Steve Ross, a mainstay in the western performance horse world, joins Clinton to discuss how he built a successful career and then re-imagined his business to thrive in a niche market. The conversation is filled with nuggets of wealth for up-and-coming industry leaders and focuses on the importance of horse trainers breaking from the norm and embracing challenges.
Steve got his start with horses when he was 13 as a groom. Throughout his school years, he worked his way up to being an assistant trainer. At the time, he was showing his own three-day event horses and looking for ways to make extra money.
After high school, he got serious about the western performance horse industry and worked for legendary trainers Wayne Jordan and Tommy Manion. In the 1980s, he switched his focus from halter and western pleasure to reining and worked with National Reining Horse Association Hall of Fame members Doug Milholland and Bill Horn and renowned cutting horse trainer Winston Hansma.
Steve went out on his own as a trainer in his 30s and eventually became an NRHA judge. His business gradually evolved from strictly training to buying yearlings and selling 2-year-olds. Today, his Steve Ross Reining & Performance Horses, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is recognized as one of the most successful horse brokers in the western performance industry. In more recent years, Steve created the Steve Ross Academy, where he teaches and mentors horsemen how to be successful and make money in the equine industry.
Along with his equine pursuits, Steve carved out a successful career as a sportscaster and morning radio show host. He’s provided commentary for NCAA football, basketball and baseball and even owned a couple of stations.
With his dual background in media and reining, he continues to be a major influencer in the western performance horse world as a broker, trainer and commentator.
Listen to the episode most anywhere you listen to podcasts, including on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, PlayerFM, the Samsung Podcast app and Podchaser. Watch the full-length episode on the Uncut and Real Raw YouTube channel.
