Hidden Gems: Meet Kaleb Kearl of Double K Breeding

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaleb Kearl

Hi Kaleb, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Northern Utah and always had a passion for horses. My parents were not horse people which made it very difficult to make this passion and dream a reality. My grandparents on both sides of my family were involved in horses in some way. My grandpa Steve trained race horses and my other grandpa Kurt was a farmer and team roper. At the age of 12 my parents finally purchased me my first horse. After that, I started competing in the Youth Rodeo Associations throughout Northern Utah until I was old enough for Highschool Rodeo. I Rodeoed with the Idaho District 4 High School team. I was a member of the board and competed at state finals for many years however the light for rodeo slowly faded as I was always fascinated with reining horses. When I was old enough to start working I started my research on where the best reining facilities were in Northern Utah. “Heritage Ranch” was the first one to show up. Heritage Ranch is a facility with over 200 horses all ranging from foals to show horses to broodmares and recipient mares. I started there at the age of 17 cleaning stalls and watching/learning everything I could about reining and the dynamics that played into the sport. Reining is a very skilled and precise event. There was always something to work on, to make better, or to perfect. I was engulfed in the sport that I needed to ride one of those horses. With being at Heritage ranch not only did I find my new passion and for the sport of reining but also the thrills of reproduction. Heritage Ranch has produced and continues to produce some of the top of the top reining prospects. I needed a chunk of that paradise. After staying at heritage for about a year, learning all that I could about the reproduction side of the industry, I decided to venture out and find a trainer I could work for and learn as much as possible on that side of the industry. By this time I had been riding horses for about 5 years now but wanted more. Reining horses are like nothing you’ve ever rode before, the feel, the sensitivity, the respect and willingness of a reining horse is like no other. I found a trainer just down the road from Heritage. Her name was Sydney Jackson. I worked under Sydney learning as much as she could teach me while I saddled horses and brought them into her. I eventually got the opportunity to start warming up and cooling down horses for Sydney which led to me being her head assistant at the barn. The way Sydney trained these horses was phenomenal and I soaked in as much as I could and decided to go out and create my own program. I met someone in Arizona while living in Utah. I decided to move to Az as it seemed to be the reining capital of the country almost. Some of the biggest names in the industry lived and trained in Arizona. I started my own program in Flagstaff Az after learning there was not many reining trainers in Northern Az. I found an amazing facility right off the highway 40 in Flagstaff in 2023. As I started to learn my surroundings more I also came to learn there was no reproduction facilities in Northern Arizona either. So, I talked to some veterinarians and partnered with them in creating my very own reproduction program of reining and barrel horses. We now offer Embryo Transfers and most other reproduction needs. I have to give a big thank you to Sydney Jackson for showing me the beauty in training these amazing animals as well as Heritage for showing me what it takes to create one. It definitely has not been an easy or quick journey but I am dedicated to these horses and helping all my past, current, and future clients succeed both in the show pen and out.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It most definitely has not been a smooth road at all. The hardest struggle we face not just personally but as an industry is how expensive our necessities are becoming. Personally the biggest struggle we have had to face is starting a new business in a place where there isn’t much business to begin with. Flagstaff is not known for horses or equestrian facilities so most people don’t travel this far to find us. Which in turn has put a real hit on finances for the facility. With an overhead as big as my facility has we have to scrape tooth and nail some months to get by. Another big struggle is getting your name out and about not only in the community but everywhere. When you start out coming from nothing like I did, you become a very small fish in a rather big pond with much bigger fish to catch. There are a lot of long nights and early mornings which can put a strain on relationships and friends if they aren’t used to the industry or cant accept the hours. These horses rely on you to feed them, water them, medicate, clean, everything. You cant just decide you want to take a day off because it just doesn’t happen. You end up working 7 days a week most of the time.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Double K Breeding?
Double K Breeding is a one stop shop when it comes to the Equine industry. We specialize in training, breeding, boarding, and consignment/sales. Double K Breeding is one of the only places in Flagstaff/ most of Northern Arizona to offer a fully enclosed indoor arena. Double K has a reining trainer as well as a barrel trainer working out of the facility. We are one of the few reining trainers in Northern Arizona. Double K Breeding has partnered with multiple veterinarians in the area to offer the best of the best reproduction services we can provide from AI to Embryo transfers as well as foaling out and mare care.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson learned along the way would definitely be to make sure you have your own back and watch it at all times. There will always be someone out to get you or your “friend” that will stab you in the back. Haters are going drag your name through the dirt because something happened whether it was in your control or not or whether you tried everything you could to fix the problem. Keep your head high and move right along the best you can. Make sure to have plenty of documentation, photos, and good communication!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Doublekbreeding.com
• Instagram: doublekbreeding
• Facebook: Double K Breeding