. And the energy!” — Matt ([34:06])

• On the treasured Leroy saga:
  “He would never come back out. He was mortified.” — Katie, about her friend bucked off Leroy ([47:32])

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Timed Episode Highlights

• 00:37 – Matt’s “unwelcomed” return, adjusting to life with two kids
• 06:52 – Matt’s corn harvest story and pride
• 09:46 – Nate’s first horse lesson recap (struggles and humility)
• 10:36 – Analysis of horse assignments and competitive advantages
• 12:35-16:08 – Outline & scoring for the at-home competition; costume contest plans
• 18:00 – Matt’s nerves on camera and desire for no-audience practice
• 19:10 – Making the horse show a family event, cookout discussion
• 28:07 – Katie on expanding from no staff to a large team
• 31:08-34:34 – Horse and cattle auction talk; group buying antics
• 39:12 – Show preparations, “bangs up or down?” Hat-wearing practicalities
• 44:52 – Katie’s Leroy story: from rescue to riding disaster
• 47:36 – Horse behavior advice: what to do when bucked or rearing

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Tone & Takeaways

• Tone: Warm, self-deprecating, honest, playful, and supportive, with a rich rural storytelling vibe
• Takeaway: Behind every polished horse show or social media post lies a mountain of hard work, humor, setbacks, family chaos, and small personal victories. Whether wrangling toddlers or colts, “doing too much” is all part of the journey.

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Next Episode Tease:
Nate’s got another lesson coming up, Matt’s entering the show ring, Katie’s balancing Vegas and major competitions, and everyone’s bracing for a whirlwind season. Plus, listeners are promised an exclusive catch-up with the elusive Stephanie for a judge’s-eye take!

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For anyone who missed this episode, this summary captures the big laughs, heartfelt moments, and authentic behind-the-scenes glimpses of the farm and family at the heart of Katie Van Slyke’s world.

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Transcript

[A]

They have been trained more, shown more, probably are more talented. You've been there, Matt.

[B]

I haven't been to the auctions.

[A]

Yes, you have. I'm not going to buy anything in the sale. I came home and he was no longer there. Welcome back to Catching it with Katie. I am not holding a bundle of. Well, it is a bundle of sweetness. It's Kimmy. She was really having separation anxiety, so she's going to be joining us. But I. You. You just won't even know she's here, so. So we have somebody else who's special back today. Nate, thank you for joining us.

[C]

Thank you, thank you.

[A]

I'm just kidding. Matt has been on paternity leave. Paternity for quite a while. He came back and didn't even know how things worked around here because he's been gone so long.

[B]

I certainly wouldn't say that I was welcomed back. I came back.

[A]

We get a text. We're out working today and you know, doing our job as we do. And we get a text in the group chat just saying, you know what, Let me just. Let me just pull it up. Don't steal my moment, Nathan.

[B]

That's the worst, worst.

[C]

I got it.

[A]

I get a text that just says, I wasn't expecting a red carpet or anything, but a banner and some balloons and everyone lined up to welcome me. Might know back would have went a long way. Just saying it would have just little,

[B]

hey, welcome back surprise.

[A]

And the funny thing is, is there's like people down there that you don't even know who they are.

[B]

I know it was a whole.

[A]

That's how long.

[B]

Different regime. I came. Actually there was nobody here when I walked in. I said, hey, guys, crickets.

[A]

Frankie probably snorted at you.

[B]

Yeah. I was greeted by Kimmy, as always.

[A]

But yeah, so give us just a little. Give us a little tidbit. You don't gotta give us everything. It was a little tidy.

[B]

I had a baby and everything went good. Everything. It's so much different. I've been telling everybody, everyone's like, what's it like? I mean, it's not like, oh, my gosh, you're a dad. You're already a dad.

[A]

Because how. How old is your.

[B]

I have a two year old. Yeah. And she's been two for six months. I have like a year. She's two next. Next month.

[C]

Yeah. It can't be two yet. No. This month.

[B]

Yeah, this month. Yeah. Into this month. But everything is good. It was just so much different than in last time. You have another kid that's There. And there wasn't another kid there before. She hates me. The new one does. Only loves her mama. Yeah.

[A]

Right now it's just about, like, the tit, right?

[B]

So really all she does is sit there and a little turtle, you know, don't really do too much.

[A]

I think the potato stage is, like, the easiest. And then, like, where your oldest is right now.

[B]

Yeah, that's been the biggest thing right now is her just. Her affection levels are just entirely too high for a newborn. So we're trying to rein her in and whatnot. She loves her to death, but just. She has so many baby dolls that I don't think that she, like, distinguishes when you're done, you know, you can't just go. Or, you know, or, you know, whatever

[A]

you said, there's been some biting.

[B]

A little bit of biting. Well, she does that with everybody, though, man. Every time. That's like, I was telling Katie, every second matters, man. Like, you wanna. You got a show you're watching, or you got, like, you wanna take a nap or anything like that. All the kids go down. It's like, okay, I've got, like, an hour here maybe to do something. If you wanna scroll on Instagram a little bit. You wanna go make yourself some lunch? And I'm a big. I have a bad habit of, like, I can't, like, chill until everything's set. I got a cup of coffee, got my water bottle, got my lunch, got. Everything's good to go. And then somebody will wake up. And so just adjusting to that stuff

[A]

being chaotic instead of things being.

[B]

It really is different. Like, people always say, like, if you're going to have two, you might as well have three. Like, the biggest changes from, like, one to two. And having multiple kids. And I love it, by the way. Absolutely. This is exactly what I wanted. I don't think saying, like, saying it's hard is necessarily bad. Like, I knew it was going to be hard. It's what I wanted. But it is certainly the first thing I thought was, like, man, how am I going to work? How am I going to, like, do all this? Because, like, for the, like, two weeks, it's certainly like, I felt really bad. I was even on the phone with Nate. I was like, man, like, I can probably go ahead and just come back. I can feel bad for not doing anything, but it's like the days are all blurred. It's like, it's not a vacation by any means. Like, there's way less sleep involved in those two weeks than like, when I'm

[A]

working, which is Saying something because I don't feel like you sleep ever.

