Professional futurity trainer and 2024 EquiStat leading rider, Brandon Cullins shares his advice for aspiring barrel horse trainers.
Originally from Maryland, Brandon Cullins started his training career within the National Barrel Horse Association before going on to earn more than $1.4 million in futurity earnings.
Cullins is the only person to have won the Barrel Futurities of American World Championships’ Juvenile, Futurity and Derby in the same year, which he did in 2017 with RR Mistakelly, Folsom Prisoner and VQ Sucker Punch, respectively.
Cullins won the 2024 The American Rodeo aboard MJ Segers Fast Lane inside Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The win added $1.1 million to his lifetime earnings.
1. Get on as many horses as you can
At first get on as many horses as you can to learn, and then figure out what suits you because everybody has a different way of doing things.
2. Ask questions
I would go as much as I could and, I don’t know if it’s right or wrong but I went to Oklahoma City from 2007 to 2012 and the first year I got a check was 2012, so I went a long time without making money. I just was going and getting exposed to as much as I can. So go as much as you can and talk to as many people as you can.
I would watch the warm-up pen and that was a good and bad thing. I was kind of shy and didn’t want to talk to or bother anybody. I would watch what they were doing and I had no idea why they were doing it, and I would try and do it myself and see what worked. It worked here and there but a lot of times it got me in trouble. So if you see something you think is interesting, ask them why they are doing it. Find the theories behind what they do because that will help you more and develop a style.
3. Develop your own style
I’ve rode with a lot of different people, and you never stop learning. I’m not afraid to try something new but don’t try to mimic somebodies style. Taking things from them and learn from them. Be open to things but don’t lose your way either. What works for one person might not work for you, but have conversations and bounce ideas around.
Don’t think if you do something today it’s going to work, give it a week or two, a fair chance to work for your program.
4. Be honest
Don’t ever undercut somebody, it will come back to haunt you, I believe. Just do what you think is right and the owners will come. If you do a good job, you make a nice horse, then the owners will find you in my opinion.
5. Appreciate a good horse
Horses are like people, not every horse is like Michael Jordan. Rocco (VQ Sucker Punch) was probably the first one I got on that was like that, and those ones are what make you, I believe. They teach you so much. Just keep riding and you’ll get the opportunity to get on one of those. They’ll come around if you keep doing it long enough. They teach you how to make the good ones better, and the great ones really great.
Take care of the horse. Treat all of them good, not just the great ones, the medocre ones too. Just try to make the horse the best you can make it. The winning comes, but its a lot of luck. You have to be prepared, have your horse ready and be in a situation to win, but if you go try to force a win it’s going to be trouble. Stick with your program, make a good horse and then let the horse win.
Learn more about Cullins training techniques with his Training Barrel Horses series here.
