Jade Keller
33 Episodes
Jade Keller's journey from Seymour, Iowa, to becoming a renowned cutting horse rider and trainer in Scottsdale, Arizona, is marked by dedication, hard work, and a passion for equine excellence. After honing his skills under the mentorship of Craig Cameron in Texas, Jade returned to Iowa to establish his own horse training facility. However, a fateful encounter with Al Dunning during a clinic in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, led him to Arizona, where he spent eight years working alongside Dunning, excelling in starting colts, showing cutting horses, and conducting clinics. During this time, Jade achieved notable successes, including third place in the world in the 2,000 rider class and various championships and accolades in cutting competitions. In 2015, he founded Jade Keller Performance Horses, specializing in cutting horses and reined cow horses, and since then, he has continued to shine in the arena, with achievements such as being a Limited Futurity Top 5 Finalist and Reserve World Champion in the Level 2 AQHA Junior Cutting. Beyond his personal accomplishments, Jade's impact extends to his clients, many of whom have reached the NCHA World Finals Top 15 and earned prestigious titles. His leadership roles, including serving as the AzCHA President in 2024 and his longstanding involvement with various equine associations, underscore his commitment to advancing the sport. Today, Jade resides in Scottsdale with his wife, Tessa, and their three sons, embodying a legacy of excellence in the world of cutting horse riding and training.
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05:50Episode 1
Basics of the Back
Episode 1
Teaching a horse to back up is much more than pulling on the reins. Jade Keller goes over the basics of how he teaches a 2-year-old how to back and the importance of not getting into a tugging match.
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00:20Episode 2
Schooling Session
Episode 2
Watch as Jade Keller schools his horse to prepare for his next horse show.
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00:20Episode 3
Second Ride Evaluating a Horse
Episode 3
We come back to watch Jade Keller ride a horse for the second time where he goes into depth on what he thinks this horse with excel in.
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00:20Episode 4
Testing Athletic Ability
Episode 4
Jade Keller talks about what he looks for when he's testing athletic ability and what he looks for in a high level performance horse.
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00:20Episode 5
Evaluating How Athletic a Horse Is
Episode 5
Once Jade has been able to evaluate a horse to see what discipline she might be good at, Jade begins to evaluate how athletic a horse is.
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00:20Episode 6
Overworking a Young Horse
Episode 6
It's easy to want more and more every time you get in the saddle, but it's easy to overwork a young horse and burn them out. Jade Keller explains why it's important not to over work a 2-year-old on a flag or on live cattle.
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Riding Position and Terminology for Cutting
Episode 7
Before helping someone work a flag, Jade goes over the basic terminology you'll hear during a cutting lesson and what the proper riding position is for cutting.
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15:26Episode 8
Staying Soft Working Cattle
Episode 8
Jade Keller schools a horse and focuses on keeping him soft while working cattle to prepare for a horse show.
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11:11Episode 9
Staying Balanced on a Cow
Episode 9
Jade Keller rides a 6-year-old horse he's had in training and goes through one of his at-home riding sessions where he focuses on balance and making his horse stand up in his shoulders.
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13:40Episode 10
Having Controlled Forward Motion
Episode 10
Having controlled forward motion is the most important tool to have when working with a 2-year-old horse. Jade Keller goes over having control in your forward motion.
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10:35Episode 11
Working on Making a Cut
Episode 11
Making a cut is one of the most important parts of a cutting event. Jade Keller helps his non-pro riders become more confident with making a cut.
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12:24Episode 12
Cutting Lesson With Jade Keller
Episode 12
Watch start to finish as Jade Keller gives a lesson to one of his non-pro riders and helps him on the flag and on cattle.
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11:19Episode 13
Preparing a Colt for the Flag
Episode 13
There are certain fundamentals a 2-year-old horse should know before being put on a flag. Jade Keller goes over some of the ways he prepares his colt to work a flag.
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08:53Episode 14
Evaluating a New Horse
Episode 14
Jade Keller has some owners who sent him a horse so that he can evaluate her to see what kind of events she'll be good at. He goes over the steps he takes when he's evaluating a new horse and what he's looking for during the first ride.
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10:30Episode 15
At-Home Schooling Session
Episode 15
Jade works a seasoned show horse on cattle and explains what he's looking for when he's riding a horse on cattle at home, and goes over how he prepares his horse for his next show.
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10:15Episode 16
Herd Work Lesson
Episode 16
Jade Keller has another non-pro rider do a herd work lesson to work on making confident cuts.
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09:18Episode 17
Making a Cut
Episode 17
Jade Keller is giving a lesson to one of his non-pros and has her work on how to make a cut from the herd while staying slow and soft.
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07:18Episode 18
Flag Work Schooling Session
Episode 18
Jade Keller works with another non-pro rider on the flag to prepare her and her horse for herd work.
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09:27Episode 19
Basics of Working the Flag
Episode 19
Jade Keller gives his assistant trainer a flag work lesson and goes over the basics of flag work with her.
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08:47Episode 20
Introducing Colt to the Flag
Episode 20
Learn the fundamentals of introducing a young horse to working the flag and how Jade likes to work his 2-year-old colts on the flag for the first couple of times.
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08:29Episode 21
2-Year-Old Cutting Horse Warm-Up
Episode 21
Jade Keller goes through his warm-up routine when riding 2-year-old colts and talks about what he's looking for when he's riding a young horse and the importance of forward motion.
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07:48Episode 22
Circle Drill for 2-Year-Olds
Episode 22
Jade Keller demonstrates the circle drill he likes to use on his 2-year-olds to help them get soft in their bodies and learn how to listen to hand, leg, and seat cues.
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10:00Episode 23
Maintaining an Older Cutting Horse
Episode 23
If your horse knows his job, he doesn't need to be drilled on it every day. Jade Keller goes over how he keeps his older more finished horses happy and fresh for the show pen.
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06:03Episode 24
Making a Confident Cut
Episode 24
Jade Keller works with his non-pro riders and shows them how he makes a confident cut.