[B]

Yeah, but just, like, adjusting to having two kids. But it's so cool to be like, yeah, go get the kids. Like, the girls, the girls, the girls. I love it, dude.

[A]

I love it. Loving a girl when I remember distinctly because my best friend Rebecca has two little girls, and she's been on here a few times. And I remember distinctly, it was, like, immediately the switch to how she referred to her kids, even like. Like, her youngest was 2 seconds old. And then I was like, well, we got to go get the girls. And I was like, that's so fun. It's so cute.

[B]

It's great. I'm loving it. And my oldest, just one. Miss Baby County Fair Pageant. So second time.

[A]

Hey, you sent me the video. It looks stacked.

[B]

It was. There's like. She was like. I don't remember the number, but there was, like, 11 or 12 babies. She has. She had some. Some competition, but I think stuff like that.

[A]

Does she do, like, the next time? She's.

[B]

She's. She's big on ballerina stuff right now. She loves to spin. Maddie's trying to put her in ballet right now. She loves his band, so she did her spins. I'm trying to get her in karate. Like, they had, like, jiu jitsu. They had, like, girls up there.

[A]

Why did he give you that look?

[B]

Like that was a good idea. That was a good idea look.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Very similar to the bad idea look.

[A]

Very similar to that. Can you believe she just said that

[B]

they had girls that would, like. And I'm just not a pageant person, but, like, all their, like, accolades and whatnot. Like, one girl was like. She was homeschool. She graduated at 15 with, like, a 4.0. She's a black belt in karate. I'm like, standard right there, buddy. You need to. I didn't even think about it, but I was like, dude, how cool is that?

[A]

She could be, like, daughter of champion equestrian Matthew.

[B]

Exactly. Like, I didn't even think about that. I was like, you know, and I didn't walk her out this time. I walked her out in the first one, and she didn't win. And ever since, I haven't walked her out. She has won. So I may just be.

[A]

Ever since Maddie's.

[C]

It's you.

[A]

Because Maddie's a pageant. She is, like, queen.

[B]

So I think that was a problem most of the time. Other than that, everything's been great. It's been unbelievably freaking hot as it has been up here.

[A]

So you just keep her Inside?

[B]

Yeah, pretty much. And then she got like, Lily got RSV and an ear infection like the same week. Like the second weeks, we were all,

[A]

you just have to keep her away from the baby at that point, like, pretty much.

[B]

I mean, it was kind of like, kind of. You know, obviously the newborn's a lot more scary than. Yeah, it'd be scary a 2 year old. But it's really just been me and

[A]

her, and I haven't like, letting Maddie have the potato. I feel like I was a lot

[B]

more like active with. With my first one. This one has been trying to like, just keep her away and like, protect her. So she doesn't know me yet, but she. She should just know that I'm protecting her from her older sister. I was gonna bring some show and tell. I went and harvested my first corn. Really big deal. Because I didn't. I've never had corn grow successfully and I wanted to bring it. I may just bring it next time. I had like one ear that was like perfectly pollinated and had all the kernels and whatnot, and one ear that wasn't so huge. Huge win. I know, it's so out of context, but I did it yesterday and Maddie took my picture with it. And I like held up by the couch and had my ear of corn. And I was so proud. Probably more proud of that than I

[A]

was Collins, we should do like a dinner and you bring the corn.

[B]

Well, see, I did that. I was like, I picked a bunch of green beans. I have like green beans and stuff too. And I picked a bunch. And I was like, we were gonna have dinner at Maddie's parents house, and I was like, I'm just gonna bring some green beans and whatnot. By the time I cut them and cut them down, there was enough for like one serving for like one person. And so I figure that's probably gonna be the corn situation. Like, all right, everybody, I'm gonna bring corn. Everybody has to fight for it. Got one, one time.

[C]

And now in that scenario, when you're getting your picture taken, is that something that Maddie is like, oh, my gosh, let me take your picture, or you're super hype about it, or you saying, hey, can you take my picture?

[B]

I mean, I asked for it, but she did give me. She was hyped. She was probably like, she's been super supportive about me in this garden.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So that's awesome.

[A]

What a nice lady.

[B]

I know it.

[A]

She's going through it and you're just like, hey, I'm also going through.

[B]

Yeah, she's good too.

[A]

She like, she's like she was a million weeks pregnant and the two year old and everything. And then you're like, God, my corn.

[B]

I know. Lily's crying in the corner, Colin just screaming hungry and whatnot.

[C]

I'm like, maddie, look, my corn.

[B]

My corn.

[C]

Half a colonel.

[A]

There were some things that you missed. Apparently you missed quite a bit. The most recent thing that you missed that was involved on the YouTube channel was Nate's first lesson.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

I heard it was. In which we already knew what he was getting into with Kennedy anyway, but I heard it would certainly lived up to its reputation.

[A]

It was difficult, I think. I think he did a great job because she also wasn't being very good.

[B]

Like, as suspected.

[A]

He, like, there was some miscommunication, but there was also the fact that, like, even if communicated well, she was like, yeah. No. So I think it's going to be like one of those moments where you have that first lesson and then at the show, it's going to be like, he worked so hard.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, I'm just glad that it's still going on. I was worried that in my absence, it was going to be like, pushed

[A]

the way you thought you were the driving force.

[B]

Yeah. I'm really glad that kept going on. How did you feel? Did you feel like, well, this is. This is chalked, or do you feel like you've got a little bit of work to do?

[C]

I felt like I got a lot of work to do. It was. I feel like I didn't do. I feel like I did a lot of things right and also nothing right because nothing really happened.

[A]

You did get her to jog super well.

[B]

I did get the job.

[A]

Her body, like, positioned really well and you had her loping to the right super well. It was the left when we turned around, which is usually her easy way. And that's just where things just so I don't think you can say that nothing happened.

[C]

That's how I think you felt.

[A]

That way. You hit a roadblock.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

After watching me on Ethel, it will certainly feel like nothing had happened on your ride.

[C]

Yeah. I imagine that to be true.

[B]

And I'm gonna go ahead and put out here before this ever even gets, like, officially, I guess it has started. But before competition day, like, I am fully aware of how advant the advantage that I have riding Ethel. I am aware of that.

