The penultimate episode of Yellowstone‘s fifth and final season featured several scenes with a recurring character, reining pro Travis Wheatley, played by show creator Taylor Sheridan. These scenes took place at Bosque Ranch, Sheridan’s personal spread and production company. However, for some viewers, the extensive focus on Sheridan and the “horse show” aspect was unwelcome.
Online commentary expressed dissatisfaction, with one user on X stating, “15 mins of story and scenes wasted with watching Taylor Sheridan showboat on his own show, partying and just doing his thing.” Another fan commented, “I definitely do NOT watch #Yellowstone for Taylor Sheridan. The penultimate episode did not do its thing.” A third user voiced their frustration, “Weird flex that Taylor Sheridan took 2 years to write these final episodes THAT CENTERS ON HIM! We don’t care about Travis. Hopefully he put his ego aside for the very last episode… so the viewers can actually see the Dutton family and not all this horse show.”
As a lifelong horsewoman and a devoted Yellowstone fan, I found this outrage amusing. The viewers complaining, I suspect, are not horse owners and failed to recognize that Sheridan was offering an insider’s glimpse into the often-dysfunctional world of the horse business.
For those who haven’t yet seen the episode, here’s a summary. Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly), in need of funds to save the ranch, tasks Travis with selling the ranch’s prized cutting horse stallion. Rip, Beth’s husband, playfully warns her that Travis might make a move on her, despite her marital status, remarking, “Honey, he’s a horse trainer, he’d try to (use your imagination here) in front of me if he could. Horse trainers are like Corriente bulls.”
Aware of this, Beth encounters Travis and his girlfriend Sadie (played by supermodel and equestrian Bella Hadid) during a strip poker game. Hadid, who recently participated in a charity cutting horse competition hosted by Sheridan, makes a brief appearance in an auction scene. Following the poker game, Beth and Sadie observe Travis showcasing the stallion’s prowess to a group of dubious South American buyers. Beth probes Sadie about her relationship with Travis, describing him as “arrogant,” “condescending,” and “misogynistic,” and noting he’s 25 years her senior. Sadie’s simple reply, “Have you ever seen him ride before?” accompanied by intense shots of Travis expertly riding the stallion, leads Beth to concede, “Okay. Yeah, I get it.”
This dynamic resonates within the equestrian world, where numerous examples exist of older, arrogant horsemen and younger women captivated by their riding abilities.
Travis then enlists fake buyers to inflate the horse’s price by $1 million. Beth questions Travis’s hefty 10% commission and whether the buyers were deceived. A fellow cowboy acknowledges Travis’s cunning nature, stating, “Travis is tricky. But a horse is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. There’s a lot of luck. It’s like lottery tickets – if lottery tickets bucked.” This commentary on the subjective value of horses and the potential for deception in sales mirrors the realities of the industry.
These scenes, much like the earlier quip about what women find appealing in horsemen, elicited a chuckle from me. Anyone with experience in the professional horse industry—dealers, trainers, coaches—will recognize the authenticity of Travis’s character. The horse world is not always known for its strict ethical standards, whether in shady deals or with unscrupulous trainers. Travis’s act of duping wealthy individuals into overpaying for the horse feels more like a documentary exposé than a fictional drama.
Ultimately, the horses themselves are a significant draw for many Yellowstone fans. Sheridan, a genuine cowboy and horseman and the owner of the 6666 Ranch, clearly possesses an intimate understanding of the industry.
Furthermore, the criticism directed at Sheridan seems unfair. Having begun his career as an actor and subsequently delivering exceptional television across multiple shows for five years, he has undoubtedly earned the right to a degree of self-indulgence. For those deeply involved in the horse community, Sheridan’s portrayal offers a relatable and authentic depiction of a world often misunderstood by outsiders. We can all learn from these insights, whether we are seasoned equestrians or casual viewers. Understanding the nuances of the horse industry, as depicted in Yellowstone, can deepen our appreciation for the complexities and passions that drive this unique world.
