Zilverberg Horses and Training

02/06/2026

How do you know you can trust a seller?

I don’t know, but what I do know in terms of our operation there is not a horse on our ranch we have to sell.
We take our time choosing a horse we would be proud to keep around, care for, and represent its whole life.
They are all for sale, but we have no issue keeping them around. Standing behind your animal is one of the most respectable traits a seller can have.

As a buyer it’s so important you do your research before inquiring and buying a horse. There are a lot of amazing equine vets in the country but there are also a lot of very knowledgeable old horsemen/women that are just as amazing. PPEs are only a small factor in purchasing a horse, and 2nd -3rd opinions are vital. One vets “career ending” is another’s “it’s pretty minor and easy maintenance”
There are a lot of very sound horses that wont pass a PPE, but you have to be ready to take care of them. Ps: Injections are not always the answer no matter what someone suggests. The young farrier (no matter how great they seem to be) does not know as much as the older more experienced farrier. Dont believe every big fancy word just becaue your vet or farrier spits them out. Dont be afraid to ask questions, and Sometimes the more simple answer is the best.

Remember the time, money and effort a seller has gone through to produce the horse in front of you. So many sellers are requiring a deposit before letting someone try a horse. Appreciate the ones who are easy to work with. Respect their knowledge of THEIR horse.

Most importantly for both the seller and buyer be realistic. A good horse is worth the money, but you’ll have to continue to put money into them to keep them good. In the right hands a cheap horse might eventually be good, but don’t buy them if you are not a good hand.

01/19/2026

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas 🎄 from our family to yours!
We hope you all had the horse you asked for under the tree 🎁

If you didn’t, we know where there might be a few to treat yourself to! 😉

07/15/2025

🥇Congratulations to Ana and Darla winning their first breakaway buckle together! We are excited for the rest of your summer and to see you at State 4H finals! Darla came to me with some box issues and a lot of nervous tendencies! Some time and patience helped get her confident and fine tuned for the summer! Something we always strive for is to send the horse home to fit its rider! Darla wasn’t a potential pro rodeo winner but she definitely is the Perfect horse for her rider Ana!

07/15/2025

🥇Congratulations to Ana and Darla winning their first breakaway buckle together!
We are excited for the rest of your summer and to see you at State 4H finals!

Darla came to me with some box issues and a lot of nervous tendencies! Some time and patience helped get her confident and fine tuned for the summer!

Something we always strive for is to send the horse home to fit its rider! Darla wasn’t a potential pro rodeo winner but she definitely is the Perfect horse for her rider Ana!

04/04/2025

“Perfect Practice”
My whole life most of the big names have preached perfect practice. Set up the run and do it the same every time. Not until a few years ago had I seen these big names even show practicing from different angles and obstacles on the dummy.
They confine a calf to a small lane to keep it straight. From this many horses learn to run in a straight line, you learn to have only one spot of comfortability to deliver and rope.
While there is nothing wrong with practicing a perfect run once in awhile, you shouldn’t be “practicing perfect”. It is in abnormal situations in the practice pen that you learn to handle them at the events.
I did not have calves to rope until I was 16/17, Gary said I could rope them in the pasture to practice other wise I roped team roping steers with 5+ inches of horn. I accomplished a lot of my goals throughout Jr high and High-school roping steers. Very rarely did I get to rope out of the box unless I was at the rodeo, and I very rarely got to practice on my good horses. I think I got to rope 2/3 calves 1 day before a big event. Other than that those horses only got rode. Gary gave us colts and sent us to the pasture. Most of the time it was to catch cattle that had jumped the fences. “Don’t come home unless you’ve got those steers/bull in tow.” It’s only been in the last 7/8 years that I’ve ran so many calves in the practice pen. Many of those runs look similar to the one 👇🏻.
I’ve always cringed when I overhear someone preaching perfect practice, or trying to conform someone to their ideal way of roping. There is no right way to rope. We all do it a little different than the next.

Putting yourself in different situations to find your style that lets you win is the best and quickest way to your success! Putting your horse in situations like 👇🏻 helps to show them how to lock on and cow. In the long run you won’t have to worry about your horse running by or not stopping, and you will be able to handle abnormal situations which will make the “perfect runs” so much easier to execute!

Don’t listen to everyone who swings a rope and has won a little. Go out and take steps to find your style and build your ability! Ask for help when needed but only take what benefits you.

03/17/2025

As you all might know Clay and I are in the horse selling business so we get a lot of questions like “why are you selling him?” or “what’s wrong with her?”, but our honest answer is

It’s not what the horse did wrong, but what the horse did right.

It really can be a tough business because you spend so much time with an animal in a tough/growing part of their life. Lots of ups and downs. Long frustrating days that also can be very rewarding. And once they finally become the pick of the pen, the one you really love and is your go-to; it’s time to say goodbye. It doesn’t help that I’m the “attached” type but I believe that no matter how long we do this, it won’t ever get any easier.

There really isn’t much out there more rewarding than sending a horse to their forever home because they finally did everything right.

02/16/2025

Oct: spooked at everything, wouldn’t go in the box, in the box was extremely anxious and would spin out run through the bit and exit. Hard in the mouth and head strong.
Dec: owners came to see her and the first thing I told them was “I hate her, she has so many quirks and is hard for me to get on every day” but I also told them “once I start to enjoy riding her, she’ll be ready to go home” 2weeks ago: Darla’s owners came to Huron to see her. First question was “Do you like riding her yet” my answer was a confident yes! I said “She’s ready”
Yesterday: Darla went home, but not before her girl roped on her for the first time before loading her on the trailer! I think the video shows it all! It has been a long and challenging 4 months with this mare. I’ve had to reteach her so many things, the main one being trust and confidence. There is still a long way for Darla and her owner to go but I can say confidently I think they both have a bright future in the roping pen!

12/24/2024

We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! 🎁🎄

Massie Western Creations
Willard Rope Company
MVP
Kahm
CSI Saddlepads
Unbeetable Feeds
Tanegai Rae Zilverberg