[A]

Gotcha. So here's the thing. I think you have the less fancy of the horses you drew, the more like, out of Ricky, Ethel and Kennedy. Ricky And Ethel or Ricky and Kennedy are, like, wildly more successful. They have been trained more, shown more, probably are more talented. But I think Ethel is a little more tried and true and a little more honest and a little more easy. And so how important is the. Is it that the horse is really fancy if they're not performing correctly? Sometimes.

[B]

On the flip side of that, sometimes

[A]

correct wins the game.

[C]

You know, it doesn't. It doesn't matter how fast the car is if I can't reach the pedals, you know, that's true.

[B]

That being said, if, like Katie says, you know, she just comes out of the gate on show day and takes care of business, then that could put me. Put me out.

[A]

Here's the thing. I've been telling Rachel this whole time, because I think Rachel has had this.

[B]

Rachel, she's had this thought in her

[A]

head that she's just gonna win. She's like, I've been showing my whole life. I'm just going to hop on Ricky, who is probably the most, like, just sit there and push kind of horse. Ricky has her own things. Don't. You know, don't be. You saw her, like, you know, cow hop with me the other day, and, like. Like, she has her own mind. But out of all three of them, as far as, like, fancy movement and easy mode, she's like the cross between the two. And then the most experienced writer drew her.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So I think Rachel's had it in her head that she's just going to wipe the floor with you, which. There's potential for that. But here's the thing. It's not just who can do the Western pleasure.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

It's Western pleasure horsemanship costume, and then halter. And halter's based on how you show the horse. It's not based on the horse's actual confirmation. It's how you show the horse. And so I think there's room in there for y' all to nudge her down.

[C]

I think so, too.

[B]

I'm worried because I think.

[A]

I don't think she's gonna put in the effort for the costume that y'

[C]

all do, in which I've. I believe I have selected what I want to do.

[A]

Are you gonna.

[C]

I'm not gonna tell you.

[A]

He's gonna measure her.

[B]

I'm having Stephanie give me Ethel's measurement.

[A]

I'm having Stephanie.

[B]

Well, I'm talking.

[C]

I'm talking to my trainer.

[B]

I asked because she was in the middle of doing something, and I didn't want to be like, hey, how do I do this? So I may just go down there and do it, but I almost feel like maybe I should just to like,

[A]

while y' all are doing your lesson, just be like, hey, can we measure her before we're done?

[C]

Yeah, be part of your lesson.

[B]

But then I wouldn't get a chance to just familiarize myself with my Steve. I may just start going down there at the end, like in the evenings and just like giving her like a carrot, rubbing on her face and whatnot. Speaking a little elvish to her, like, you know, getting her lights where she knows she's comfortable with me. I am a little.

[A]

Arguably the most like anyone can get on her horse of the whole barn.

[B]

Yeah, I know, but what you. But as you have pointed out, she is reliable and she is. What was the word you used to used? Forgiving, maybe?

[A]

Yeah, forgiving is a good word.

[B]

But, you know, she's not, you know,

[A]

she's not the fanciest or the fanciest.

[B]

And I think it's tried and true. I believe she's just been waiting for the right writer.

[A]

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[C]

Yeah. From her. From her performance review on tape.

[B]

I'm a little concerned that the costume Portion of this whole thing is going to be like, hurried along. And that's like the only thing that I'm like, that I'm like putting 110 effort in on is this. Is this costume thing. So maybe not the only thing, but like this. If I don't win, if I win the whole everything else and I don't win that, like it would. The trophy means nothing.

[A]

The way that we have it structured right now is that it's 30 Western pleasure. 30 horsemanship. 15. No, 20 something.

[B]

I do remember having that conversation.

[A]

Yeah, I think it's 30. 30. 20. 20.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So 30%. 30%. And then for the halter and the costume is 20. 20.

[B]

Have we discussed dress?

[A]

So I'm going to be giving everyone a budget.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

You all have hats already.

[B]

And then blow it all in the shirt. And I get my own Rachel.

[A]

And I. I would. I would like to try to find things to borrow as far as chaps, like the super expensive stuff. But, like, as far as going and getting like your. Your, like, scarf that you tie and your shirt and like, if you need a belt and stuff.

[B]

Fear. All that would do is just encourage me to. I feel like all this is going to do is encourage me to, like, you know what? I think I can do this.

[C]

Yeah, I think.

[B]

I think this is for me.

[C]

I think it should.

[A]

So we'll. We'll try to do that. Because you're gonna. You're gonna really like the English stuff one of these days. So maybe we'll have to. Maybe next year it's all in English.

[C]

Maybe this year it's all in English.

[A]

No, no, no.

[B]

We gotta get through this. This and a Christmas. If we get through this in a Christmas special, it'll be a W year.

[A]

Yeah, I think the Christmas special is getting next.

[C]

No way. Really?

[B]

If it's replaced by a horse show, though, I'm okay with that.

[A]

How do we fit all that in?

[C]

Got to put it on the schedule.

[B]

Maybe not wait till December.

[A]

We would have to do it the week that we come back from the world show.

[B]

Yeah, I know. I'm okay with replacing it for when

[C]

is the world show?

[A]

Like mid November. But here's the thing. I host Thanksgiving, so I need to keep my Thanksgiving stuff up. It'd be like.

[B]

That's been the problem.

[C]

What if we do it before Thanksgiving?

[A]

No, because then I'd have to decorate for Christmas. That's the thing.

[B]

We just need the. We need to build a barn that we can host stuff like this in

[A]

only for the Christmas.

[C]

A Studio.

[B]

Yeah, a studio.

[A]

So here's the thing. A replica that will happen at some point.

[C]

A replica kitchen. Just make a second shop, only with

[B]

a lot more outlets.

[C]

A lot more outlets.

[A]

I would eventually like to have a studio of sorts of. And do, like, product photos and like, stuff like that, like, all in one.

[B]

But I'm gonna circle back to this horse show for a moment.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And I do feel also another fear of mine is that I will not. Same thing with this lesson. I will. You being there will be a problem. And I feel like it's the same as, like, if your dad shows up or like, whatever.

[A]

It's like I was doing my own thing a lot of the time during yours.

