Restivo Performance Horses LLC, Chico, TX (2025)

10/23/2025

The trophy room is an experience in itself 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

06/17/2025

🌟 Equine Internship Series: Part 4 — Responsibility: The Horses Can’t Speak — But You Can 🌟

The moment you step into the barn, you’re handed more than a pitchfork or lead rope — you’re handed responsibility. And not just for the chores, but for the well-being of living, breathing animals who depend on you completely.

But responsibility isn’t just about what you do — it’s also about how you communicate, listen, and respond to feedback.

👉 The Horse Relies on You to Notice
Horses can’t tell us when something feels off — but they show us. Is he off his feed? Is there swelling you didn’t see yesterday? Is she standing a little funny this morning? The smallest details can be the earliest warning signs of a major issue. You have to be present, observant, and engaged — every single day.

👉 You Are Their Voice
If something seems wrong, say something. It doesn’t matter if you’re “just an intern.” It’s your duty to speak up for the horse. Don’t assume someone else saw it or that it’s not your place. Every great horseman started by learning to advocate for the animals first.

👉 Responsibility Means Proactivity
Don’t wait to be told what needs to be done. If the water bucket is empty — fill it. If the stall needs cleaned — clean it. If tack needs wiped down — wipe it. Seeing what needs to be done and taking action builds trust, respect, and shows your level of care.

👉 Mistakes Will Happen — Own Them
In this industry, mistakes aren’t the problem — failing to take responsibility for them is. If you forgot something, if you missed a detail, if you caused an issue — own it, fix it, and learn from it. That’s how true professionals are made.

👉 Communication Is Everything
There is no room in the horse industry for people who cannot take instruction, correction, or even occasional reprimand. The ability to accept criticism, process it without defensiveness, and apply it to improve your work is a vital skill. Good horsemen never stop learning — and they learn fastest by listening. If you shut down when corrected, this is not the industry for you.

👉 Transparency Builds Trust
Always be transparent with your supervisors, trainers, and team. Don’t hide mistakes, and don’t cover up problems. Honesty allows issues to be addressed quickly before they turn into bigger problems — especially when it comes to the care and safety of the horses. The more transparent you are, the more people will trust you.

👉 Responsibility Earns Trust
When trainers, managers, and owners know you care as much about the horses as they do, doors open. Responsibility, integrity, transparency, and the ability to communicate and take correction are what will separate you from every other person who simply “loves horses.”

👉 What You’ll Gain from This Phase
✅ A deeper understanding of horse care beyond the surface
✅ Confidence in your own judgement and decision-making
✅ The ability to see problems early and act
✅ The respect of horsemen who notice your work ethic
✅ Emotional maturity to handle correction and grow from it
✅ Trust earned through transparency and honesty

👉 The Bottom Line:
The horses can’t speak. You can.
Their health, safety, and care depend on your eyes, your hands, your voice, and your willingness to listen, learn, be honest, and take responsibility every single day.

Stay tuned for Part 5: “Growth: The Intern Becomes the Horseman.”

06/16/2025

🌟 Equine Internship Series: Part 3 — The Reality of Sacrifice: What the Horse Industry Actually Demands 🌟

Everyone loves the highlight reel — the fancy horses, the polished arenas, the big wins, and the beautiful photos. But behind every successful barn, trainer, and professional is something far less glamorous: sacrifice.

If you want to build a career in this industry, you have to accept that sacrifice isn’t temporary — it’s part of the lifestyle.

👉 Long Hours Are the Norm — Not the Exception
Horses don’t run on a 9-5 schedule. Feeding, mucking, treating injuries, hauling to shows, staying late to wrap legs — it all happens outside of “normal business hours.” Horses still eat, get sick, colic, or pull shoes on weekends, holidays, and at 2 AM. Being part of this world means you’re often working when others are off.

👉 Personal Plans Will Take a Back Seat
Family events, holidays, vacations, and social outings will sometimes have to wait. There will be birthdays you miss because you’re on the road. There will be weekends spent at shows instead of parties. This lifestyle requires the kind of discipline most people aren’t willing to live by — and that’s exactly why not everyone makes it.

👉 Comfort Will Be Rare
You’ll work in the heat, the cold, the rain, and the mud. You’ll wake up sore. You’ll work tired. You’ll deal with physical exhaustion and mental fatigue. But every professional in this business has paid these same dues — and they’ve kept going.

👉 Your Needs Come Second to the Horses’
The horses always come first — before your mood, your convenience, or your schedule. That’s the standard you sign up for when you work with animals who depend entirely on your care.

👉 Sacrifice Builds True Horsemen
This isn’t about being “tough” — it’s about being reliable. Horses succeed because someone is always willing to show up. Sacrificing comfort, convenience, and ease is what earns you respect in this industry. It’s what builds real horsemen — the kind that others want to work with, hire, and trust.

👉 But With Sacrifice Comes Reward
✅ You’ll gain real-world experience most never get.
✅ You’ll develop a work ethic few industries can match.
✅ You’ll build deep relationships with horses and people who share your passion.
✅ You’ll experience personal growth, confidence, and grit that will serve you for life.
✅ And one day, you’ll be one of the few who can say: I’ve earned my place.

