WHERE TRUE PERFORMANCE BEGINS

KY PERFORMANCE HORSES

KY Performance Horses is a professional barrel horse training and breeding program based in Benson, North Carolina, dedicated to producing high-caliber performance horses built to compete at the highest levels of the sport.

Specializing in futurity prospects through seasoned rodeo horses, the program emphasizes correct foundations, individualized development, and long-term soundness. Horses are prepared for the realities of competition — from high-pressure arenas to extended travel — while remaining confident, responsive, and reliable for their riders.

Young horses benefit from a structured development pipeline. Kristin’s husband, Pierce, starts all of their colts, establishing a solid foundation before they enter barrel training. Kristin then patterns and seasons each horse for competition, creating a cohesive program from first rides to finished performance athletes — a true team approach behind every horse.

Every aspect of development is approached with intention. Veterinary care, conditioning, farrier support, and overall management are integrated to ensure both physical durability and mental readiness throughout a horse’s career.

The goal is not simply speed, but consistency — producing athletes capable of sustained performance, soundness, and success beyond the program.

BUILT BY CONSISTENCY.
PROVEN UNDER PRESSURE.

545386163_10161453323752890_374123337764671653_n_edited.jpg

OUR TRAINING PHILOSOPHY

Training at KY Performance Horses prioritizes correctness, confidence, and long-term success over quick results. Each horse is developed as an individual to create reliable, sound athletes that perform under pressure.

SLOW & CORRECT

ACCURACY AND UNDERSTANDING COME BEFORE SPEED TO BUILD A FOUNDATION THAT LASTS.

476140393_637678128628984_4188278995301090566_n_edited.jpg

CONFIDENCE FIRST

RELAXED, CONFIDENT HORSES PERFORM CONSISTENTLY IN ANY ENVIRONMENT.

INDIVIDUAL APPROACH

EVERY HORSE PROGRESSES ACCORDING TO ITS TEMPERAMENT, ABILITY, AND TIMELINE.

515065073_10161175264027890_2842108320352490612_n_edited.jpg

SOUNDNESS MATTERS

LONG-TERM DURABILITY IS PRIORITIZED OVER SHORT-TERM GAINS.

480191070_645272367869560_4493063152390757454_n_edited.jpg

CONSISTENCY WINS

CORRECT REPETITION CREATES DEPENDABLE, PREDICTABLE PERFORMANCE.

605827508_883380344058760_7349534426949492701_n_edited.jpg

HORSE-FIRST

DECISIONS ARE MADE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE HORSE AT EVERY STAGE.

KY Performance Horses About Profile_edited.png

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

KRISTIN YDE

ATHLETE ➳ TRAINER ➳ HORSEWOMAN

Kristin Yde is a professional barrel racer and horsewoman with over 30 years of experience in the horse industry and more than two decades dedicated to barrel racing competition.

Raised in a horse-centered environment, Kristin developed a diverse foundation early on, beginning in the English disciplines of jumpers and dressage while growing up around cutting horses. At age eleven, she transitioned into barrel racing — a decision that shaped the trajectory of her career and ultimately led to the creation of KY Performance Horses.

Today, Kristin competes at a high level while managing a full-time performance program, allowing her to produce horses that are prepared for the real demands of futurity competition, rodeos, and major events.