The Naughty Mule Ranch

05/29/2026

Super proud of Olive and Reno. Their barrel racing debut.

05/21/2026

05/07/2026

We have a few open spots for our June 19-21 Susan Dockter Clinic.
susandockter.com for information on Susan.
PM Sarah Larkin for information on the clinic.
Cost for the 3 Day clinic is $550

04/27/2026

Great day on the Cowboy Dressage court! Getting ready for the upcoming Susan Dockter clinic.
I have a few unexpected spots open to ride with Susan June 18-19-20 Let me know if you want to ride with us. 🤠

04/16/2026

04/01/2026

The circle was never ours to draw.

Before we built cities, before we wrote the first word, before we knew what it meant to dream of something greater than ourselves, there was a heartbeat beside ours. Four hooves against the earth, a breath that matched our own in the silence before everything began.

Ten thousand years. That is how long this conversation has lasted.

Not in words, but in trust. In the way a hand once reached toward a wild mane and something ancient agreed to stay. We did not tame the horse. The horse chose us. And in that choosing, it carried us across continents, through wars, into the unknown, toward everything we would eventually call civilization.

Every empire was built on that agreement. Every horizon was crossed because of it. The horse gave us speed when we only knew stillness, gave us courage when all we carried was fear. It asked for nothing in return except presence, except honesty, except the kind of bond that cannot be manufactured or performed.

And here, in the silence of the desert, the circle reveals itself again. Not drawn by my hand, not planned, not rehearsed. The sand remembers what the body speaks. A turn, a sweep of tail, a gesture older than language, writing something only the earth can read.

This is the circle of life. Not a metaphor. A living, breathing truth carved into the ground by the most important animal in the history of humanity. The one who made us who we are. The one who still teaches us, if we are willing to be still enough to listen.

I did not create this moment. I was allowed to witness it.

Real Will Always Be Rarer.

Explore the full collection at raphaelmacek.com

Link in bio.

03/20/2026

Dental day at the Naughty Mule.

02/18/2026

01/05/2026

Choose a coach that continues their education with a LIVE coach. I’m seeing posts where trainers and coaches are claiming to “train with” or be “learning from” coaches that are dead (reading their books) or on online platforms.

While this is an excellent way to compliment your education, nothing can replace “eyes on the ground” after all, with no one able to confirm or deny your ex*****on of a skill or exercise, you don’t know if you are doing it correctly. You can be the best trainer in the world in your own backyard.

“Back in the day” trainee coaches spent days, weeks, years interning and being mentored by coaches to learn the trade, now all you need is a tik tok account.

Phil and I are mentoring several students who are following this process and they are better coaches for it.

Either pay for experience, or pay for someone who invests in live coaches, but Don’t pay to be a guinea pig 🐹

01/02/2026

Before backing your youngster, please read.

🐴 Horses mature very differently to humans.
A rough way to understand it is that horses age around three times faster than us, but their bones, joints, and spine take much longer to fully develop than many people realise.

This is where things often go wrong.

Older horses for context:
•A 30 year old horse is like a 90 year old human.
Stiff, worn, and well into retirement. These horses deserve comfort, gentle movement, and rest but still to be active for the mind and joints

•A 25 year old horse is like a 75 year old human.
Still capable, still willing, but strength and recovery are limited. Careful management is key.

•A 20 year old horse is similar to a 60 year old person.
Mentally sharp, experienced, and often keen but the body may be sore, stiff, or slower to recover.

•A 9 years old to 13 year old horse is like a 39 year old adult.
This is prime time. Physically mature, mentally settled, and strong enough for consistent work.

Now the important part youngsters
This is where patience matters most.

•A 3 year old horse is like a 9 year old child.
Growth plates are still open, balance is poor, and muscles are underdeveloped. At this age, learning should be about handling, confidence, and calm exposure not carrying weight.

A 4 year old horse compares to a 12 year old child.
They can cope with very light work in short sessions. Their bodies are still changing, often unevenly, which is why they feel awkward and inconsistent.

•A 5 year old horse is like a 15 year old teenager.
This is the risky stage. They may look strong and capable, but internally they are still developing. The spine, joints, and soft tissues are not finished growing, even if the horse “seems fine.” Shouldn’t be jumping 110cm classes!!!!!

•A 6 year old horse is like an 18 year old adult.
The skeleton is far more mature, muscles can be developed safely, and the horse is mentally better able to cope with pressure.
This is the correct age to begin proper, consistent work.

Pushing young horses too hard, too early doesn’t always show immediate damage.
The problems often appear later as:
•Lameness
•Joint disease
•Kissing spines
•Behaviour issues labelled as naughty or lazy
•Horses breaking down far too young

One extra year of patience can easily add ten more years of sound, useful working life. Good training isn’t about how early you start.
It’s about how long the horse stays comfortable, willing, and happy. And it’s bloody high time age classes at big highs at young ages were banned!!

My own Connie Storm, age 6❤️