#203 What Most Riders Miss About Horse Nutrition and Conditioning with Bethany Wiley

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Everybody loves to post the clean horse, the shiny run, and the “living the dream” part of life with horses.

Meanwhile, somebody’s out in knee-deep mud busting ice out of water tubs, trying to figure out why a horse looks “fine” on paper but still isn’t thriving.

That gap right there? That’s where this episode lives.

In this conversation, I’m sitting down with Bethany Wiley from Little Red and Her Horses—a barrel racer, horse owner, and barn owner who runs a lesson and boarding program alongside a small breeding operation focused on barrel horses. She’s competing on open horses now with plans to futurity down the road, and she’s deeply committed to doing things right when it comes to nutrition, conditioning, and building horses that last.

This conversation pulls back the curtain on the unsexy basics that actually make the biggest difference—feeding programs, forage quality, daily care, and the small decisions that either support your horse’s longevity… or slowly work against it.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your horse’s energy, development, or overall performance might be tied to what’s happening outside the arena—not just inside it—listen to this episode.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

Why the “highlight reel” version of horse ownership leaves out the very things that matter most
What forage testing actually is and why it can completely change your horse’s nutrition program
How low-quality hay can impact a horse’s energy, topline, coat, hoof quality, and performance
Why some horses truly can do well on forage only… and why others absolutely need more support
The difference between throwing supplements at a problem and building a feed program with intention
How a nutritionist can help you make better decisions for young horses, broodmares, senior horses, and performance horses
Why groundwork is still one of the most underrated horsemanship tools in the western horse world
What tiny confidence-building steps can look like after a horse scares you or your confidence gets rocked
Why conditioning is one of the biggest missing pieces in barrel racing and performance horse longevity
How consistent care behind the scenes affects soundness, resilience, and long-term success in the saddle
What it really looks like to care for horses when life is messy, the weather is awful, and motivation is low
Why owning horses well means thinking beyond the ride and paying attention to the whole horse

Questions I Answer

What does horse ownership actually look like beyond the fun part of riding?
Why do so many horse owners overlook nutrition until something starts going wrong?
What are some signs your horse’s feed program might need attention?
How do you know when a horse needs more than just 2 flakes of hay and grain by the scoop?
What role does alfalfa play in feeding western performance horses?
How can horse owners think more clearly about forage, concentrate, and targeted supplements?
What should riders watch for when a horse seems off, under-muscled, dull, or not quite thriving?
How do small groundwork steps help rebuild trust and confidence with a horse?
Why is conditioning such a big deal for barrel horses and other western performance horses?
What mistakes do riders make when they expect too much too fast from young horses?
How can horse owners stay consistent with care, even when horse life gets chaotic?
What lessons from horse nutrition and conditioning apply directly to better horsemanship?

Guest Instagram

Curious to see more of Bethany’s day-to-day with her horses? Follow her on IG here 👉 @littleredandherhorses

Links & Resources:

🎯 5 Days to Confident Competitor
Stop “show nerves” and saddle up with swagger.
👉 https://nicoleburnettcoaching.thrivecart.com/5-days-to-confident-competitor/
🎯 Mental Gym for Equestrians
Train your mind like a pro so you ride like one.
👉 https://mentalgymforequestrians.com/
🎯 Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips
Get rider-specific mindset tools in your inbox. Join my email list here.
👉https://www.resilientreiner.com/