Ep. 22 | Building Better Horses, Better Events, and Better Horsemen with Craig Moore

In this episode of the Black Knuckle Ranch Podcast, we sit down with horse trainer and competitor Craig Moore to talk horsemanship, ranch trail competitions, colt starting, and what it takes to build horses that can perform in the real world. Craig shares his journey from high school rodeo and horse training to an unexpected detour into competitive golf before finding his way back to horses. The conversation dives into the realities of training horses, competing in events like Road to the Horse, and the challenges of creating horse competitions that are both competitive and welcoming for riders of all skill levels. The crew also discusses the future of the Black Knuckle Ranch Trail Course Series, judging challenges, how to keep events fair and fun, and why making horse events approachable for newcomers is critical to growing the industry. In This Episode: The success of the first Black Knuckle Ranch Trail Course event How judges influence competition outcomes Timed events vs. judged events Creating a welcoming environment for new riders Craig Moore's path into professional horsemanship Lessons learned from Road to the Horse Golf, horses, and expensive hobbies The importance of practical horsemanship Ideas for growing the Black Knuckle Ranch Buckle Series Why obstacles and ranch trail events continue to grow in popularity About Our Guest Craig Moore of Moore Horsemanship is a professional horse trainer known for colt starting, obstacle training, ranch versatility, and helping riders build practical, confident horses. Craig has competed in major colt-starting competitions and brings a practical, no-nonsense approach to horsemanship. Sponsors Black Knuckle Ranchwear — Tough cotton twill shirts built for real work. You rip it, we replace it. Matrix Reformed Black Knuckle Performance Horses Black Knuckle Land Management Connect With Black Knuckle Ranch Follow for weekly episodes covering horses, ranching, business, and western lifestyle. Black Knuckle Ranch Podcast: Real Horses, Real Ranch, Real Talk.