Nick Dowers’s life has been inextricably linked with horses, a passion that began on his family’s cattle ranch, Triple D Ranches, in Fish Lake Valley, Nevada. Despite a demanding high school schedule that included a 90-mile commute and 15-hour days balancing academics, sports like football and baseball, and ranch work, Nick always found time for horses. This dedication foreshadowed a future deeply rooted in equine training.
His post-secondary education at Feather River College further cemented his path. While initially pursuing baseball, Nick found himself drawn to the college’s equine program. This program emphasized comprehensive training, focusing on both the physical and mental development of horses. His eagerness to learn was noted by guest clinician Bryan Neubert, who observed Nick’s proactive approach to asking questions and volunteering for activities. To gain practical experience, Dowers began starting outside colts, honing his skills with individual horses.
Following his formal education, Dowers embarked on a journey across various locations, taking on the challenge of starting other people’s colts and working on ranches. His itinerant career involved intensive periods of training, starting numerous colts before moving on to new opportunities or ranch work. This period of diverse experience eventually led him to Arizona, where Andrea Fappani invited him to assist with starting colts. Fappani quickly recognized Dowers’s exceptional talent, remarking on his innate ability to connect with horses. Even colts untouched by humans showed a remarkable willingness to follow Dowers’s guidance within days of his arrival.
Upon returning to his home ranch, Triple D Ranches, Nick resumed starting two-year-olds and rehabilitating horses. A pivotal moment arrived in 2009 when he purchased his first show horse, JP Royal Boon. This experience ignited a passion for showing horses, leading him to seek mentorship from NRCHA Futurity NP Champion Annie Reynolds. Under Reynolds’s guidance at her “Why Worry Ranch” in Idaho, Nick achieved significant success. Riding Shiney and Very Smart, he secured Intermediate and Limited Open Championships at the 2011 NRCHA Stakes. The same year, he also rode Smarter Image, trained by Todd Bergen, to win the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Limited Open.
A defining achievement came at the 2013 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. Nick and his family had purchased a colt named Time for The Diamond, nicknamed “Cactapuss.” Nick trained this colt using a blend of conventional arena techniques and practical ranch work. Arriving at the Futurity with determination, Nick and Time for The Diamond claimed the Open Champion title, scoring an impressive 661 points. Dowers expressed immense confidence in his horse, a sentiment he had shared with his wife for the preceding year.
Today, Nick Dowers’s training philosophy centers on understanding and communicating with the horse’s mind. He strives to train horses to the highest level while maintaining his horsemanship integrity. His approach emphasizes knowing “what to do, when to do it, and why to do it,” recognizing this as the core of effective training. Dowers also shares his expertise through clinics, drawing on his experiences, including those gained during his time at Feather River College. Instructor Russell Reid highlights Dowers’s ability to connect with students, breaking down lessons into manageable steps for both horse and rider. Reid emphasizes Dowers’s focus on “soft skills” like dedication, hard work, attentiveness, and inquiry.
Reflecting on his career, Dowers acknowledges the challenges of staying true to his principles amidst industry pressures. He looks up to many figures in the equestrian world and is driven by a continuous desire for self-improvement, likening personal growth to a plant’s need to grow rather than rot.
Beyond his professional achievements, Nick Dowers is a devoted family man. He met his wife, Jackie, in high school. They maintained a long-distance relationship through Jackie’s nursing studies at the University of Nevada, Reno, and Nick’s extensive travels for work, eventually marrying in 2006. Their family has grown with the births of their children: Tuli in 2007, Crue in 2010, and Jovi in the summer of 2012. Jackie describes Tuli as competitive and determined, while Crue shares Nick’s love for animals.
