Assistant Trainer Keith Byers of Sioux City, Iowa, lives in Ocala, Florida, and works for Nick and Carmen Mayabb. Since moving down there, his primary responsibility has been riding the colts. Byers also rides the show horses during the week, working on the pleasure with them and learning more about the trail.
“I’ve focused on the western pleasure for most of my life, and I am excited to learn more about the trail and western riding especially, to become more well rounded,” Byers says.
Keith was born and raised in Iowa. He went to Morningside College in Sioux City, IA, before transferring and finishing his education at Iowa State University, where he majored in animal science. He’s been around horses all of his life as his family raised Quarter Horses and Appaloosas when he was growing up. Byers started showing around three or four years old in lead line and would show his POA pony “Dotty” in the halter. Growing up, they just did open shows and 4H.
“What I like about horses is that they all have their personalities and quirks that make each one unique. Each presents challenges to achieve a goal, and that ‘puzzle’ intrigues and fascinates me,” Keith says. “As far as showing goes, I’m a competitive person, so what better avenue is there to satisfy that need than by getting in the pen and being judged?”
GoHorseShow sat down with Keith to learn more about his background and goals.
GHS: Hi Keith! Thanks for sitting down with us. Can you tell us more about your past horse show accomplishments?
Keith: Some of my favorite accomplishments in the show pen would be winning my first world championship with my mom’s show mare, Dynamic After Dark, at the 2022 PtHA World Show and watching my mom win her first world title that same year. In 2022, I made the finals and placed on three novice horse western pleasure cards at the AQHA Congress. Also in 2022, I was fourth in the $2,500 Rider Western Pleasure at the Sudden Impulse Futurity and won the Color Breed Congress 2-year-old Western Pleasure on a mare my sister raised.
GHS: Are there any special horses you have been involved with training?
Keith: Al Be Best is probably the most successful or well-known horse I’ve gotten to help train. I started him while working for Saul Sliss as a two-year-old, and he went on to have a great hunter under saddle career, bringing home multiple reserve Congress Championships as a two and three-year-old. He was third in the non-pro 3s and NSBA reserve high point non-pro three-year-old.
GHS: Who have been some of your mentors?
Keith: My mentors along the way have played a considerable role in getting me to where I am today. Kevin Woodford is the person who first made me want to be a horse trainer. I worked for the late Gregg Reisinger in Iowa, and though I had a short amount of time with him, he made a very lasting impact on me as a horseman and young man. Tommy Sheets gave me my first experience in the AQHA world when he hired me back in 2021, and I’m forever grateful for the opportunities and lessons he taught me. I spent three years working for Saul Sliss, and he spent day after day with me, teaching me how to become a better horseman. He taught me so much during my time there and made me fall in love with the pleasure and intricacies of training and showing horses. Brent and Julie Harnish have also been mentors of mine, helping navigate my path since buying my mom’s show mare from them in 2021.
GHS: Do you have any advice for other young trainers?
Keith: I advise younger trainers always to keep an open and optimistic mindset. Be open to doing things differently, and stay positive during the ups and downs.
GHS: What are some of your favorite memories?
Keith: One of the things I’m most thankful for is that I’ve been able to travel the country working for different trainers and have been able to have time to show horses with my family once or twice a year. My grandfather passed away in August of last year, and after he passed, I asked my family if I could have his watch that he would wear when it was time to get dressed up or go out. I told them I would show horses in it so there’d be a piece of him with me in all my travels. The first time I showed with it on, I won the Ideal Western Pleasure at the Color Breed Congress unanimously on all four cards, which I’d never done before. Looking back, being able to show in the Virginia Maiden on “Daydrinkinnitedreamin” was a favorite memory. I was unaware of the magnitude of those classes, and it was a great experience to have a nice ride and be called out into the middle as the placings were called.
GHS: How did you come about working for Nick and Carmen Mayabb?
Keith: I came about working here through Martin Doustou. I had been friends with him for a couple of years, and through conversations, I told him I was thinking about finding a different job and wanted to become more well-rounded, aka learn how to show the trail and western riding. He told me they might be looking for someone, so he gave me Nick’s number. Nick and I had a good conversation about what working here would be like and what they were expecting, and it’s been a fantastic “move”. The physical move down here was a bit of a tough choice to leave my family about 1,500 miles away, but working here has felt like another family to me, and I’m thankful to the whole Mayaab crew for that. I appreciate the coaching and attention to detail they put forth in their work. I like their horses and am thankful to be a part of this great business they’ve built.
GHS: What is one thing people may not know about you?
Keith – Most people don’t know that I was the state cross country champion my senior year of high school and still hold the state record in the 4×800 meter relay. I accepted a track and cross country scholarship to Morningside College. (Yes, I used to run for fun, haha.) I had knee surgery my sophomore year of college. That made me think about what happens after college, returning me to the horses. I decided I could use my love of teaching to teach horses and their riders and have my competitive desires fulfilled in the show pen.
GHS: What improvements do yo want to see in the horse industry?
Keith: My time at AQHA has been relatively limited, so as far as improvements go, I want to see AQHA continue to attract new generations of owners, breeders, exhibitors, and trainers to grow the breed. Being a horse trainer is my dream job. I hope the opportunity continues for me and that others have the same chance to make their dreams come true.
GHS: What are some of your goals?
Keith: My number one goal in my career is soaking up as much knowledge as possible. I want to understand the mechanics and the processes of making Congress and World Champions. I share many fellow assistants’ goals: to win at the highest level one day while operating their own business. I’m grateful for the experiences I’ve had, the places I’ve been, the people I’ve met, and the opportunity to make those dreams a reality.
GHS: Anything else you’d like to add?
Keith: I’d like to add that I didn’t do any breed shows as a youth; my first time showing at a breed show was as an open rider. My mom always had me riding broke horses. She did that to ensure I was safe and had fun when I had time to go to a show between sports. I think my decision to become a horse trainer was simple. I wasn’t burnt out or ever forced to do it. I think it’s given me a fresh perspective and appreciation of this industry.
GHS: Thanks Keith!