[B]

I feel like I would. I would like a practice, like a lesson, which I'm totally. I love you being there, but I think like a lesson, like, if. If with no cameras, like, nothing like that. If me and Stephanie went in there, I was like, okay. Like, I feel like even like with this show, I was like, you being there is going to add a level of nerve.

[A]

What's it gonna be when your wife's there?

[B]

Not near as much.

[C]

My grandparents come.

[B]

She doesn't know. She won't know if I mess up or not.

[A]

I think we could make it work.

[C]

They want to come in from Arkansas for this.

[A]

For real.

[C]

100. I was talking to my grandma on the phone. I was just trying to tell her what we were doing that day. I was like, well, you know, I had this lesson on the horse. We're kind of doing this.

[A]

I think it's officially a family invite.

[C]

She was like, is that something we can come to and watch? I was like, I mean, I'm sure that would be okay.

[A]

What, that it's literally just at the house?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

And live streamed. Should be live stream.

[C]

She said when I get. I could see a horse in person,

[A]

I'm like, I think we could make it like a family thing.

[C]

Okay. Okay.

[A]

And maybe we do like a cookout after.

[C]

I'll tell them they can come.

[A]

Maybe we do like a cookout after.

[C]

It was just her birthday. She's at least mid-80s.

[B]

Could be her last horses.

[C]

Matthew, I. I will say this. I mean, probably. It's probably her first horse show.

[B]

That's what I'm saying.

[C]

Statistically, she's probably.

[B]

This is not going to a second horse show.

[C]

That's a lot. What other horseshoe? She's not going to Congress.

[B]

That's all I'm saying.

[C]

Well, unless

[B]

they just the regulars.

[C]

You show. If I was showing at Congress, they Would be there.

[A]

That's so funny. What do you call. What is. What's your grandparent names?

[C]

Mimi and Pawpaw.

[A]

Solid Mimi and papa.

[B]

You don't have like a PP or like.

[A]

I went to. I went to dinner with my pap last night.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Again, acceptable paps.

[C]

Acceptable.

[B]

I don't want to start going off the list of unacceptables because I. I can. I can think of five of my friends that have grandparents names and I.

[C]

It's just like, oh yeah.

[B]

My daughter's name for my wife's mom is Bobo. So I can't.

[A]

Bobo?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I can't say nothing.

[C]

Bobo. No, no.

[B]

When she's 16, buddy. That's not gonna. That's not gonna work.

[C]

Do you guys want to go over to my Bobo's house? No, can't say that to your friends.

[B]

Yeah, my grandma.

[A]

I would.

[C]

Yes, you might.

[A]

But like the. We. We just, you know, had the fantasy full winner here on Friday. You missed it. And she was. She was like my Jenny. And I was like, is Jenny your grandma like your grandma name? And she's like, yeah, her name's Virginia. So like we all just call her my like our Jenny. I thought that was kind of cute.

[B]

I'm just kidding.

[C]

I only. I only really like the OGs.

[B]

I am sad grandmother, Paw Paw, Mimi and Pawpaw.

[A]

Mimi is not an og.

[B]

Mimi's an og.

[A]

No, it is not.

[C]

Mimi and me, Paul are the OGs of grandma names. That's not grandma and papa.

[B]

Nana's a good Nana's og.

[A]

Nana was the best.

[C]

Nana, Grandma, Granny. Granny's mama.

[A]

Jonathan is weird and they're like, grandmother.

[B]

Like I'm also take a grandmother.

[A]

He calls people grand. He like he had grandmother and he calls his like he's like mother. Like he calls his mom.

[B]

I love that.

[A]

I'm like, why? That's so weird.

[B]

I love that, dude. I wish everybody did, but I am weird.

[C]

So I'd like grandfather formalness of it. No, I do.

[B]

Mother, could you come take a photo of us?

[C]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Again.

[A]

No, no. Are you nervous for your. Like just a little bit. We'll go off of it, but are you nervous for your lesson tomorrow?

[B]

A little bit. And again, I think it's just more for the crowd.

[A]

You kind of have to. Well, you know, if it really in like causes an issue, then you can have a private lesson.

[C]

But doesn't.

[A]

We'll see tomorrow. I'll probably just be writing Kennedy, while you're writing at.

[B]

It doesn't cause an issue, but it causes more it's not like a problem because I want you there. I mean, this whole thing doesn't happen.

[A]

The comments on his were like, wow, Katie, you have to be center of attention. You can't just let Nate have his own video.

[B]

I'm like, this is the Katie van like, channel.

[A]

It's my channel. I was just riding around.

[B]

This is the Katie van like, show.

[C]

I'm going to comment that on the next one about you.

[B]

But it's not like I don't want you not there, but there are level of nerves that will be pretty present because you are there.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

This is just the same thing of,

[A]

like, having, like, I. I didn't pipe in very.

[C]

I didn't feel. I didn't experience that.

[A]

I didn't pipe in very much while he was doing it, I tried to let Stephanie do it, and it. It did come to a point because he was having some issues where she was like, what are his legs doing? You're seeing from that angle or whatever. But other than that, I tried to. There was times where I was, like, whispering into my thing to get it out of my system, and I was like, I think he needs to sit back. Like, you know, but.

[B]

And I would want that commentary. I feel like, you know, I would want you to say that it's not a. Again, it's not a problem.

[A]

It does get to a point where you're already frustrated, and if you have multiple people telling you things to do. And, like, some of the things me and Stephanie were saying were contradicting each other, so that.

[B]

That would be frustrating.

[A]

It does get frustrating, but I certainly

[B]

don't want to be, like, doing the wrong thing and then, like, you know, for the sake of not hurting my feelings, nobody.

[A]

She was like, put this foot in the middle. And I was like, take it off and use your outside leg. Like, we were saying some different things.

[C]

But if you're doing something wrong, old Binky's gonna call you out quick.

[B]

I'm a big.

[A]

Stop calling her Binky.

[B]

Big fan of that.

[C]

Well, I think it's nice though, right?

[B]

Yeah, I'll. We'll run that buyer and then she's gonna hate it.

[C]

I don't think so.

[B]

We'll say she'll never have to do another podcast.

