Jade Keller

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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Jade Keller
  • 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.

  • Schooling Session

    Episode 2

    Watch as Jade Keller schools his horse to prepare for his next horse show.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Herd Work Lesson

    Episode 16

    Jade Keller has another non-pro rider do a herd work lesson to work on making confident cuts.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Making a Confident Cut

    Episode 24

    Jade Keller works with his non-pro riders and shows them how he makes a confident cut.