Martin Doustou currently lives in Madison, Georgia as the assistant trainer at Jason English Show Horses. Originally from a small town in northern Maine called Fort Kent, his aunt had him start taking lessons when he was six. “I wasn’t very serious about it probably up until I was nine when my parents bought me my first horse. He was a very green broke, two-year-old, breeding stock Paint gelding,” Martin recalls. “The horse-bug bit me pretty hard after that, and I slowly began to get more and more serious about it.”
Doustou received his associates of science in agriculture with an emphasis on equine from North Eastern Oklahoma A&M (NEO) in Miami, Oklahoma. “Martin was on my equestrian and judging team. I’m so proud of him and his training program,” says Amanda Burrows Jones, his former NEO Coach. “He truly has the ‘eye’ and was a tremendous asset to our program.”
While Doustou’s primary specialty is the trail events, he also assists with preparing young futurity horses for both the hunt seat and the western, as well as some of the all-around events like horsemanship, equitation and western riding.
We sat down with Martin to find out more about his background and future goals.
Q: Hi Martin! Thanks for sitting down with us. Can you tell us when you started showing horses?
A: I think I started showing when I was 11 or 12 just at open shows that were about one to two hours away from home. I first tried showing my breeding stock gelding, but he was a little too hot for the show pen, so I switched to my three-year-old Percheron/Quarter Horse cross mare who was a little more laid back. She is still one of my favorite horses. Even though it wasn’t at a very high level, I trained her all by myself from the ground up, and she was pretty much undefeated. During the last year I showed her, I showed in about 15 classes at the state fair in two days, and she won every single class. She was always an extraordinary horse to me, and I was very proud of my accomplishments with her.
Q: What’s your favorite part about showing horses?
A: My favorite part about horses and showing is seeing the progress. I love seeing the before and the after. I enjoy seeing each horse progress at their own pace, whether it’s very fast or very slow. I enjoy trying to mold my program to fit each horse. Some progress much slower than others, so I usually have to change parts of my program to make it easier on my horses and to help encourage them to get better.
Q: What are some of the horses you have had the opportunity to work with?
A: I have been very blessed to have worked with some great horses in the last several years. I don’t claim at all to have done the work on these horses, but I did get to do a small bit of work on them before they went on to win. Whenonlythebestwilldo, the black hunt seat mare – I had the chance to put in lots of time in the saddle on her before she began her winning career. Bi Krymsun – he was my green trail horse for the summer when I first went to work for NCM Show Horses. We had a little bit of success together over the summer and then, I took him back to Oklahoma with me to school to help sell him. Later, he went on to be a Reserve Congress Champion in the trail the next year. Pineapple Express – I got to break her out and put I think about the first 60 to 90 days or so on her when she was two.
Q: Who have been some of your biggest mentors?
A: This is a tough one. Everyone I have worked for has been a great mentor. Every single person has given me great advice and a little bit of guidance to get me to where I am today. Ray Carmean – he gave me my first job and the opportunity to ride and show a lot my first year as an assistant in my first year in the industry. Donnie Recchiuti and Liz Flohr – they taught me so much about how to be a horseman. They showed me timing, feel, rhythm and taught me how to use my legs and hands to work together. Tim and Katy Jo Zuidema – they taught me a lot more about the fundamentals of a young futurity horse. They also taught me that it is essential to keep great care of the condition of your horse. If you see them at a show, every single one of their horses is fat, happy and super slick tight haired. Tim was always very adamant about their appearance. A horse never left the stalls with even a sweat mark. Jeff Greaves – he got me introduced to the all-around stuff and especially the trail. NCM Show Horses – they gave me the opportunity to take everything I have learned over the years and mold them together into my program and gave me lots of opportunities to show and train some great horses. Jason English Show Horses – they have taught me to be independent and learn to make my own decisions and trust them. They are always behind me to help if I am ever unsure, but they are still positive and encouraging.
Q: Any advice you have for other young trainers?
A: My advice is to keep your ears and eyes open more, and your mouth open less. I learned the hard way when I was young and starting out. I wish I could go back and change a few things, but I have lived and learned from my mistakes. It has put me where I am today, so I can’t complain.
Q: What do you like about working for Jason English?
A: I started working for Jason English Show Horses in September of 2017. So, I haven’t been here very long, but it already feels like I’ve been here for years. I have never come into a program and felt so welcomed and appreciated so fast. My favorite part about working here is I always feel valued, trusted and supported. They have given me the opportunity to teach several of the horses here the trail. They have entrusted me with my techniques, but he is always there to lend any advice he may have if I am stuck. Same goes for the young futurity horses. He trusts me with what I’m doing. If he sees a problem, he will always lend a hand and push in the right direction but in a very positive and encouraging way.
Q: What has been one of your favorite horse show memories?
A: In 2016, I was at the Redbud, and I believe Charlie Cole was busy in the other pen doing the trail all day. Ima Petite Classic (Kramer) needed to go in the Senior Western Pleasure for the all around. So, they asked me if I could catch ride him. I got dressed, walked over to the stalls, and he was all tacked up and ready. I think I rode him maybe five minutes, then jogged into the pen. I didn’t win anything or get any top placings, but it sure was pretty dang fun to get to ride such a famous horse. He is literally like riding a rocking chair. When I came out of the class, I asked Charlie if he needed me to catch ride him in the western riding as a joke. It was pretty fun and a cool experience.
Q: What are some of your future goals?
A: I’m just like anyone else, I’m sure. My ideal goal would be to win the Congress, NSBA World or AQHA World Show. But honestly, I want to see my horses do the best they can. I also just want to live a happy life and be proud of what I have accomplished. Whether I win a big prize or my horses go on to win big prizes or even just having a horse that people may think wasn’t good enough and turn it into something that they can at least look at and be like “wow that’s a nice horse.”
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
A: I want to give a huge thank you to Jason and Jamie and the entire Jason English Show Horses family. They have been nothing but positive, supportive and give me endless opportunities that I never had before. I would also like to thank my parents, Clinton and Judy Doustou, who, even though don’t fully understand this business or industry, they have always supported me and helped me out. Another big thank you to my amazing girlfriend, Samantha Aderhold. She has always been so supportive of me and extremely encouraging when it comes to my work with my horse. Even when I get disappointed or discouraged, she has always been there to pull me back up and push me forward.
