Meet Jessica
Jessica Pancost is the founder of Thunderbird Equine in Ault, Colorado. A fifth-generation Coloradan, horses have been part of her life for as long as she can remember. Growing up in a family rooted in Colorado's cattle industry, she was riding before she could walk and learned early that good horsemanship starts with good stewardship.
Today, Jessica specializes in developing versatile horses that can put in a day's work on the ranch and still be competitive in the show pen. That philosophy shapes every horse that comes through her program and reflects the kind of practical horsemanship she's spent a lifetime pursuing.
It Started Long Before Thunderbird Equine
It's hard to tell my story without first talking about my family.
My grandfather ran Black Angus cattle in eastern Colorado, and my dad trained Quarter Horse racehorses. Some of my earliest memories are riding green horses that my parents had in their program and spending long, hot days fixing fence on the ranch.
When I was 14, I took an aptitude test that confirmed what everyone around me already knew: I was wired to train horses for a living. My dad, knowing both the highs and the hardships that come with this industry, gave me one piece of advice:
"Find something else to do. You'll be better off."
So I tried.
I attended Arizona State University as an astrophysics major, but after a year I came to the conclusion that I'd sooner shoot myself in the foot than spend my life writing code.
I moved back to Colorado and pursued another passion, becoming a Certified Functional Strength Coach. I enjoyed being on my feet, working with people, and helping clients reach their goals, but something still felt like it was missing.
Looking for a way back to horses, I took a job at a dude ranch. I had hoped to go back to work for the trainer I apprenticed under after high school, but by then she had moved to Tennessee. While I loved the people I met at the dude ranch, I found myself wanting more horse time and more of a challenge.
Little did I know what God had planned
In November of 2019, I filed the paperwork for Thunderbird Equine LLC.
Just two months later, my dad passed away.
While navigating a grief I wasn't prepared for, I slowly began building my own program by taking on a few clients while working for local trainers.
In 2023, two opportunities changed the trajectory of my business. I established a relationship with a breeder in South Dakota that I still maintain today, and one of my clients entrusted me with my first horse to campaign in the show pen. Those relationships laid the foundation for the program I have today.
Every horse that comes through my barn is expected to become a versatile partner, one that can earn its keep on the ranch and be competitive in the show pen.
I believe the best performance horses are the ones that still know how to do a day's work, and that philosophy has shaped Thunderbird Equine from the very beginning.
My goal has never been to simply create show horses, but to develop willing, balanced horses that are just as dependable outside the arena as they are inside it.
What Keeps You Coming Back?
It's hard to pin down just one thing, but I'd have to say it's the ever-changing standard that keeps me hooked.
Anyone who's truly dedicated to their craft knows what I'm talking about. You can spend a lifetime chasing mastery because the target is always moving.
In a way, it's like choosing your spouse every day. Not because they've stayed the same, but because they know who you've been, who you are, and who you're becoming.
One of the greatest gifts of working with a revolving door of horses is that they'll teach you more about patience, boundaries, timing, and clarity than most therapists ever could.
Horses aren't all that different from people. They're simply more honest.
They respond to exactly what you present them, not what you intended to present.
In many ways, I think they're a simplified version of us.
between the saddle and the sofa
When the work is done, I'm usually not sitting still for very long.
I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Wyoming Nebraska Stock Horse Association. Outside of my responsibilities there and at Thunderbird Equine, you'll usually find me working my youngest dog on stock.
I enjoy the challenge of developing a good stock dog just as much as I do a good horse, and it's become one of my favorite ways to spend what little free time I have.
