Collaborative Horsemanship by Keith Stewart

09/10/2026

I hear people say, “I’m just a trail rider.”

I don’t think there’s any “just” about it.

Take a horse out into the mountains and you might ask him to cross water, pick his way through rocks, climb and descend hills, leave other horses, deal with wildlife and carry you safely back to the trailer at the end of the day.

That’s a pretty good horse.

And it takes some pretty good horsemanship to develop one.

Trail riding has always been one of my favourite ways to put our work to use. The arena is where we can prepare the horse, but eventually I want to know that the things we’ve been working on are going to hold together when we get out into the real world.

When we do head out, I want my equipment to look after the horse as well as I can.

I ride Impact Gel because I’ve found their pads cushion my horses well without putting a great big bulky pad underneath my saddle. Their gel is designed to absorb and dissipate impact and pressure, and the wool blend helps with airflow and moisture.

Good horsemanship isn’t about what happens in the arena.

It’s about building a horse you can go enjoy.

You can find my Impact Gel guide and my 20% discount code through the link in my bio.

Happy trails,

— KJS

09/05/2026

I get asked from time to time what I look for in a saddle pad.

My answer probably isn’t very exciting.

I want it to fit.

I want it to stay where I put it.

I don’t want a bunch of unnecessary bulk underneath my saddle.

I want my horse to sweat evenly underneath it.

And I want something that is going to stand up to being used, because around here tack isn’t decoration.

That’s why I’ve kept riding Impact Gel.

Their gel is positioned underneath the bars of the saddle to help absorb and dissipate pressure and impact, and their wool blend is designed to wick moisture and allow airflow. The pads are also contoured along the spine and cut out around the withers for fit and movement.

But at the end of the day, I can tell you all the technical reasons in the world and it still comes down to this:
I’ve ridden them.
I like them.
My horses go well in them.
And they’ve held up.

After enough years with horses, you learn not to make things much more complicated than that.

If you’d like to try one, my code CowboyCampus20 will save you 20% at Impact Gel⁠. I’ve also got a full guide at Cowboy Campus⁠ explaining how I choose and measure my pads. Find both at the link in my bio.

— KJS

09/03/2026

There are only so many good riding days in an Alberta summer, and this time of year I start feeling like I better make the most of every one of them.

We spend a fair bit of time out in the hills with our horses. I’ve always thought getting outside the arena is one of the best things you can do for your horsemanship. Out there, you get creek crossings, hills, wildlife, logs, mud, other horses and all sorts of things you can’t manufacture in an arena. It gives your horse a chance to learn how to handle the real world, and it gives you a chance to find out where your horsemanship is really at.

But if I’m asking a horse to carry me for a few hours through that country, his comfort matters to me.

That’s one of the reasons I ride Impact Gel pads. I’ve ridden a lot of different saddle pads over the years, and these are the ones that have earned a permanent place in my tack room. They cushion a horse well, sweat one right and, most importantly, my horses are comfortable in them.

Good horses take care of us in a lot of situations.

I figure the least we can do is take good care of them too.

You can find my guide to choosing the right Impact Gel pad at the link in my bio, along with my discount code to save 20% on your order.

Happy trails,

— KJS

09/01/2026

I always come back to my Impact Gel pads. I’ve tried a lot of gear over the years, and the Impact Gel pads have more than earned their place in my tack room.

As I’ve said many times: I’ve ridden a lot of saddle pads over the years, and these are the ones I keep coming back to. I’ve got several of them now, and I ride them every day. They hold their shape, they sweat a horse right, and they don’t shift on long rides. I keep enough around that the whole family can saddle up with one when we head out on a trail ride. A piece of tack has to earn its place in the tack room, and these have.

If you want a pad you’ll rely on for years, this is my suggestion!

Visit the link in my bio to find my guide to choosing the right pad for your horse. Plus find my discount code that will save you 20% off at ImpactGel.com

— KJS

05/29/2026

You can have the nicest tack, follow all the tips, even do the groundwork…

But if your horse doesn’t feel safe with you?
They won’t follow.
They won’t soften.
And they sure won’t offer you their trust.

One simple way you can begin rebuilding trust is by riding with intention.

A practice I teach my students is called riding with a purpose. It can be as simple as picking a spot across the arena, field, or trail, locking onto it with your eyes, and confidently riding your horse there with focus and direction.

Why does this matter?

Because horses trust leaders who have a plan.

When you ride with clarity and intention, your horse begins to feel safer with you. They stop questioning and start following. Horses that don’t trust you are horses that don’t feel safe.

That’s one of the reasons I wrote Herd of Two: Building Trust & Bonds.

This $37 USD e-book is designed to help you:
🤎 Become a steady, grounded leader your horse wants to follow
🤎 Rebuild connection after fear, injury, or time away
🤎 Create a true bond — without gimmicks, treats, or pressure

This isn’t fluffy theory. It’s real-world horsemanship that’s helped hundreds of riders build safer, stronger relationships with their horses.

If the trust has been lost, it *can* be rebuilt.

DM us “BOOK” to purchase your copy. 🤠

You and your horse deserve to ride this thing out together.

PS — If you aren’t following us, Instagram’s privacy settings may block the message from reaching you. Hit follow first, then send your DM!

02/27/2026

02/27/2026

Thank you again to Shantal Smith of Slippery Moon Mecate’s for this awesome rig. It’s getting lots and lots of use. Shantal takes orders through her Instagram. You can reach out to her for yours. She can meet up with you for delivery or ship so even if you’re not blessed to be an Albertan, you can still get your hands on one of her amazing mecates. I 10/10 recommend

— KJS

02/07/2026

I’ve tried a lot of gear over the years, and the Impact Gel Wovens have more than earned their place in my tack room. As I’ve said many times: I’ve ridden a lot of saddle pads over the years, and the Impact Gel Wovens are the ones I keep coming back to. I’ve got several of them now, and I ride them every day. They hold their shape, they sweat a horse right, and they don’t shift on long rides. I keep enough Wovens around that the whole family can saddle up with one when we head out on a trail ride. A pad has to earn its place in the tack room, and these have.

If you want a pad you’ll rely on for years, this is my suggestion!

Visit the link in my bio to find my guide to choosing the right pad for your horse. Plus find my discount code that will save you 20% off at ImpactGel.com

— KJS