Black Knuckle Ranch

Zack Oakes joins the Black Knuckle Ranch Podcast to talk about a life spent chasing rodeo dreams, the realities of professional bull riding, and what happens when the ride finally ends. From hitchhiking to rodeos as a teenager to competing at the highest levels of the sport, Zack shares stories from the road, lessons learned the hard way, and why success in the arena doesn't always translate to success after the spotlight fades. In this episode: Growing up in Oregon and getting started in rodeo Knowing when it was time to step away from bull riding Life on the road as a professional rodeo cowboy Making the NFR and the nerves behind the biggest stage in rodeo Winning over $1 million and the financial mistakes that followed Why many athletes struggle after their careers end Sponsorships, agents, and the business side of rodeo The difference between old-school cowboys and modern rodeo athletes Wild stories from military appearances and life on tour The mental game of competing when everything is on the line What Zack wishes he'd known at 20 years old If you've ever wondered what life is really like behind the chutes—or what comes after the dream—this is an episode you won't want to miss. Black Knuckle Ranch Podcast Real Horses. Real Ranch. Real Talk.

In this episode of the Black Knuckle Ranch Podcast, the crew sits down with John Clinch of Clinch Colt Co. to talk colt starting, cutting horses, cow horse training, and the realities of building a successful horse training business. John shares his approach to developing two-year-olds, why most horse owners underestimate how long quality training actually takes, and how he built a program focused on preparing young horses for the cutting and cow horse world. The conversation also covers networking within the horse industry, ranch life, social media, horse pricing, and the challenges trainers face when balancing customer expectations with what horses truly need. Along the way, the guys swap stories about ranch cats, horse sales, training philosophies, and why there may be more opportunity in the horse industry than most people realize. In This Episode: How John Clinch built Clinch Colt Co. Colt starting vs. finished horse training Why great horses take years, not weeks Cutting horses and cow horse development The business side of horse training Customer expectations vs. reality Horse pricing and today's market Networking within the horse industry Ranch life, ranch cats, and social media The future of horse training programs About Our Guest John Clinch is the owner of Clinch Colt Co. in Hico, Texas, where he specializes in colt starting and developing young horses for the cutting and cow horse industries. His program focuses on building solid foundations that prepare horses for success at the next level of competition. Sponsors Black Knuckle Ranchwear Black Knuckle Performance Horses Matrix Reformed Black Knuckle Land Management

The ranch got hit with a $3,750 scam… and that kicked off a full conversation about credit cards, cashless society, and why ranchers still trust cash. Meanwhile, the spring horse catalog is coming together, cattle are rotating across fresh pasture, and Billy explains exactly why he refused to start twerking on a colt with 12 rides. It’s another episode full of ranch business, horse training, grazing strategy, conspiracy theories, and absolute nonsense. Matrix Reformed BKR Ranchwear Black Knuckle Ranch

You’re not watching a highlight reel—this is real ranch life. In this episode of the Black Knuckle Ranch Podcast, the crew breaks down their first-ever ranch course show—what went right, what they’d change, and how it all actually played out behind the scenes. From 70+ entries and an 8-hour day to losing a judge the morning of and still pulling it off, this one’s packed with real lessons from the dirt—not theory. The reality of hosting your first ranch course event What worked (and what didn’t) with timing, classes, and flow How small tweaks (like course design + time limits) can change everything Why “fun day” matters before scaling into a full buckle series Behind-the-scenes chaos—losing a judge and adapting on the fly Building momentum: upcoming events, clinics, and growth plans We also dive into the early stages of BKR Ranchwear: Why this first drop is limited What goes into designing real working gear The struggle of getting authentic cowboy imagery (hint: not 4 guys carrying one bale 😂) Why details matter when building a legit brand Early demand and what’s coming next Laying a horse down for training (and why it’s not punishment) Mice vs. snakes vs. frogs… and who’s actually scared of what Weather swings in Texas that make no sense The kind of conversations you only get sitting around after a long ranch day Feeling run down? Matrix Reformed offers fully virtual testosterone therapy—simple pricing, labs included, no BS.