[A]

Is her last name.

[C]

Binky is a nickname I was still all for.

[B]

I think the best thing was the beanie Babies thing from her. She ever did. Like a little kid.

[A]

She did have lessons, and I was like, did you call them your beanie Babies? And she's like, no.

[C]

Messed Up.

[B]

Messed up.

[A]

So we will be doing like a little wrap up. I will sell my soul to get Stephanie on here to talk because she hates doing it. But we'll sweeten, we'll sweeten the pot for her to come on here and chat about it or.

[B]

So next week.

[A]

Is it literally next week?

[B]

Literally next week.

[C]

Wait, no. Really?

[B]

Said next Thursday, right?

[C]

Well, yeah, you did.

[A]

Did I? For real?

[C]

Has to be.

[A]

Oh, my gosh. Yeah. We all had to tell something, so.

[C]

Wow.

[A]

I, I do love hearing you say that. You were excited.

[B]

I'm so the last horse show, the last two horse shows were great. I thought, I thought they were.

[A]

It's just a different vibe this year. Honestly.

[C]

You're in your showing.

[A]

That's true. That is true. It's so true.

[B]

I have like, you know, skin in

[A]

the game and like we've, we've been to horse shows where I showed just Hollywood. We've been to a horse show now where I showed Hollywood, Denver and Kennedy. We've been to some where I just showed Kennedy this one. Get ready, Jason England. Or not. Okay.

[B]

All right. Get ready again.

[A]

Jason Smith. Jason Smith is showing Denver in the halter and he's the same handler who showed him in the halter last year at the NSBA World in the Congress.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

And so he was reserve in the stallions at the NSBA World last year and then he won the Congress. So we're hopeful there. So Jason's showing him in the halter. Aaron is showing Denver in two western riding classes. Potentially.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

And I say potentially because it's like we like to leave room for. We're not going to put our horse into a bad situation. Like, yeah, if something's not going right or whatever. Like, I have no problem being like we didn't show.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

It wasn't what in the right, right time.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So he's gonna be showing him the western riding. I'm gonna show Denver potentially in a western pleasure class.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

I'm showing Kennedy in the level one and the amateur Western pleasure.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

Potentially showing Hollywood in the trail. I say potentially because we haven't really shown that that much and like. Yeah, we just might. We might not.

[C]

So trail stuff.

[A]

The level one trailer showing Hollywood in the level one and the amateur Western writing. And then Penelope and Jamie really are showing in the three and four year old novice horse hunter saddle.

[B]

Jamie English yes.

[A]

Penelope though 10 classes. Did you see? No one watches my stuff. None of my friends. None of my peeps watch my stuff.

[C]

I watch it.

[A]

It is true. I'm about to. We'll have to pop this picture up here because she looks like a woman. This is the first foal that y' all were a part of.

[C]

Really?

[A]

This is the first foal and we're

[C]

going to go watch that.

[A]

Y' all were a part of her birth. You missed her birth, but you missed. Only just because she was super early and it was like very.

[B]

There was no shop.

[A]

There was no shop. There was no anything.

[B]

That's what we were telling him. It would have been a tent before. Like, before, like, everything. Like, the thing is, things have changed since we brought Eli on. But like, even before that, like, whenever we started, like, there was nothing. Nothing. Nobody. We stayed. We met at your house.

[A]

So when they started in 2023, which was like the beginning of 2023, we had three. We had four foals. But Patrick passed away, so it was. It was just three. And it is insane how different it is these days, comparatively. So, for instance, getting crowded back then. Okay. This date three years ago, I didn't have any employees.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

I had two people that worked in the barn. And then you two.

[C]

That was it.

[A]

And that's crazy because there's six people sitting down there.

[B]

I know.

[A]

While we're up here.

[C]

And because that was even seven months after we started, there was still just us.

[A]

Yeah. I didn't have an assistant until September. After I purchased vs Code Red, I got an assistant.

[C]

So that would have been eight. Eight months after us was the next person coming on.

[B]

We were getting, like, just phone calls whenever a horse was being born.

[A]

Yeah. We didn't have a single one on camera that year.

[C]

No.

[A]

No. So this is Penelope now.

[B]

Wow.

[C]

Wow. That is a whole horse.

[A]

Whole horse. Like a big girl.

[C]

Wow.

[A]

Like, well, yeah. I'm gonna send this to you right now.

[C]

Send it.

[A]

And so she's. She's a three year old and we're gonna hopefully see her have some success. You know, I'm not. I'm proud regardless of what they, you know, place. But the NSBA world is where Trudy won. Trudy won the two year old hunter to saddle.

[B]

She's Trudy's baby.

[A]

Trudy's first Philly. So RS Crazy. Sorry, RS Crazy Cat lady is her name.

[B]

Penelope's Vanellope's.

[C]

Yeah. Trudy's cattails are blazing, sire to

[A]

ruler. Her sire is allocate your assets.

[B]

Oh, how did you get that then? What's Penelope's name?

[A]

Crazy Cat Lady.

[C]

Crazy Cat Lady. Okay.

[A]

Cat tails are blazing. Is her mom.

[B]

So stupid.

[C]

All right.

[B]

Never mind.

[A]

Allocate your assets. So fun fact.

[B]

I love putting like horse names.

[A]

Like, okay, fun fact there. You're gonna be like, I like that one better there for a minute. Like, I had her registered and I changed it because I wanted Crazy Cat Lady. I was like, that would. That's just so much more memorable there for a minute. Her name was RS Penny for your assets.

[B]

That's great.

[C]

Yes, that's great. Penny for your assets. I knew there was an Assets.

[A]

That was her name for a bit and then we changed it.

[C]

Cat. Crazy Cat Lady.

[B]

Cat lady is more memorable.

[A]

Little, Little more. And I, I like that all of Trudy's Phillies have had cat in their name.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

As like an ode to her. So anyway, lots, lots of fun there. Like we're there for 11 or 12 days. I have lots planned. You know, we show that many times. I think we only have three free days while we're there. But we have a really nice Airbnb with a pool.

[C]

Nice.

