Ben Beckett was raised in Ohio in a family deeply rooted in the horse industry, with both his father and grandfather working as veterinarians and longtime ties to some of reining’s foundational figures. Surrounded by respected horsemen from an early age, Beckett grew up riding in lesson programs before eventually pursuing reining full time. Today, he is an accomplished NRHA professional with multiple major-event wins, several Quarter Horse Congress titles and a recent qualification for his first appearance at The Run For A Million.
In this episode of The Ride, Beckett joins host Nichole Chirico to discuss the path that shaped his career and how early experiences helped form his approach to horsemanship and coaching, emphasizing discipline, preparation and adapting to each individual horse.
Beckett also dives into the mindset behind his Run For A Million qualification. Drawing comparisons to elite football coaches, Beckett shares why focusing on process over outcomes has been central to his success. He also offers insight into keeping older performance horses fresh, using variety in training and thoughtful management to extend their careers.