👉 If It Was Easy, Everyone Would Do It.
The horse industry doesn’t need more people who love horses — it needs people who are willing to do the hard work that keeps the animals thriving. If you’re ready to make those sacrifices, this industry can give you a life few others can offer.

Stay tuned for Part 4: “Responsibility: The Horses Can’t Speak — But You Can.”

06/14/2025

🌟 Equine Internship Series: Part 2 — The Standard of Excellence: Learning by Doing 🌟

The best learning doesn’t happen in a classroom. In the horse industry, the most valuable lessons happen while you’re in the barn, hands on, fully present. That’s where good interns separate themselves from average ones.

👉 It’s Not Glamorous — But It’s Necessary
You won’t start your internship working high-end show horses or giving training lessons. You’ll start with the basics: cleaning stalls, feeding, grooming, hand-walking, wrapping legs, cleaning tack, and learning barn management.
Why? Because excellence lives in the basics. The greatest trainers in the world started by mastering these small, repetitive, seemingly “simple” tasks — and still demand them done right today.

👉 The Barn Doesn’t Run on “Good Enough”
Everything you do — from how you sweep an aisle to how you wrap a leg — matters. Sloppy work can risk a horse’s health or create dangerous situations. This is a professional industry where the details separate quality from chaos.

👉 Watch, Ask, and Absorb
Internships are not just about doing — they’re about watching. Pay attention to how trainers handle horses. How they time their corrections. How they read body language. How they adjust training methods to fit the horse. Don’t wait to be spoon-fed information — seek it out. Ask questions. Take notes. Observe how the best operate.

👉 Every Job Has Purpose — Embrace It
The horse industry is full of people who want to ride, but few who are willing to master the day-to-day grind that actually makes the riding possible. If you approach every task — no matter how small — with the same level of care you’d give to a world champion, you will stand out. How you do one thing is how you’ll do everything.

👉 What You’ll Get From This Phase
✅ A sharp eye for detail
✅ Strong habits that follow you through your career
✅ A real understanding of what it takes to keep horses sound, happy, and thriving
✅ First-hand exposure to how top programs are run
✅ A foundation that will serve you whether you become a trainer, manager, breeder, or owner

👉 You’re Not “Just an Intern” — You’re Building Your Foundation
Nobody builds a house by starting with the roof. A strong foundation takes time, patience, and steady hands. The same is true for your horsemanship career. Show up every day willing to do every job with pride — because this is how great horsemen are built.

Stay tuned for Part 3: “The Reality of Sacrifice: What the Horse Industry Actually Demands.”

06/11/2025

🌟 Commitment: What It Actually Means 🌟

When you step into an internship or assistant trainer job in the horse industry, you’re not just stepping into a barn — you’re stepping into an opportunity to build skills, work ethic, and habits that will serve you for years to come.

But before you focus on what you’ll get — you have to understand what you’re committing to.

Commitment isn’t just saying “yes” — it’s following through fully, from start to finish.

👉 The Program Is Counting on You:
Barns run on structure. Horses thrive on routine. Staff and trainers build schedules based on who’s committed to being there. When you don’t follow through, it creates gaps in horse care, delays in training, and extra work for others. You’re not just learning — you’re becoming part of a working system.

👉 The Horses Can’t Pause While You Figure It Out:
The horses you’re helping care for depend on you. They don’t get a day off because you didn’t feel like showing up. Consistency is critical for their health, development, and training. Your ability to be steady and reliable is a direct reflection of your care for the horse.

👉 Respect the Commitment You Made:
There will be long days. Hard days. Frustrating days. But real professionals show up anyway. Learning to keep going even when it’s tough is one of the most valuable lessons you’ll carry into your career.

👉 Consistency Builds Trust — Or Breaks It:
Showing up every day, on time, ready to work, and staying engaged — this is what builds trust with your mentors, your peers, and your horses. Inconsistency creates frustration for everyone around you.

👉 You Are Building Your Reputation:
In the horse industry, word travels fast. Your work ethic, attitude, and commitment will follow you long after the internship ends. This is how doors open (or close) for future opportunities.

👉 What Will You Get Out of It?
You will gain real-world, hands-on experience that simply can’t be taught in a classroom or clinic. You’ll develop your timing, eye, feel, and attention to detail. You’ll learn how a real barn operates day-to-day. You’ll be exposed to the care, training, and business aspects of a working program. You’ll make industry connections that may help you later.

👉 Reality Check — You Will Not Become a Trainer After One Internship:
No one becomes a professional horse trainer after one internship. This is a starting block — not a fast track. The foundation you build here is what will set you up to continue learning, developing, and growing into this industry long-term — but only if you stay humble and keep working.

👉 A Commitment Is a Promise — Keep It.
Before you say yes to any internship, ask yourself:
✅ Can I give this my full effort?
✅ Am I prepared to finish the full term?
✅ Am I ready to handle hard days without quitting?

If the answer is yes — then show up fully and own it. The horse industry doesn’t hand out shortcuts — it rewards those who stay committed.

Stay tuned for Part 2: “The Standard of Excellence: Learning by Doing.”

Restivo Performance Horses LLC

10/23/2025

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