[A]

So maybe we'll do some in the pool. I think we should film a catch up with Katie or there. And I think maybe even doing like a live while we're there. But I'm going to. I have some friends that I'm like, hey, let's do a video where we like swap horses or like, you know, I don't know. I'm not going to buy anything in the sale. But we should go to the sale. It's yearlings. I don't want yearlings.

[C]

Oh, yeah, we can go though.

[A]

We can go though. What if I just like, no, I

[B]

didn't know they would.

[A]

Then I'll accidentally buy one.

[C]

Like, what if we all just join in and get one? Like, this is our horse.

[B]

Yeah. I've always wanted to ride that. We can all have like going to an auction and like feeling like there is certainly going to be more bidders. If I raised my head hand and just going like.

[A]

And then you know what?

[B]

I might like the cow sale.

[A]

Okay. I'm not saying I will because I have to talk to my father, but the cattle sale is September 26th.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

It's our best performing video.

[A]

What if we bought a cow?

[B]

We bought a cow.

[C]

Yeah, we. What if we buy a cow together?

[B]

Almost brought some embryos. The only thing that was in my budget last one was some embryos. And I just about did it just for the sake of it. But I was like, yeah, but what

[C]

if we're all going to split a cow?

[B]

Split one to like eat.

[C]

No, no, no, no, no, no. We're going to buy a cow, but if the cow's like.

[B]

And then it's like thousand dollars and

[A]

it's like, this is Nate, Matt's calf being born.

[C]

So we all split a cow and it's just like our.

[A]

No, we're not eating it.

[C]

It's just our cow.

[B]

Because that. Because y' all have, like, a little bit more pristine Angus. Correct. That's what y' all like to rock with. Y' all have breeders?

[A]

We run a registered simmental herdmental herd.

[B]

I knew there was a buzzword there somewhere, but it was simmental.

[A]

Some of them are sim Angus.

[C]

I like that.

[A]

We used to run key Angus.

[B]

I used to be a lot more

[A]

knowledgeable about, which were Keanina and Angus.

[B]

And they were crazy.

[A]

Little bit. But yeah. What if we. Because I'm. We only. We don't have very much in the sale this year because we're trying to build our herd. We're putting, like, one cow and, like, five lots.

[B]

Who gets to bid on it, though?

[C]

Well, I don't.

[B]

I don't know how to go. Yeah.

[C]

I mean, somebody would. Somebody would have to tell that.

[A]

Do you have that in you, like, where you want to go?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. That's all I want to do. That's what I was saying. It's like, I would want. I just want to go to, like, auction and just raise my hand and then do it like.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So what if.

[B]

Be the person right before you.

[A]

What if I'm like, hey, like, Matt, get this one. Like, I let you use my number for, like, one of them and I just tell you when to stop.

[B]

I think I would still get a high off that.

[A]

And I'm just like.

[B]

But then I would let the power go to my head and she stop. I like, no, Katie, we got this. I have a feeling about this one.

[C]

That's so good.

[B]

I can't wait. Yeah.

[A]

What if we just left?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yep. But the most aura farming is them old guys.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

See, I love it when I met a sale.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And they know that I've been, like, bidding a lot. And so then they start looking at me and I'm like, like, I love you. I love you.

[B]

That where I'm like, no, but I like it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

There has to be the utmost. And auctioneers have my utmost respect because you have to go to school for that most times. And, like, such a talent to be able to be an auctioneer. And the energy. I love auctions because the energy. If you have, like, the. What are the guys called that? Like, look, for places, look for people.

[A]

So at the NSBA World spotters.

[B]

Yes, dude. Like at the end of etf, they'll have like lightsabers or whatever and they'll

[C]

go, yeah,

[B]

makes you feel good about, you know, you really want to be

[C]

like, who I want to do it again.

[B]

Exactly.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

That's like the whole reason I like going to the NSBA yearling sale because they always have the company. I saw the dude that's always super loud on Yellowstone.

[C]

Really?

[A]

When they had like the finale episode where they were having the auction there, yelling.

[C]

That's amazing.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

That's the best part of auctions, dude.

[A]

And so I like, I sat there and talked about Simmentols with him in the middle of it and then he just had to be like, I guess it.

[B]

Oh, really? Like mid conversation. Like she's been in the hospital. Hasn't been.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Diagnosis comes back.

[C]

I think she's going to be. She's going to be up on.

[A]

Yeah. I was sitting there and I was like, yeah, we got this. We got this son of Sugar C4 and TJ Teardrop. And he's like, oh. And then he would just like, I

[B]

guess it's gonna be like Yellowstone. And I've never seen it, but I do. I did see that scene where you just like sit and they're like, bring the horse out and they'll like do it or whatever.

[A]

You've been there, Matt.

[B]

I haven't been to the auctions.

[A]

Yes, you have.

[C]

Yeah, yeah. Remember they have like the tables auction.

[B]

Nate started the same time I did. There's all sorts of little, like, little stories people like to throw in and like. And everybody agrees. We're just gonna talk like it always has been.

[A]

But you've been to the other.

[B]

I must have been in the bathroom somewhere or something.

[A]

No, because remember I sold two one year.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

No, Tyler went to that one.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[C]

Oh, wow. He didn't go.

[A]

He was with Posty.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So.

[C]

Oh, this is fun.

[B]

You're right.

[A]

So you've never been.

[B]

You are right. I am sorry.

[A]

Yeah. Cuz last year went. No, just kidding. Two years ago.

[B]

It was a couple years.

[A]

You went with us last year Tyler went.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's right.

[A]

Because.

[C]

That's right.

[A]

It was when Denver won that Tyler was there and that was last year.

[B]

Yeah, he just never. He just came and went. Huh.

[C]

On standby.

[B]

That never to be heard or seen again. I never under.

[C]

Call him tomorrow. Could call him tomorrow.

[A]

Cool, dude. Cool dude.

[B]

I heard him.

[C]

He's a vibe.

[B]

But yeah, that's gonna be really cool. I guess it is just like Yellowstone, kind of.

[A]

I'm super excited. The next time we go to Texas, which we're going in September to go practice before the Congress, we're gonna go.

[C]

I'm so stoked.

[B]

What is the show we're going to?

[A]

NSBA World.

[B]

NSBA World.

