From Oregon Rain to Arizona Sun: Studying with Buck Brannaman in 2026

The Big Zoom Out

I left home under a heavy ceiling of Oregon rain, trading the mud for the high-desert light of Arizona. There is a specific kind of clarity that only happens at 30,000 feet, usually from seat 28F. Before the ascent, there’s that quiet, familiar walk across the patterned PDX carpet—a final “home” anchor before the engines begin their low, steady thrum. Watching the world transition from the saturated greens and iron skies of the Northwest to the rugged, tan geometry of the Southwest offers a literal “zoom out” that I find essential.

Taking a break from the daily rhythm of life and horsemanship to physically switch locations is more than just a vacation; it’s a tactical reset. Watching the terrain change underneath the wing helps shift my perspective before I even touch the ground. It reminds me that while the scenery changes, the core of what we’re trying to achieve with our horses stays the same.

Into the Cactus Forest

After landing in Phoenix, I picked up my rental car. Some people might find that specific, sterile scent of a rental interior unremarkable, but to me, it’s the smell of a new possibility. It’s a sensory signal that the “real world” has been left behind and a new adventure is beginning. I made the drive out toward the stunning “cactus forests” of Carefree, and the air changed as I climbed; it lost the damp weight of the valley and took on a crisp, expansive stillness.

I was welcomed into the glorious, over-the-top beauty of my dear friends Marc and Wendy’s estate. Their home offers 360° views of the desert, and being immersed in that landscape every evening provided a total recalibration of my senses.

The Venue and the Village

Each morning, I headed over to Paul Dietz’s place in Scottsdale. Paul and his wife, Christine, are the ultimate hosts, providing a true sanctuary for horse people. One thing that always strikes me is that putting on an event like this truly takes a village. From the hosts to the people managing the gates and the simple necessity of food and water for everyone on “game day,” there is a real heart in that collective effort. I’ll always remember the arena at Paul’s—it was filled with butterflies of all different colors and shapes, dancing through the dust as the horses worked.

Shepherding the Tradition

Beyond the logistics, there is a certain weight to these gatherings. No matter how many horsemanship clinics there are now, or ever have been, there is simply nothing quite like a Buck Brannaman clinic—for more reasons than I can likely list here. This style of horsemanship is being shepherded through the ages, and these clinics provide the “riverbed” for that knowledge to flow. It’s how we keep a deep, functional tradition alive. I also enjoyed seeing the familiar faces of those who study with Buck routinely on the road; they are the backbone that helps keep the energy of the clinic focused and fluid.

The Trick Up My Sleeve

While I love riding with Buck and find it vital to have him check my progress in the saddle, auditing has been the trick up my sleeve for the last 15 years. Stepping back to just watch allows me to gather impressions I might miss when I’m focused on my own horse’s feet. It gives me the space to observe the nuances of the movements—the rhythmic “scuff” of a hoof in the sand and the soft jingle of rein chains—without the responsibility of keeping track of my own horse.

The Contentment of a Bridlehorse

This trip was special because Buck had two Bridlehorses on the road. Watching them warm up is one of my favorite things—they are so incredibly disciplined, yet they lope around “turned loose,” affectionate and content. They acknowledge the crowd and the terrain with a soft curiosity, and I can always tell when a horse recognizes me or others in the crowd as they pass by. It proves that you don’t have to sacrifice a horse’s spirit for precision; they can be both highly trained and completely at peace.

The Desert Bookends

There is a specific rhythm to Arizona in March that feels like a deep breath for the soul. My alarm would go off at 5:45 AM, just as the first slivers of the desert sunrise began to bleed over the horizon, turning the hills from a cool, dusty purple to a sharp, electric gold. It was a striking contrast to home, where it’s still dark until almost 7:00 AM and we’re still waking up in the shadows. The desert mornings aren’t silent; they are musical, filled with the waking calls of birds and the hum of bugs in the dry air. That crispness makes the first sip of coffee feel like a luxury.

By the time we finished dinner on the deck, the sun was just beginning its slow sink back into the saguaros. It’s a complete cycle of light. To spend the entire day in that transition—from the blue dawn at the estate to the 85-degree hum of the arena, and finally back to the long, orange shadows of the evening—creates a sense of time that we rarely get to feel in the rush of daily life.

Shade and Lemonade

The desert heat hit a perfect 85 degrees in the afternoon, so I spent my time tucked into the shade of the speakers, soaking it all in. The evenings were for reconnection. Wendy and I used to spend at least two intensive long weekends together every year, and though life circumstances had kept us apart for a few years, stepping back into our friendship was seamless and super awesome.

I stayed in a luxurious suite at their estate, and every evening we would come together to share our days. Wendy was riding in a classical horsemanship event during the weekend while I was at the Buck clinic. Sitting on her deck overlooking the hills, talking about the technical details and the heartbeat of horsemanship while she served fresh-squeezed lemonade, was the perfect way to end the day.

Spring in the Willamette Valley

I left on a Thursday and returned on a Monday, and even in those five short days, the Willamette Valley had begun to transform. I came home to a “spring is springing” reality—much warmer weather that meant peeling off blankets and finally getting to wash horses. After five days of watching and thinking, I was so excited to get back on a horse myself. That first day back after watching Buck ride is always vital; it’s when you connect the dots between seeing and actually doing while it’s all still fresh.

The Therapy of the Season

There is something so therapeutic about those first warm spring days. I think horses truly love being taken care of—the grooming, the brushing, and being “spiffed up” for the new season. Most horse people can relate to the satisfaction of shedding out a horse. The steady “shush-shush” of the shedding brush, scraping off that heavy winter hair until you’re standing in a massive pile of fluff, is a ritual I personally love. Revealing the shiny dapples and the sleek summer coat underneath is a physical sign of the progress we’re making as we move into the next chapter of the year.

A Student and a Horse Lover First

While I am teaching a clinic of my own this weekend, the truth is that I am a student and a horse lover above everything else. Those who have followed me for years know that I am constantly developing myself alongside my horses. Gaining that perspective and taking the time to learn and think is so good for the spirit, but as much as I loved the desert light, I truly missed home.

I missed my horses, the dogs, and of course, Kip. He did such a fantastic job holding down the fort while I was away, making sure I could FaceTime with our pets every evening so I never felt too far away. It’s that support at home that allows me to go out and find these vistas in the first place.

HORSEMANSHIP THOUGHT

I’ve been thinking a lot about Tom Dorrance’s words—that horsemanship boils down to feel, timing, and balance. It makes me wonder: are those all skills? To me, timing and balance can be practiced and refined, but “feel” is something deeper.

Meeting people on the road who listen to our show every week is one of the best parts of these trips; it always makes me feel so connected to this community. If you want to hear more, make sure to listen to the Horsemanship Remarks show tomorrow. For the Insiders, my behind-the-scenes travel vlog and timely thoughts from the trip are up right now on the Base Camp Bulletin. I’ll see you there.

You might also like this Blog Post about Penny Tactics vs Million Dollar Skills. Watching Buck always helps me stay closest to the skills and feel.

Let’s Connect in the Comments

I’d love to hear from you! What are you looking forward to most as we head into this spring season? And if you were at the Scottsdale clinic, did you have any specific “aha” moments that stayed with you?

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Deepen Your Study

I am a firm believer in going to the source. If you want to see the footage of Buck riding and teaching the concepts I’ve discussed here, I highly recommend subscribing to The Buck Channel. It is a fantastic resource for anyone serious about this path.

Other Ways to Follow Along:

• Listen: Catch the latest episode of the Horsemanship Remarks show tomorrow.
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