Brad Beard – Wartrace, Tennessee

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING HORSES PROFESSIONALLY?
18 Years.

TELL US SOME FAMILY HISTORY OF RAISING AND SHOWING WALKING HORSES.
I started helping Chris Hazelwood and William Pennington work with halter colts when I was younger. 

OF ALL THE HORSES YOU HAVE TRAINED, OPEN AND AMATEUR, DO YOU HAVE A HORSE YOU FEEL MADE YOU INTO THE TRAINER YOU ARE TODAY? WHAT HORSE WAS THAT AND WHY DO FEEL THAT WAY?
I don’t believe one horse makes a trainer. I think it takes all kinds of horses. You can learn something from each one. 

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG ASPIRING TRAINERS?
Work hard, be dedicated, do right!

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN THE PERFECT YEARLING?
I look for a high head and crooked back legs.

HOW ARE YOU MANAGING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK? IS YOUR BARN ON LOCKDOWN? ARE YOU STILL HOLDING YOUR REGULAR CLIENT APPOINTMENTS? HOW HAS THIS AFFECTED YOUR TRAINING?
Business as normal except no horse shows to attend. Horses still have to be taken care of...fed, cleaned, shod and rode.  

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PAST WORLD GRAND CHAMPION AND WHY?
The Pushover, he just had a presence about him.

IF THERE WAS ONE AREA OF THE INDUSTRY YOU COULD CHANGE OR RAMP UP, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
There needs to be an increase in prize money.

IF YOU WERE NOT AT THE BARN OR A HORSE SHOW, WHAT WOULD WE FIND YOU DOING IN YOUR FREE TIME?
Fishing

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TV SHOWS, MOVIES OR NETFLIX FEATURES HAVE YOU BEEN BINGE WATCHING DURING THE PANDEMIC?
No time to binge watch, still working everyday.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER THUS FAR?
Other than winning several WC and RWCs, getting to do a job I love everyday.

WHAT WORDS OF WISDOM CAN YOU GIVE TO THE HORSE INDUSTRY ON THE PANDEMIC?
Keep your head up and keep going. Stay safe. There will be horse shows again!