[A]

National Snaffle Bit Association World Show. So it's paint horses, Appaloosas, quarter horses, Poas, like, all the stock breeds altogether

[B]

in sba World Congress, AQHA World.

[A]

And honestly, like the QHA World, we just refer to it, like, as the World.

[B]

The World Show.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. But that one, I don't honestly, I don't know who. I don't know if Kennedy is going. I'm. I'm qualified. I made sure I was qualified. I will be going to show Hollywood and then Denver will be going to show. I don't honestly, like, I have a pretty firm understanding of who I'm showing what I'm showing at the NSBA and the Congress. But, like, at the World Show, I'm not. I'm not quite sure yet. I don't. I know that I'm going. I just don't know who all's going. I know I have to go. My schedule is so crazy after, like, next week because I'm going to Vegas this weekend.

[B]

But you have complained about, though you weren't too excited about up until.

[A]

Well, this is the fun trip, not the horse.

[B]

I'm just going to hide.

[A]

This is just me and John.

[B]

I. I came in kind of like the last.

[A]

We're just going to go.

[B]

So you already went to the horse thing?

[C]

No, they didn't have to go to that one.

[A]

We didn't have to go to it. And we went to Abilene, Texas, and sat around for 12 hours until I could show Hollywood, and it took me 90 seconds and then we were done.

[B]

So this is just fun.

[A]

This is just fun. But after we get back, it's the most crazy schedule and so forth for the World Show. I have to fly there on the first commentate the English Versatility Challenge, because since Wheezy's hurt, she's not gonna be able to, like, go be in it now, which that was the hope, but that's fine. So I'm going to commentate and you can watch it on live stream and, like, watch me and Lady DeBoer and I think Gino Spagnola. Like, I think we're all commentating it.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Which I think is be a really fun time. And I'VE never done it before. I'm a little nervous. But you can, like, watch it live and hear me commentate. So we're gonna do that. And then I don't have anything either. Even going to the world show for another week. So then I fly back.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Normal work for a week and then go back to the world show.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So too much. Am I gonna have your bangs down when you're showing or bangs up?

[A]

I have to have them up. I have a cowboy hat on.

[B]

I didn't know if you, like.

[A]

So I just have my hat on and then just, like, bangs underneath it.

[C]

That's right.

[A]

No, they're already too long.

[C]

How do you put them up?

[B]

Bobby pins and hairspray, literally.

[A]

I had a hat on the other day.

[B]

Ella Langley super glues them to her forehead. To her eyebrows or. Yeah, forehead a little bit.

[A]

Not super glue, but, you know, I'm back to normal.

[B]

Who are you?

[C]

What have you done with Katie?

[A]

I did have. I, like, did a little, like, transition. I've been trying to, like, experiment, level up, trying to do more transitions and, like, if I'm going to dinner or something, like, if I put makeup on, utilize it and make a little thing, even if I don't have time to do a full outfit of the day, just for funsies. Some women are, like, getting a little full of yourself, aren't you? And I'm like, maybe, but a little. I did one last night and I did it to an Ella Langley song, and everyone said, I look like Ella Langley.

[B]

So I can see it. You could be your sister.

[A]

You could be her ugly, bad sister.

[C]

That is what you said.

[A]

I said sister. That's exact.

[B]

I'm just gonna go ahead and tell you.

[A]

Not her twin, her sister.

[B]

Oh, my God. Because you're a little older, you could

[A]

be her cousin, your older sister. You could be hurt.

[C]

You could be her aunt.

[B]

I thought that that was a compliment. But if you could find one thing to pick apart, that's what she went for. Oh, not her twin. Oh, not her identical runner. Not her doppelganger, which is one of my. Which is a great word.

[A]

Anyway, lots of exciting things coming. You have your. You have your lesson tomorrow. I mean, Nate's got to have another lesson, too. Yeah, he'll be there because we're leaving for the NSBA World. I'm going to have to talk with Stephanie on if she thinks we're allowed.

[B]

Oh, yeah. You got a contender? No, that's another thing. She's, like, getting, like, freaking show reps with his horse. Where his horse is getting show reps.

[C]

I don't think that's good.

[A]

I don't think it's good for him. I think it's actually.

[C]

I think that. I don't think that's good for me.

[B]

All right, all right.

[A]

I think he's actually probably at the most disadvantage of anybody.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

If anything, I feel like getting show

[C]

reps. Then I get on and Ken is going to go. That's not how we do it.

[B]

Yeah. If anything, I would be taking notes if I were you, like watching how. How she's written.

[A]

I guess so I don't. I'm going to talk with Stephanie on if she thinks we can utilize her for lessons until after nsba. But because we'll have. We'll have a good chunk of time after nsba.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

That. We're not worried about it. But you. Ethel's going to nspa. Did you know that? Because so Wheezy's hurt, so she's not going. But I'd already paid for a stall.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And so we were like, well, we could take Ethel and she pony horse. Be a pony horse. Because sometimes, A, it's hard to find lunging spots at these big horse shows, and B, when you're there for so long, like lunging, you're in a tighter circle. It's like harder on their joints. And I don't really think it mentally gets them as prepared as you can with, like a pony horse. People just don't do it as well or as often because, like, you have to take a whole other horse. Like, it's definitely more expensive and more time consuming, but it's like, all we have is Kennedy. Why don't we go take Ethel as her pony horse to get her tired? So Ethel's gonna be there.

[B]

Don't mess her up.

[C]

I wonder if we could find a spare stray little arena somewhere and Matt could have his second lesson.

[A]

You could have a second lesson on how to navigate traffic.

[B]

No, that's the thing, dude. You want, like, and I said we were talking about that the last horse show is like, doing this home thing is one thing, but, like, if I was to ever, like, actually do that, the scariest part would be getting to the show pen and then leaving the show pants. Like, having the warm up pins are kind of interesting. Forget that, dude. It's like I would just be sitting there in the corner. Everybody else would warm up and I'll just be waiting.

[C]

Ethel, don't move. Ethel, don't move. Ethel, stay right here.

[B]

Everybody's like walking up to Each other talking about.

[A]

That's the funny thing is that Ethel, which we tested this out the other day because I was like, I don't know if she can go be a pony horse because she has a history of like literally throwing the brakes on and hauling her butt backwards to kick somebody with a writer on.