This episode is what happens when two completely different worlds meet… and realize they’re not that different after all. We’ve got Andi and Beans from the “Trail Twats” in the house—coming all the way from Florida—and things get real, fast. What starts as a casual conversation about meeting people on Facebook turns into a deep (and hilarious) dive into viral content, trail riding culture, and what it actually means to live the ranch life versus posting about it. From building a social media following from scratch to riding 20,000 acres of state forest every week, these girls aren’t just internet personalities—they’re out there doing it. And yeah… sometimes that includes White Claws, saddlebags, and going viral for all the wrong (or right) reasons. Meanwhile, the ranch doesn’t stop. In the middle of the episode, we’re literally buying steers, planning a ranch versatility competition, and talking through what separates amateurs, novices, and people who just send it. We also get into: How the Trail Twats started (and why the name stuck) Going from 7,000 to nearly 80,000 followers in months The reality behind “viral” horse content Ranch work vs. social media perception The dynamics of riding groups and why not everyone makes the cut Competing in a ranch course when you’ve never ridden the horse And a surprise segment turning hate comments into a full-blown country song This one’s unfiltered, unapologetic, and exactly what the Black Knuckle Ranch Podcast is about—real people, real horses, and real talk. Because at the end of the day… The work still gets done.

This episode is sponsored by Matrix Reformed. This week on the Black Knuckle Ranch Podcast, it’s exactly what you’d expect—real ranch, real problems, and zero sugarcoating. We’re breaking down a heated fence-line confrontation with a neighbor, the reality behind viral “rage bait” videos, and why ranch life doesn’t always look the way people think it should. From property line disputes to social media misunderstandings, this one gets into it. We also cover: Building out the roping arena (and taking advice from the pros) Ranch construction, cleanup, and prepping for a wedding on the property The truth behind that fence fight—and what actually happened vs. what you saw online Handling conflict as grown men (or not 😅) Selling another solid horse and making deliveries out of state Planning future clinics and what real horsemanship actually means And of course… plenty of unfiltered stories, bad decisions, and laughs along the way. If you’ve ever dealt with neighbors, fences, or internet opinions—you’ll feel this one. Review the show and follow us! We're getting famous!

In Part 1 with Kyle from 6S Horsemanship, we get into everything from getting thrown off a horse for the first time… to the deeper mindset behind bull riding, horse training, and what it really means to be a horseman. We kick things off with a story from the ranch that quickly turns into a bigger conversation about risk, confidence, and learning the hard way. From there, we dive into a heated (but respectful) discussion around bull riding culture—should you get on anything you draw, or is there a smarter way to develop? Kyle brings a unique perspective with his rodeo background and horsemanship approach, breaking down how beginners actually progress—and why mindset matters more than most people think. We also get into: The difference between practice pens vs real rodeo expectations Why bull riding is at least 70% mental Social media, criticism, and the reality of dealing with haters The truth behind “it must be nice” and earned success Ranch horse vs cutting horse—what actually gets the job done This one covers a lot of ground—horses, rodeo, mindset, and real talk from guys living it every day. Follow Us

A “good week” on a working ranch doesn’t look like what most people see online. This week on the Black Knuckle Ranch Podcast, we talk about what actually happened around the ranch — selling a couple horses for the first time, the never-ending search for a decent ranch truck, and a debate that lit up the internet: a $100,000 cutting horse vs a good ranch horse that can actually get the job done. We also get into the realities of bull riding after watching a practice event where the bulls weren’t exactly cooperating, why young riders are getting hurt, and what the sport really demands from the people who do it. Along the way there’s hotshot roping footage, castration talk, pole dancing in a welding helmet, and the usual unfiltered ranch commentary. It wasn’t a flashy week. But on a working ranch, a quiet week where things get done might just be the best kind there is. Real horses. Real ranch. Real talk. Follow our Socials

Building an arena sounds simple—until you try doing it while the ranch still has to run. This week we break down what went into building our facilities, where we screwed up, how projects spiral when scope changes mid-job, and what we learned about managing work without burning people out. Plus: chainsaws, steer wrestling chaos, and a few stud colts that aren’t studs anymore. Real horses. Real ranch. Real talk. Follow us!

