My Full Story

My life has been built in the barn, on horseback, and by the grace of God.

I started working with racehorses when I was 12 years old, hotwalking horses for my grandpa. That was where it all began for me. Those early days taught me how to work, how to pay attention, and how to respect both the horses and the people who care for them. I did not start at the top. I started doing the small jobs that needed to be done, and I learned that in the horse business, every job matters.

From there, I worked my way up to being a groom, learning more each day about horse care, discipline, and the daily demands of barn life. In time, I became Assistant Trainer for my grandpa. Those years gave me a strong foundation in horsemanship, racing operations, and the kind of responsibility it takes to care for horses the right way. They also shaped the work ethic and steady approach I have carried with me all my life.

After my grandpa passed away, my road took a different turn. During that time, I started riding bulls while also exercising racehorses. I stayed close to the western way of life and the horse industry that had raised me. That season eventually led me into becoming a jockey, and I had the privilege of riding for 20 years. One of the greatest blessings of my career was getting to ride alongside my father. That meant more to me than I can rightly put into words. It was more than a job and more than a sport. It was family, legacy, and a life I was proud to live.

Over the years, I built my life around real hands-on experience in the horse industry. My work has included racing operations, horsemanship, breeding management, mare and foal care, and barn leadership. I have spent more than 30 years learning the day-to-day realities of this life and the responsibility that comes with caring for horses well. It has never just been work to me. It has been a calling, a way of life, and a place where I have learned some of the deepest lessons about patience, discipline, and responsibility.

But my story is not only about horses. It is also about hardship, brokenness, and redemption.

After a severe injury brought my riding career to an end, I found myself in a dark season of life. That injury sent me spiraling into depression and addiction. I know what it is like to feel broken. I know what it is like to put on a strong face while hurting deep down inside. I know what it is like to wonder whether life can ever be made right again.

But God did not leave me there.

By His grace, He reached down into that darkness and pulled me out. Jesus Christ gave me a new life, a new purpose, and a new calling. What looked like the end of my story became the beginning of something greater. God took my pain, my failures, and my brokenness, and He began to use them for His glory.

That is why I founded H C Cowboy Ministries.

Today, I serve as Cowboy Evangelist and founder of H C Cowboy Ministries, where I share the Gospel with a heart for cowboys, ranch hands, working folks, the brokenhearted, the addicted, and the washed up. I believe there are a whole lot of people out there who may never feel comfortable walking into a traditional church building, but they still need Jesus just the same. My desire is to reach them with the truth of God’s Word in a way that is real, honest, and grounded in lived experience.

Everything I do today, whether in ministry or in the horse world, is rooted in faith, hard work, compassion, and service. I still carry a deep love for horses and the western way of life, and I continue working in areas like breeding management, mare and foal care, and the daily responsibilities that come with caring for horses. At the same time, God has given me a burden to minister to people who are hurting and to remind them that no one is too far gone for the grace of God.

My life is a testimony that God can take a man who is broken, lift him up, set his feet on solid ground, and give him a reason to keep riding on. From hotwalking horses as a 12-year-old boy, to the racetrack, to the pulpit, the Lord has been faithful through every chapter of my life.

And now my mission is simple: to serve people, care for horses, and point others to the hope, healing, and salvation that are found in Jesus Christ.

Available for Speaking

I am available for speaking engagements at churches, cowboy churches, rodeos, revivals, men’s events, western gatherings, and other special events. Whether I am preaching the Word of God or sharing my testimony, my heart is to bring a message of truth, hope, and redemption that connects with real people living real lives. If you would like to book me to speak at your church, rodeo, or event, please visit the Book Me page or reach out through the Contact page.