[B]

That's not good. She does that.

[A]

So like a child has shown her. Okay, yeah, a literal seven year old child has shown her.

[B]

I know, but there's always first stories and I feel like I'm always somebody's first. She's never done that ever. We've, we would have never, ever thought that would have happened ever.

[A]

Okay, Funny story to end this on. Funny story to end us on. Because this is one of those stories. So as a kid we found this horse and I named him Leroy. We were at this like old cowboy's house that he was, I think breaking one of our young ones and there was this like ugly Roman nosed red horse. I'll have to find some pictures of him. I know, I know where some are. This ugly like cutting bread horse that was in a stall and he was like kind of small. He was like kind of. He just looked super young. He looked a 2 year old, but he was like 4. And the guy was telling us, he's like, yeah, I got him and four others on like, like he's like. I basically took them in because these people went through a divorce and instead of like splitting the horses, they just abandoned them. And the only thing they had to drink out of was the swimming pool. And they were all trapped in this enclosed like area. And so they were like rescued. They were all malnourished.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And so this was one of them. And so he had been malnourished and that's why he was so small, even at 4 years old. So I bought him with my own money that I'd saved up. And his name.

[B]

What, when was this?

[A]

I was 13.

[B]

Really?

[A]

I think I bought him for like 800.

[B]

Wow.

[C]

Wow.

[A]

Which was like every member conversation, every birthday, every birthday money that I ever gotten. I think I bought him for $800. And I worked with, with that horse like every single day. And he wasn't super fancy broke, but he was just like your tried and true trail horse. You could like I would do flips off of him. I would like stand up on him. I would do all this kind of like he was just super safe.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Turns out when we started feeding him, he got a lot bigger. He ended up being like 16 hands but ugliest. In so ugly, like when I say Roman nose, it's like super rounded. There's no like, there's no like muley almost super ugly face. Some people like it, but he was just like gangly, not really well built anyway, so I love this horse so much. I wish I still had him. So all that to say I invited one of my very best friends at the time and her boyfriend to come trail ride. I rode one of my. I think I rode Shorty, which was the horse that broke my back. But this was pre breaking of the back. I let my best friend ride Bo and then we were like, you know what, let's put William on Leroy. He's like the safest, most dead headed horse. So we just go to like the front pasture to walk around. We were like, I was a lot more like, oh yeah, let's go on a trail ride. Like, I didn't make them, you know, I was like 15, 16. And so we go to the front pasture and we went to go up a hill. Well, he leaned forward and instead of keeping his feet in his stirrups, his legs just went right backwards and he kicked him directly in the flanks.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So like the part right before the hip is super sensitive and like that's how you get one to buck. Like they put a bucking strap back there when they want the bucking horses to buck. He put his head down and went to Bronking Bron King and got this fella off and just tossed him to the wind. And this was a big football player, like, yeah, brawny guy. And he refused to get back on, so he had to walk back to the barn. But I never in my life seen that happen. He would never come back out. He was mortified.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And, but it's still.

[B]

What's the protocol?

[A]

What do you mean? No, you try to like stay on so you don't want them to flip over. So if they're rearing with you, you try to get their head to the side.

[B]

So you try to handle it. You don't.

[A]

You lean forward and try to get their head to the side. If they're bronking with you, you try to get their head up. So you try not to like let them get the reins from you try to get their head up and you hold on and you put your feet in your, like you're weight in your stirrups and you try to like sit. I mean, you try and so. But you don't want to.

[B]

That's that false confidence of like, I feel like, like I could Survive a plane crash. Like, I could land a plane.

[C]

I feel like I could handle what

[A]

would happen instead of sitting deep and, like, staying centered. You would. I, like, I'm so sorry. You would bug.

[B]

I feel like, yeah, everybody. If you don't know, like, you have, like, your natural, like, reaction to doing stuff.

[C]

Like, well, no, if. If the first one caught me off guard, I'm just off.

[B]

Like, before I think, before I even thought about it. Like, I think, like, you know, like. Like you. Like you said. Like, I think, like, the first one would like that situation just like, hey, hit a sensitive spot or whatever. And he commences to bronking. Like, it would. Like, I would immediately be like, okay, head to the right.

[A]

I'll be like, ah, yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So he never came back. But anyway, that was still one of my favorite horses. And. And one of my favorite stories is I came home from school and my mom's like, you want to go get a milkshake? And I was like, what died? Or what did you sell?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And she had traded him for a saddle.

[C]

Hmm. Which you still ride in.

[A]

Oh, no, I don't know where that saddle is.

[B]

Or a milkshake.

[A]

Yeah, she traded him for a saddle,

[C]

traded him for a milkshake.

[A]

I came home, and he was no longer there. So that's how Leroy. And so I think he ended up being, like, a really good four horse from multiple kids. But that was really sad. That was probably one of the only times I've been so mad at my parents overselling a horse. Like, I've usually. I've usually understood, hey, we're going to sell this one because you need a one that can fit your. Your needs or whatever. But that one was just like, no.

[B]

I love how even turned away.

[A]

But that one was just like, no, we just. We just traded him.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I think it's more common. Commendable. Commendable.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

To say that you saved up all your birthday money at 13. Like, multiple birthdays.

[C]

Like, that's.

[B]

That's. I would never do that ever. It would be spent like, V next.

[A]

I had a stash.

[B]

No. At 13, even having a stash is impressive.

[C]

What did you say it would be spent on? What?

[B]

Anything.

[C]

I thought you said it'd be spent on V necks.

[B]

I was like.

[C]

I was like, yo. Were you just like, dude, I had, like, 30V necks.

[B]

Yeah, I was on my parents all the time.

[C]

Please, I need another V neck, Mom.

[A]

Okay, well, we'll. We'll see how your lesson goes tomorrow to come back.

[B]

Horse show next week. Lesson tomorrow. Dude.

[A]

Fired up. And then we have to kind of do all of our filming early in the week since I'm going to Vegas. So stay tuned.

[B]

Hope you come back and let us

[A]

know if you have any questions. Hope you come back.

[C]

That's crazy.