Ep. 133 Ben Beckett and Qualifying for The Run For A Million - Horse&Rider's The Ride

In this episode of Horse&Rider's The Ride, host Nicole Cherico sits down with NRHA trainer Ben Beckett to discuss his journey from a Midwest youth with a classical horsemanship background to a professional reining competitor who recently qualified for the Run For A Million. Beckett reflects on how his upbringing playing football and basketball instilled a disciplined, process-oriented mindset that he now applies to training horses and coaching non-pro riders. He shares insights into his career-defining mentorship with Rick Weaver and Trevor Dare, and discusses the unique challenges and rewards of training older horses, like his non-pro qualifier Custom Made Whiskey, an eight-year-old who continues to improve with age. Beckett emphasizes the importance of mental resilience, minimizing pressure, and maintaining freshness in training—especially for seasoned horses. He also breaks down the mental approach needed for high-stakes events like the Run For A Million, drawing parallels to football coaching and the need to stay focused on the process, not the outcome. The episode concludes with Beckett’s thoughts on preparing non-pro riders for big shows, advocating for high-pressure drills at home to simulate real competition conditions.