Matt Livengood

Matt Livengood is a seasoned reining and ranch riding competitor who holds judging certifications with NRHA, NRCHA, AQHA specialty, and ASHA. He teaches riders and horses about ranch riding and ranch versatility, as well as groundwork and starting Mustangs. Matt has competed in four Mustang Makeover events, reaching the finals in all four and winning both the 2017 Reno Extreme Mustang Makeover and the 2019 Mustang Madness freestyle in Cle Elum, WA. Matt has judged numerous Extreme Mustang Makeovers, including virtual shows. He’s been an NRHA judge since 1999, judging shows across North America each year, including A and AA shows. In 2020, he judged at the AQHA World Show in both reining and ranch riding. Matt teaches and trains from his home, Sweet Pepper Ranch (sweetpepperranch.com) in Nampa, ID. Call 206-909-0511 or email [email protected].

Trainer’s Corner: My Journey with “Journey” the Mustang – Part 4

November 10, 2023September 13, 2023 by Matt Livengood

Matt and Journey the Mustang. Photo Courtesy Alayne Blickle.

Competition Day and Beyond At the end of our last article, I’d been out of town judging shows and wishing I had more time to prepare my mustang, Journey, for the upcoming Mustang Mania Trainers Challenge (see the July/August issue). These mustang competitions demand a solid, trusting relationship between horse …

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Trainer’s Corner: My journey with “Journey” the Mustang – Part 3

November 10, 2023August 15, 2023 by Matt Livengood

Matt and Journey the Mustang. Photo Courtesy Alayne Blickle

Competitions and Opportunities Highlight Mustangs’ Qualities At the end of the last article, I’d finally saddled Journey, my formerly wild mustang who I was preparing for a 90-day competition, with a full-sized saddle after starting him with a kid’s saddle. Then life happened, and I had to be gone for …

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Trainer’s Corner: My Journey with “Journey” the Mustang – Part 2

September 12, 2023June 26, 2023 by Matt Livengood

Journey on Arrival. Photo Courtesy Matt Livengood

From BLM Holding to Accepting a Saddle In my first article in this series, I introduced you to Journey, my 4-year-old (formerly) wild mustang. I chose him by looking through photos of available mustangs for a 90-day mustang competition where competitors gentle and then ride wild horses. I brought Journey …

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Trainer’s Corner: My Journey with “Journey” the Mustang – Part 1

September 12, 2023April 15, 2023 by Matt Livengood

Matt and Journey. Photo courtesy Matt Livengood.

What is a Mustang? Mustangs are the wild horses of the American West. When most people think of wild horses, they think of stallions rearing and fighting with a band of mares and foals watching intently. Or maybe they think mustangs are a thing of the past—those great herds of …

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Trainer’s Corner: How to Ride a Good Circle

June 13, 2023December 23, 2022 by Matt Livengood

Ideally, a ranch horse will travel with forward movement, ridden with light contact on a relatively loose rein. Image Courtesy Matt Livengood.

Ranch Riding Exercises for Connecting with Your Horse Ranch Riding competitions promote the athletic ability and versatility of a ranch-style horse. As both a judge and a trainer/clinician I’m going to give you a few tips that will help you develop your horse’s ability to work at a forward, working …

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Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

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