When Morgan began working with Gibson as a two-year-old, it quickly became apparent that he had a rare gift for understanding cattle. “He was always calm around cows,” Morgan recalls. “He didn’t get rattled or overreact. He just seemed to get it, which is a rare quality in young horses.” This natural ability to read cows stood out immediately.
What impressed Morgan most was how quickly Gibson grasped the intricacies of working with cattle. “One of the things I really enjoyed about him from the start was his intelligence,” she says. “You’d show him something once, and he’d get it. But that also meant I had to be cautious. If you left him too long or short on one side, he’d start doing it on his own. His intelligence needed to be directed effectively.”
Morgan’s training focused on developing Gibson’s understanding and ability to read a cow. She believes there are two types of ‘cowy’ horses: those that react to cows, and those that can truly read and comprehend them. Gibson was the latter—always brave, never intimidated, and able to control a cow’s movement. “He wasn’t a reactive horse; he was smart,” she explains. “He understood that applying pressure on a cow would make it move faster, but he also knew how to slow it down and maintain control without getting too close. He was already figuring out the nuances of cattle at a young age.”
Another key asset was Gibson’s strong stop. “He’s always been a strong stopper, which is invaluable when starting one on cows,” Morgan adds. “Combine that with his disposition, and you get a pretty special combination. He’s always been fearless and inquisitive.”
Gibson also has a playful side. “He’s always been one to get ‘cow fresh,’” Morgan laughs. “When you step to a cow, you can feel his intensity. He does this silly little head shake, trying to get them to move, and he’s been doing it since he was two. At first, I would get annoyed, but Jerry told me, ‘You’re going to like that one day.’ And he was right—Gibson just wants to play.”
Despite his playful nature, Gibson has always had a laid-back temperament. “He’s not high-strung, yet he has a tremendous amount of energy. You can work him at home, load him in the trailer, and then go check cows. When you’re around him, you’d never guess how much go he has, but I’ve yet to find the bottom of him.”
Gibson’s training followed the same program as the other horses in Morgan’s barn. “We never treated him any differently,” Morgan explains. “He lived with the geldings and followed the same training program. I probably spent more time with him outside, branding and checking cows, because he was a stud. Other than that, it was the same as with all my horses.”
With over $325,000 earned, Gibson’s precision and consistency speaks for itself. But it’s his deep understanding of cattle, developed from the start, that truly sets him apart. At Pinwheel Partners, we’re inspired by Gibson’s journey and excited for his continued growth in the cutting and cow horse world. His early training—mastering pressure, timing, and achieving a strong stop—has laid the foundation for an exceptional future.
Written by Lacy Tucker