This ain’t a social media highlight reel. This is a working ranch. In this episode of the Black Knuckle Ranch Podcast, we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to make money in ranching — and why most people get it wrong. We talk about: The difference between income and sustainable income Why diversification matters (horses, hay, mulching, events) The real cost of running skid steers and heavy equipment Leasing roping steers vs. owning them Why deadlines mess with your head When to eat a job… and when to double down What happens when integrity costs you money And why communication in business matters more than being right We also introduce Austin, swap stories about busted fuel filters, nearly dropping a gooseneck on Billy, 200-foot shrapnel from buried farm equipment, and the reality that some jobs go perfect… and some eat you alive. If you’re trying to: Start a ranch Grow a ranch Add a revenue stream Or just understand how real operators think This episode is for you. We’re not here to impress you. We’re here to tell the truth. Real Horses. Real Ranch. Real Talk. Follow us

Nobody builds a ranch without screwing a few things up first. In this episode of the Black Knuckle Ranch Podcast, we get honest about the mistakes we made during our first year of operations — the ones that shaped how we work today, and a few that almost put us in the hospital. We talk about learning things the hard way, why experience matters more than perfection, and how ranch life doesn’t come with a manual. Along the way, we recap last week on the ranch, including winter storm chaos, mulching jobs, busted equipment, and why OSHA would probably hate us. Things take a turn when we dive into a framing nail gun incident that definitely wasn’t “almost” an accident, a Carhartt jacket that caught on fire, and how one bad decision can go sideways real fast. There’s also plenty of ranch humor, arguments over jeans, laundry habits, Pop-Tarts, and why nothing gets done unless you show up ready to work. This episode is a reminder that standards are built through experience — not getting everything right the first time. Real horses. Real ranch. Real talk. Follow our Socials!

Most problems in horse sales don’t start in training — they start at purchase. In this episode, we explain how we think about buying horses, what trainable actually means to us, and why walking away early often protects both the horse and the buyer. We talk about the real differences between trainable and finished horses, why “finished” doesn’t always mean lower risk, and how pressure, timelines, and expectations can ruin otherwise good horses. We also recap a real week at the ranch — including a surprise calf, cold-weather challenges, a viral broken-rib incident, travel prep, and a horse that showed up lame at auction — to show how real-world problems shape how we make decisions. This episode covers: The true cost difference between trainable and finished horses Why finished horses aren’t always the safer buy What trainable really means — and what it doesn’t Why buying right matters more than training hard How timelines and pressure ruin good horses Mental softness without fragility Willingness to try and recover after pressure Soundness standards required to hold up over time Non-negotiables we won’t train through Structural and soundness issues we walk away from Temperament deal breakers and unsafe behavior Why some horses are cut loose early Why walking away is part of responsible horsemanship We also share real examples: A horse that looked good on paper but didn’t hold up A cheap horse that became expensive A horse we walked away from — and why A horse that surprised us in a good way If you buy, sell, or work with horses — or want to avoid expensive mistakes — this episode lays out how we think long before training ever begins. No shortcuts. No justifying bad purchases. Just honest decision-making that protects horses and people. 📧 Email: support@blackknuckle.com

Good horses don’t just happen — they’re built every single day by the people handling them. In this episode, we pull the curtain back on what “good help” actually looks like on a working ranch. From long days, broken ribs, and problem horses to the quiet wins no one sees online, we talk about why consistency matters more than talent, why some people last and others don’t, and how the help on the ground directly shapes the horses in the arena. We cover: What a real good week on the ranch looks like The daily rhythm no one posts about Wins that don’t make social media Problems you learn to accept as normal Why good help stays — and bad help always leaves If you’re in horses, agriculture, or any business that depends on people showing up and doing it right every day, this episode is for you. This is the unfiltered side of ranch life — no highlight reels, just the truth. 🎙️ Welcome to Episode 1. Email: support@blackknuckle.com