Admirable Assistants: A.J. Black

In the four years he has worked for Ben Baldus, A.J. Black has gone from knowing little about reined cow horses to winning his first championships.

Story by Jennifer Denison

Growing up, there were a few constants in A.J. Black’s life: faith, family and horses. Black’s father served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and the family frequently relocated throughout the southeastern United States and the Midwest. Wherever they lived, however, Black found a way to ride horses.

“We had horses when I was really little and for the longest time we rode friends’ horses—they were glorified trail horses we rode for fun,” Black remembered. “We moved to Missouri when I was in high school and stayed there a while and bought some pleasure horses. My older sister, Jessica, and I rode the most, and my parents would ride here and there, but my two younger brothers, Colton and Levi, weren’t that interested.”

The Black children were homeschooled and when Black was done with schoolwork, he would ride “anywhere and everywhere,” even racing the school bus. He rode a quirky rescue horse, but Black was determined to train him.

“I started watching training videos on YouTube from Buck Brannaman, Clinton Anderson and other clinicians, and would try to use [their techniques] to make my horse better,” he recalled. “Some of it worked, and some of it didn’t.”

When he graduated from high school, Black went to work for Miracle Mountain Ranch, a Christian-based summer camp in Spring Creek, Pennsylvania, to gain experience with horses. There he learned basic horsemanship, riding instruction and equine management. His plan was to work there for a year and then go to college back in Missouri for ministry. His trajectory changed when Texas reined cow horse and ranch versatility trainer Ben Baldus, a former Miracle Mountain student, called the school in the summer of 2018 looking for his next fulltime assistant, and the staff suggested Black.

NOEXPERIENCE NECESSARY

Black was flattered to be considered for the position; however, he told Baldus that he needed to think about the offer.

“I had no idea what he was talking about,” admitted Black, with a laugh. “I’d never heard of reined cow horse or ranch versatility, so I went on YouTube and learned as much as I could about it. The first video I watched was of Sarah Dawson riding Shiney Outlaw, and I thought it was awesome!”

Though Black had no experience with performance horses and had never worked a cow, Baldus was willing to give him a try for a few months based on Black’s basic horsemanship skills.

KATE BRADLEY BYARS

A.J. Black wanted to work with horses, and Ben Baldus gave him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do so as his training assistant.

Four years later, Black is still working at Baldus’ facility in Gainesville, Texas.

“He rode well and had some natural feel and timing for a horse, and I thought he’d be a really good fit, so I hired him,” observed Baldus. “He’s worked really hard and has a teachable attitude. He really wants to learn and has been open to coaching [Non Pro riders]. He’s applied himself and come a long way the past three-and-a half to four years.”

Black credits his accomplishments to Baldus’ easy-to-understand coaching and ability to identify how a person learns best.

“Not knowing anything about cow horses, it’s been a huge opportunity for me to learn from Ben from the ground up,” said Black. “He’s such a great communicator and gives us an opportunity to ride a lot of horses and feel what they need. The way Ben rides and coaches is easy for people to pick up quickly and go be successful. He’s big on keeping things simple for the horse and rider.”

Though Black had experience with riding instruction, he said the most challenging part of being a trainer’s assistant has been coaching Non Pro clients.

“It’s been hard for me to coach someone else on training; it didn’t come naturally to me at all,” he confessed. “I also have a very intense personality and that would come across when I was coaching someone. Ben told me it’s okay to not be so intense and just be patient and nice.”

Not much has changed in Black’s daily duties since he started. The morning starts early with feeding and cleaning stalls. Then saddling and warming up horses for Baldus, coaching Non Pros, and then riding the eight to 12 horses in his string. The day ends with feeding again.

“Ben always says we work halfdays,” Black said, jokingly, clarifying that they often work 12 hours out of a 24-hour day.

“We all have a good sense of humor, though, and like to have a good time” he said. “We give each other a hard time, even before showing, and that keeps things light and fun.”

A CHANCE TO SHINE

Baldus emphasizes teamwork and communication in his program. One of his goals as a trainer is fostering future open riders by giving them a string of their own horses to train, encouraging them to coach other riders and helping operate the business. He also gives them the chance to test their progress in the show pen.

In his first year of showing, Black has found success in the Intermediate and Limited Open divisions riding several clients’ horses. Some of his accolades include third place in the Level 1 Limited Open at the 2021 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® on CR High On Love (CR Highlight x CR Tuff Hearted Cat x Woody Be Tuff), and third place in the Level 1 at the NRCHA Dom Conicelli Memorial Eastern Derby, presented by MARS Equestrian™. He also earned the Level 1 Open Champion at the 2022 Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes aboard Tuesdays Tuff Kitty (Woody Be Tuff x Cat Tuesday x High Brow Cat). The duo followed up with a Level 1 win at the Eastern Derby.

He and Shake Dat (Sannman x Reyzurtop x Hes A Peptospoonful) won reserve in the Level 1 at the Southwest Reined Cow Horse Association PreFuturity Horse Show. At the 2022 Snaffle Bit Futurity Finals, he made it back to the Intermediate Open and Limited Open Finals on Watch Me Be A Rebel (Metallic Rebel x Watch Me Mate

ELIZABETH CLYMER

Black qualified for the Intermediate/Limited Open Finals during the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity aboard Watch Me Be A Rebel, owned by Patti Smith. Black has had success in the Level 1 Open Derby events riding Tuesdays Tuff Kitty, owned by Jeffrey Simpson.

ELIZABETH CLYMER

x Smart Mate) and WoodHeBAChic (Woody Be Tuff x Shiney Vintage Chic x Smart Chic Olena).

“Stepping into the show pen over the last year was a brand-new experience for him,” said Baldus. “He started with some Derby horses and 3-year-olds and over the summer focused on growing in knowing what a horse is thinking and feeling and what is making it tick, mentally. A.J. is great at feeling horses’ body parts and movement and the mechanics of the maneuvers. I think he’s really grown in the last six months into feeling what a horse is feeling and thinking about its thoughts.”

Though showing was “terrifying” at first, Black says he takes Baldus’ advice and focuses on making clean runs and “doing what I can but not overdoing it.” His mentor is always at the back gate when Black exits the arena.

“If the replay is running, [Ben will] sit there and watch it with [his training assistants] and coach us right there while it’s fresh in our minds,” he said. “Or, sometimes, when it’s too cold to ride we go to Ben’s house, and he pulls up different rides on his TV and we watch them, and he coaches us through them, so we do better next time.”

Working for a prominent trainer has given Black a real taste of what it’s like to train professionally. Despite the ups and downs, he says he hopes to one day have his own facility and train cow horses. Until then, he’s building his skills, one horse and one ride at a time.

“When I first got offered this job, someone told me to make sure to find a trainer to work for whose style and horses you like and enjoy watching,” remembered Black. “Then forget everything you know and learn that trainer’s program in its entirety, from the ground up, to the best of your ability.”

Observing Baldus and other top horseman, as well as experiencing the show pen, has made him want to learn more and keep pushing to get all the information he can.

“I enjoy the challenge of learning to train horses to do a job and getting them so broke that anyone can ride them,” said Black. “One of the great things about cow horse is that everyone pushes each other and wants to see everyone else succeed. It’s cool to come out the back gate after having a good run and some of the top guys are there, saying, ‘Hey buddy, good job, that was awesome!’ “

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