My passion for horses began at a very young age on our family ranch in Ogden, Utah, where my father raised and bred Quarter Horses and Paint Horses. Horses quickly became more than just part of daily life—they became a lifelong calling.

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At 13 years old, I got my start cleaning stalls at South Bend River Ranch in Layton, Utah. One day, a few of the other barn hands challenged me to ride a horse they claimed couldn’t be ridden. I successfully rode the horse, but when the owner found out, I was fired on the spot. A few weeks later, he hired me back full-time as an exercise rider, and eventually I became the ranch’s head colt starter.

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My love for reining developed early through the influence of my dad and respected local trainer Jeff Hales. They taught me the importance of creating soft, responsive, and willing horses. From there, I went on to work for several well-known Utah trainers as an assistant trainer and colt starter. After spending nearly 10 years riding quality horses and gaining experience, I went out on my own in 2006. While building my program and clientele, I worked other jobs and trained horses on the side until Wadman Performance Horses became fully established in 2010.

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Over the years, the horses themselves have remained my greatest teachers, and I continue learning from every reputable source and experience available.

 

At Wadman Performance Horses, we help clients progress in reining by coaching them through shows and guiding them along the path of becoming confident show riders. We keep horses tuned and prepared for competition while providing weekly lessons that help riders build confidence and strengthen their connection with their horses.

In addition to reining, we train team roping and breakaway horses and offer roping lessons for riders of all levels. Alongside reining competitions, we actively and successfully compete in team roping and enjoy helping others succeed in the sport as well.

Our colt starting program is one of the foundations of our operation. Having started more than 600 colts throughout my career, I’ve learned just how important the first 60 to 90 days are in shaping a horse’s future. Our program emphasizes extensive, practical groundwork designed for the working horse. We spend as much time as possible on the trail and in the mountains while also introducing the fundamentals of reining in the arena.

We are also developing a trail course at Graceland Equestrian Center to give horses greater opportunities to think, learn, and gain confidence while helping riders build trust and communication with their horses.

Our team includes myself as head trainer, assistant trainer Hanna Giles, and several dedicated individuals who help care for the horses and keep the operation running smoothly.

Our mission is simple: to help bring more people into the horse world and allow them to experience the powerful connection between horse and rider. As Winston Churchill once said, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” We believe deeply in that truth and strive to help others discover it for themselves.