Not everybody’s meant to go down the fence. Some of us are meant to bring the pickup. This week I’m joined by one of my dearest friends, Tawny Fye: business partner, best friend, and self-proclaimed “Swiss Army knife of life” at Setting Sun Ranch in Stratton, Colorado. If you heard Naomi Bancroft’s episode, this is the other side of that story. It’s the side about the person hustling outside the arena to make the dream happen. Tawny started out at the Colorado cow horse shows as “free entertainment.” Then she got tired of watching the show stall because nobody was at the gate, so she grabbed a rule book and started checking bits. For free. For about two years. That one decision turned into scribing major events, landing on the management team for majors, and eventually becoming CRCA president and show manager. We get into: The two-broke-kids-with-a-dream way of building a performance horse business (the horses ate good, the girls ate ramen)Roofing houses, paving roads, and driving truck to keep one horse going down the roadWhy the 20 feet after the out gate is a free pass, and why you should “get interested in the dirt”What it’s actually like to scribe a big NRCHA final when you can’t hear the judgeThe real career paths behind a horse show: scribing, gate, show management, and show secretaryBeing honest about fear, and owning what you can and can’t doNever once saying “I told you so” in 15 years of businessWhy it’s okay to be the supporter instead of the spotlightPlus deer, sharks, Joe Dirt, and a very important PSA about cars. Honestly, we didn’t follow a single one of my questions, and it’s one of my favorite conversations yet. If you’re the glue, the barn spouse, the best friend, or the one making the phone calls nobody else wants to make, this one’s for you. 🎧 Missed Naomi’s episode? Go back and listen to Ep. 18 for the training side of the Setting Sun Ranch story. Find Tawny & Setting Sun Ranch: 🌐 settingsunranch.com 📘 Facebook: Setting Sun Ranch 📸 Instagram & TikTok: Setting Sun Ranch 🧵 Tawny’s leather work: @ssrleather on Instagram Learn more about the Regional Stallion Access Program here: www.facebook.com/DryCreekQuarters List Your Business Free--> https://horseshopeandhustle.com/directory/ Support the show Whether you found us by accident or on purpose (bonus points if you did), we're glad you're here. This is the official home of Horses Hope & Hustle — a podcast about horse life, entrepreneurship, faith, and the grit it takes to chase what matters. I'm your host, Crystal Show. Here, we dive into the real and the raw: stories from the saddle, lessons from the tough days, and honest conversations about horsemanship, personal growth, and building a life you're proud of. This space was created with honesty, purpose, and heart — for lifelong horse people, equestrian entrepreneurs, and anyone chasing meaning in the middle of life's chaos. New episodes feature horse trainers, equine professionals, and everyday hustlers sharing real stories about faith, resilience, and reinvention. So whether you're listening from the saddle, the pickup, or with coffee at the kitchen table — welcome. Subscribe, follow along, and make yourself at home. This is Horses Hope & Hustle — welcome to the ride. Topics include: horse life, equine education, entrepreneurship, faith, grit, personal growth. Follow our website for merch, blog content, and more: horseshopeandhustle.com
