Hamilton Equine Services /SMG Performance Horses

07/03/2025

Im having such a good time riding this big tall guy. This was his 2nd trip to town. I had one more time only after this one, but my camera man missed it 🙄 Fired. Re hired, half price 🤣

07/03/2025

Sancho is just getting the hauling time he deserves, and I am thrilled at his desire to work is coming on ! He truly is trying to dig in. We do limited loping the pattern at home, because we have year round sand for working and lessons, not chasing cans.

He walked in like he owned the place, down the tunnel, around the banners and people. Winds whipping. He's been to town 8 times in his 7 yrs, due to my life circumstances, he's taken a back seat.

No longer !!

07/01/2025

Mental health. Depression. Alcoholism. Sexual abuse. Addiction. Anxiety.

Cowboys go to great lengths to avoid these words. It’s basic cowboy courtesy: “We simply don’t talk about it.”

But maybe it’s time for this to change. That’s the vision for many who have seen the effects of ignoring this problem, including Justin Reichert and Nicole Grady.

“I’ve seen too many friends die,” Reichert says. “Too many guys have either drank themselves to death, shot themselves or ran their truck off a cliff.”

Reichert joined forces with Grady to pave a trail for authentic cowboy connection at The Outside Circle Show in Elko, Nevada, to address the mental health crisis in the cowboy community. The cowboy music and poetry show, which has since 2014 featured cowboys who live the lifestyle, included a mental health panel in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Inside the atrium at the Stockmen’s Casino and Hotel, cowboys and cowboy gals gathered in January for the second time to speak with their peers in a sobering but honest plea for conversation about depression, addiction and su***de within the community. It was a candid discussion about mental health and addiction in the lives of cowboys.
Some are slow to engage in unfamiliar conversations, but neither Reichert nor Grady will let outside perspectives sway their resolve to address the issue.

“We’re not taught to process emotions,” Reichert says. “We’re not taught to talk about our s**t, so we don’t really know how, and I think a lot of people are going through this, a lot of men especially, and then cowboys are even worse.

“In the cowboy community, it’s not cool to talk about your feelings,” he continues. “I’ve realized that none of us have really learned how to process anger or sadness or grief, and all that manifests into something. Watching so many people in the community die, or even they’re not dead, but they’re not living. In the cowboy community, there’s a lot of unhealed little boys hiding behind buckles and hats and our egos. I’m learning I’m one of those boys, and it’s time to try to process some of those emotions positively.”

Read more here ==>> https://whmag.co/vjo

Photo by Andrea Van Leuven courtesy Nicole Grady

06/27/2025

Busting the Myth: You CAN Make a Living in This Industry!

People love to talk about the big investors, the high-dollar deals, and the flashy names that come and go in this industry. But you know who tends to stick around? The little guy. The everyday horseman. The average Betty barrel racer. And more often than not, they're the ones keeping this industry alive.

We often overlook the fact that it's the smaller players — the trainers, the breeders, the riders — who are raising, training, and selling these high-dollar horses to those big ranches and investors. That $200,000 or $300,000 horse? Likely came from someone who put years of sweat and time into building that horse's reputation, one run at a time.

The truth is, there are so many ways to make a real, honest living in this industry. I’ve been blessed to do it — both on the back of a horse and on the backside of a desk. It’s not all glitz, but it is possible.

So if you’re in it and wondering if this industry can sustain you — yes, it can. Don’t let anyone convince you that you can’t make a great living doing what you love. Just remember: passion, persistence, and a little grit go a long way!



𝒥ℴ𝓈𝒽 𝒜𝓃𝒹𝓇ℯ𝓌𝓈
Josh Andrews

06/27/2025

Rodeo bible camp was great for our crew.
Not only did they congregate with like minded youth, work on their faith they got to use the skills and learn some new ones with their horses.

John, took Doc, our minimum wage worker lesson horse, I call him minimum wage, because he not looking for any promotions 🤣 John had a legal head catch with some struggle he worked through Docs fear of real cows in the chute and being in the box.
He brought home the team roping buckle.

Aalyia stepped out of her usual groove of barrels and poles and she entered goat tying and cowboy skills. She worked really hard with a horse who didn't want to be there for those reasons and she earned herself the GRIT award buckle out of all the campers she did shine for GRIT!

Abigale W. took a horse we made from a scared and less than desirable ride to winning the poles. She has done all the work, the consistency and patience paid off to win another buckle on Rick this weekend.

Ashlyn W. Plays a lot of sports and is not a student i see often. She has an older mare who has a lot of her own ideas and gives her grief alot. Ashlyn worked with what she had and tied her goat taking the lead..

Maddie M. Attended on my trusty stead to work on cowboy skills and goat tying and she came home in 1 piece and it was her fist time being responsible for a horse and being away from home with no contact for 4 days.

To say I am proud of these kids is an understatement

06/25/2025

It doesn't make them " hot " it makes them feel better

06/22/2025

06/20/2025

Its go go go season here

This big ole boy has been sitting while his mom delt with some health issues. She wants to get back to riding, but crawling on after a long break and on a fresh horse is hard.
I am greatful him and I working things out.

06/20/2025

Finale came home for a couple weeks of riding with me after leaving Rodeo Bible Camp in Pendleton.

I raised her, crazy she is 10 yrs old this year ! Where have the years gone ?

ABSOLUTELY love watching her teenager finish her for barrels, breakaway and even jumped her at camp.

I am always so thankful when people ask for help when small trouble starts, and even cooler when they seek it from the original trainer or owner ! So much time saved ❤️

06/19/2025

Having fun riding this one
Soon to be hauling to some races for time onlies and maybe entering :)

Thankful to be back to riding for the public, feels good to use my knowledge and help others