Top 10 Reasons Equestrians Should Tune In To Better Horses
If you’re a horse lover and aren’t watching Better Horses, something is terribly wrong. You’re missing out on a show tailor-made for you. A mix of entertaining segments for the horse enthusiast, each episode of Better Horses is a charming love letter to the equine community.
Host Ernie Rodina has an infectious enthusiasm for all things horses, and he wants to share what he’s learned with the viewers. The show grew out of Rodina’s Better Horses Network, which includes a publication and a radio show, and aims to take a horse owner’s equine experience to the next level. The show does all that and more. Here are our top ten reasons you should be tuning in to Better Horses TV.
1: IT’S PACKED WITH PASSION
From beginning to end, Better Horses showcases a love for the world of horses. Ernie Rodina has a real interest in each and every person he meets, and that is evident in every interview and segment. He’s excited to bring his viewers (or “friends”) new information about horses and those who work with them. “I’ve loved horses ever since I was a little kid. I watched Westerns and I always wanted to be a cowboy,” Ernie said. “When people have a high passion for the horse, it’s almost like a sickness. You’re born with it.”
2: MEET TOP TRAINERS
Ernie has a long history in the equine industry, which means he knows the best people in the business. He works with and interviews several of the excellent Purina Ambassadors, who are nationally recognized experts that devote their time to sharing their considerable knowledge and skills with others in the industry. Tune in to Better Horses and you may see Ernie riding with one of these highly-accomplished professionals, like Al Dunning, a multiple world-champion with the American Quarter Horse Association.
In a recent episode, Ernie introduced viewers to the godfather of clinicians, Richard Shrake, a trainer who has an extensive list of awards and honors. Shrake is the creator of the Resistance Free training and riding methods, the trainer of the Quarter Horse Congress All Around Champion horse, and an author of four best-selling equestrian and educational books. Ernie has also interviewed Andrea Fappani, another all-time leading horse trainer in the industry. Other guests of note that have been featured in the show include Equine Clinician and Purina Ambassador Kerry Kuhn, as well as Martha Josey, a World Champion barrel racer. There’s no other show where an equestrian can benefit from the expertise of these luminaries, all from the comfort of their own home.
3: LEARN DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES
If you’re a barrel racer with a deep and burning desire to learn dressage, this is the show for you. Better Horses covers any and all riding disciplines, and Ernie encourages riders to try different styles. “We want to bring new riders and new interest into these disciplines and to help network amongst trainers and riders, and also to expand the youth in these disciplines,” Ernie said. “Watching Better Horses is a great way to network not only with other riders but other disciplines. If we can help expand the knowledge of these disciplines and bring new people into it, it’s a win-win.”
4: NURTURE THE CONNECTION WITH YOUR HORSE
You’ll be able to take your horse experience to a new level by watching Better Horses. Each episode challenges you to dig deeper into the relationship you have with your horse. Ernie believes that riding and taking care of horses helps to nurture a sense of responsibility, discipline, dedication and understanding. That will lead to a deeper relationship with your horse, which will in turn lead you to become a better rider.
5: FIND THE BEST EQUINE PRODUCTS
Each episode of Better Horses features a number of superior products that will greatly benefit the life of a horseman or horsewoman, and that of the horse they ride. In one segment, Ernie met with a representative from Purina Animal Nutrition and went over some key tips on feeding a horse correctly. If done incorrectly, the horse can lose weight and energy, won’t keep conditions up and won’t perform well. These are products that Better Horses believes are forward-thinking, and will help equestrians stay on top of their game.
6: FIND THE BEST PLACES TO BREED
In one memorable episode of Better Horses, Ernie interviewed Silver Spurs Equine owner, Michael Miola, and toured their facility. Miola and his wife Michelle created a breeding facility where all breeders, large and small, could come and be treated with kindness and respect. The viewers get a chance to see some of these 29 impressive stallions stabled there, as Ernie tours the facility, giving fresh insight into the breeding process. A later episode showed Ernie visiting Xtra Quarter Horses, a premier reining facility in Purcell, Oklahoma. Xtra Quarter Horses was purchased by Silver Spurs Equine in April of 2017, which brought Mike and Michelle Miola’s already impressive stallion numbers up to 35. Fun fact: A highlight of Ernie’s horse career was being able to ride Wimps Little Step – the all-time highest producing reining horse stallion in the industry.
7: COWBOY CHURCH
Faith plays a large role in Ernie’s life, and viewers will see that right away while watching Better Horses. Each episode has a segment with Pastor Frank Slaughter of the Open Range Fellowship. In the segment, the pastor offers up inspirational thoughts and prayers on how to live a richer life. The Open Range Fellowship is a cowboy church that is filled with people who love rural life and horses, as well as motorcycles and the open road. Cowboy churches are those that embrace the cowboy culture. Better Horses has even dedicated an entire episode to Cowboy Churches, where Ernie visits and introduces viewers to his favorite pastors and places of worship.
8: MEET TOP VETS
Ernie loves nothing more than introducing viewers to his favorite equine experts that he’s met over the years. This includes veterinarians, and that’s something that every equestrian or horse owner can benefit from. Their expertise can help you to better understand the health of your horse, which both you and your horse will appreciate.
9: EXPERIENCE THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Ernie loves a trail ride, and viewers can experience them on special episodes of Better Horses. “Enjoying your horse, enjoying the comradery with your friends, and enjoying the scenery – there’s nothing better,” Ernie said. Ernie is a founder of the Dream Ride in Flint Hills.
10: COWBOY COOKING
There’s a Hearty Grub segment in some episodes of Better Horses, where Ernie hangs with cheftel, Mark Burkdoll, who know exactly how to cook “the cowboy way”. A longtime friend of Ernies, Mark enjoys sharing his great recipes on Better Horses TV. As we always recommend, if you are looking for Healthy Grub, change the channel. Long horse rides build big appetites, and these chefs build meals that will satisfy any hungry rider. If you’ve ever wanted to know how to perfectly execute a fish fry or how to properly clean and prepare Rocky Mountain Oysters, this is the segment for you. Recipes are available here.
Check out the latest Better Horses episode!