12/21/2025
If you ask Trent McGee what defines good riding, his answer has nothing to do with jump height, ribbons, or rankings. It’s much simpler than that. “Katie says this all the time,” he explained. “Whether we’re jumping big jumps at a horse show or doing a simple flat lesson at home, all we’re trying to do is make the horse go a little better every single day.”
It’s a philosophy McGee has embraced completely during his time at Plain Bay Farm, training under Katie and Henri Prudent through the Road to the Top program. For him, improvement is about small, consistent progress.
This focus on daily improvement has shaped the way McGee rides and teaches. “The goal is to make the horse feel a little better than they did yesterday,” he said. “Maybe the answer to that is different on Tuesday versus Wednesday. It’s different horse to horse. Every horse is unique, and our job is to figure out what makes them thrive.”
McGee credits Prudent with instilling the idea that progress starts with understanding. “Being able to explain the ‘why’ behind what we do has made me a better rider,” he said. “You can’t just go through the motions. You have to understand the purpose of every exercise and every ride.”
That mindset inspired his newest project, Trent’s Tips, a social media series created in collaboration with the Road to the Top program. In short videos, McGee answers questions from riders of all levels offering insight into training, show prep, and the mental side of riding. “It’s about getting people interested in asking important questions about training horses and ourselves,” he said. “If I can offer a little advice or insight, that’s worth it. But it’s also about getting people my age excited to talk about the sport.”
For McGee, the project is as much about community as education. “I think we have a great young group coming up in this sport,” he said. “But we need to grow that audience. It’s important for the future of our sport, and for the horses, to make sure they’re getting the best care and training possible.”
That sense of responsibility to horses and to the next generation runs deep in McGee’s philosophy. “At the end of the day, it’s a horse sport first and foremost,” he said. “They are the stars. Our job is to establish that connection with them as best as possible.”
It’s an idea that echoes Prudent’s core principle: riders must take accountability for the horse’s experience, not just their own. “We’re happy to take on that burden,” McGee said. “If we can find a way to make the horse go or feel a little better than yesterday, that’s a job well done.”
📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/12/16/making-horses-better-one-day-at-a-time/
