How did you get started into riding horses and then what drew you to your specific discipline?
I’ve been riding my whole life to be quite honest with you but I started riding professionally when I was 18 years old and I’ve been doing it ever since for a living. So that was back in ’87. I started out with mainly just the roping and starting colts but in the last 5 or 10 years I’ve been concentrating quite a bit on the cow horse.
Have you always lived in Kansas?
Nope, I was born and raised in Nebraska and I worked in Oklahoma for a little bit and then we bought a place here in Kansas in ’01.
What would you consider your biggest accomplishment?
There are a couple things that kind of stick out in my mind. I won the super horse 3 times. I made the open finals in the snaffle bit futurity, that was pretty important to me, and my first world championship at the world show.
What made you decide to do this as a career?
I don’t think that really even was a decision. It’s just really all I know to be honest with you. I’d hate to have to have a real job.
What do you feel is the best way to prepare for this career?
You know there are a lot of young people that go to school to learn how to do it but I just went to work for some people. The school of hard knocks is what I figured. Going to work for somebody reputable. Getting hooked up with the right people is pretty important.
What was the best piece of advice you received when you were starting out?
Never give up. Set goals everyday and never give up.
