Our Training Philosophy

Trainer: Kacey Stevenson-Bowman

At Southside Performance Horses, our training is built on connection, trust, and patience. Every horse is unique, and our approach reflects that—we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all method. Instead, we tailor our training to each individual horse, ensuring they grow and improve at their own pace. I began publicly training client horses in 2020, but my experience started long before that—working with my own horses, lesson horses, and those of friends. Over the years, I’ve developed my own training approach, drawing from various methods while adapting them to best suit each horse I work with.

I don’t ask a horse to do something they don’t understand or fear. Instead, I take the time to build trust and create a foundation of communication. A 1,000-pound animal won’t confidently perform without trust, and I won’t rush that process. Before training begins, I like to have an in-depth conversation with owners. I want to know not just what kind of training you're looking for, but also your horse’s temperament, habits, and personality—do they have lots of energy? Are they calm? Do they pin their ears in the stall? This helps me provide a realistic timeline of where I see your horse after 30, 60, or even 120 days and allows me to recommend the best approach for your goals. While I always aim to meet the end goal, every horse learns at their own pace. Some may progress faster than expected, while others may need more time to overcome past experiences or develop new skills. I will always be upfront about realistic expectations while ensuring your horse gets as far as possible in their time with me. Plus, I keep owners informed with regular updates, so you’re always in the loop about your horse’s progress.

I don’t follow just one trainer or subscribe to a single training method. Instead, I’ve developed my own approach, refining techniques that work best for me and the horses I work with. The only universal method I use with every horse is Pressure and Release, because it allows for a flexible, adaptable approach depending on how the horse responds. Even within that method, there are many ways to apply it, and I adjust based on the horse’s needs.

For example:
• I’ve had an unhandled three-year-old become green-broke (walk, jog, lope both ways, stop, and back) within seven days.
• On the other hand, I’ve worked with unhandled horses who’ve spent weeks learning about the saddle to build confidence.

Every horse is different—whether in breed, mindset, learning style, or past experiences. That’s why I stay flexible and open-minded in my training. While some methods may work for hundreds of horses, there will always be one that learns differently, and I want to be adaptable enough to help them all succeed.
At Southside Performance Horses, our goal is to set up both horse and rider for long-term success by creating a trust-based partnership and providing the tools for continued progress long after training ends.

I don't have a preferred 'style' of training - the way I train is purely based on each individual horse and their specific needs. Every horse is going to be different, be it their breed, mindset, build, how they learn, etc. While a method that may have worked for one hundred horses, there will always be some that don't learn with that method. I want to be flexible enough to give every horse the chance to grow, and improve without limiting myself or them just because this one learns/grows differently from the last.