Horse Show Bestie

About Horse Show Bestie

Come hang out with Crysta Brown, a APHA and AQHA All-Around horse trainer, and Scott Cooper, her favorite amateur sidekick, as they spill the tea on the all around Quarter Horse and Paint Horse world. Crysta brings the trainer tips and insider know-how while Scott keeps it real with the amateur perspective. Together they share the wins, the flops, the laughs, and all the behind-the-scenes moments that make horse showing such a ride. If you can't get enough of chatting with your besties in the stalls or in the stands, this podcast is your new happy place.

Publisher

Crysta Brown

Category

kids & family · leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 Sept 2025

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

39 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Minisode: Scott Talks Horse Show Intimidation

   Besties, welcome to something new! Scott is flying solo for this mini episode with a very horsey weekend recap, some show-pen perspective, and his first-ever DIY full-body clip on Chip. He kicks things off with the California Championship Quarter Horse Show and a reminder that the things we build up in our heads are often much less intimidating once we actually experience them. The competition is real, the amateurs are talented, and you still belong there. Then it’s clipping time. Scott shares what he learned tackling Chip’s first full-body clip, from prepping the coat and navigating tricky skin folds to accepting that a few clipper lines are absolutely not worth spiraling over. There’s also a questionable dinosaur mane, strong opinions about mayonnaise, a post-clip bath, and some thoughts on upcoming fall shows and possibly heading to Western Nationals. A quick reminder from Scott: confidence usually shows up after you start, not before. Go to the show. Try the thing. Clip the horse. The lines will grow out. Support Our Sponsors NAC Equine: https://www.nac-equine-services.com/ (https://www.nac-equine-services.com/) Crysta Brown Horsemanship: www.CBhorsemanship.com (https://www.cbhorsemanship.com/)

2. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Pressure Is a Privilege: The Judge's Perspective with Nancie Wright

   Besties, what if the judge in the middle of the pen isn’t sitting there waiting for you to mess up? What if they’re actually riding every step with you, hoping you give them something good to reward? In this episode, Crysta sits down with judge, trainer, and longtime horsewoman Nancie Wright to talk about what really happens on the other side of the judge’s card. Nancie shares how just ten childhood riding lessons turned into a lifetime with horses, how mentors and unexpected opportunities helped her build a career, and why she eventually fell in love with judging. Then we get into some of the biggest horse show myths. Going first does not automatically ruin your chances. Judges have not secretly decided they don’t like your horse. And sadly, the $5,000 jacket is not a cheat code for winning. Nancie breaks down what judges are actually looking for in patterns and rail classes, why the rule book is one of the best free training tools we have, and how to use your scores as a roadmap instead of a report card on your worth. She also explains why a correct zero is worth celebrating, how judges reward quality one maneuver at a time, and why your job is simply to put the best ride you can in the pen that day. And because we are Horse Show Bestie, we also talk about the part of showing that has nothing to do with ribbons. Helping the new exhibitor fix their number. Lending a saddle pad. Helping a kid with their mane. Answering the question they were nervous to ask. Basically, being the person who makes someone want to come back. Because everybody starts somewhere. And maybe the judge isn’t rooting against you after all. Maybe they’re hoping you give them something really good to write down. ✨ Support Our Sponsors NAC Equine: https://www.nac-equine-services.com/ (https://www.nac-equine-services.com/) Crysta Brown Horsemanship: www.CBhorsemanship.com (https://www.CBhorsemanship.com)

3. 

   14 Sept 2026

   Bit Happens: Chuck Letchworth on Better Bits, Better Signals, and Better Horses

   Besties, it’s time to talk bits. Because apparently, there is a lot more going on in that little piece of metal than “my horse likes this one.” Scott and Crysta sit down with legendary bit maker Chuck Letchworth to talk about what a bit actually does, why the first signal matters, and why better communication, not more pressure, is what creates a softer, more confident horse. Chuck breaks down the details that actually change what a horse feels, from shank angle and purchase to mouthpiece shape, curb material, width, and balance. He also gets into why choosing a bit simply because it worked on your last horse is probably not the strategy we thought it was. Then we get into the training behind the equipment: giving a horse time to understand a new bridle, rewarding the smallest correct response, making lead changes part of everyday life, and why intimidation is not a substitute for training. Scott learns a very important lesson about the missing rope on his trail bit, Crysta finally gets answers about square mouthpieces, and both hosts leave with a slightly different perspective on what their hands are actually saying. If you’ve ever stood in front of a tack-room wall wondering why one bit costs more than your first car, why your horse braces before you even make contact, or whether the problem is actually the bit, this episode is for you. About Our Guest Chuck Letchworth is the craftsman behind Chuck Letchworth Bits & Spurs. With a lifetime of horsemanship and more than five decades of bit making experience, Chuck designs handcrafted equipment around feel, function, balance, and the way today's horse's are asked to perform. Support Our Sponsors NAC Equine Services - www.nac-equine-services.com (http://www.nac-equine-services.com) Crysta Brown Horsemanship - www.CBhorsemanship.com (cbhorsemanship.com)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

19 ratings

Contact Horse Show Bestie

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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