Wealthyist E47: Less Crying, More Thriving: Jake Biernbaum on Horses, Humans, and Smart Business

Guest: Jake Biernbaum, renowned horse trainer and founder of Pear Tree Ranch in Ocala, Florida. Known for his large YouTube following and expertise in natural horsemanship.

Key Points from the Episode:

1. Origin and Growth of Pear Tree Ranch
   • Founded in 2011 when Jake went independent after working with Parelli Natural Horsemanship.
   • Started with almost nothing — living on ramen and PB&J, no truck or trailer.
   • Grown into an international operation: clients fly in from Europe, South Africa, and across the US; offers in-person training, lessons, clinics, camps, and online video content (YouTube & Patreon).
   • Now a family business run primarily by Jake and his wife Stephanie (also a skilled trainer); their 8-year-old son Johnny helps occasionally but isn’t pushed into the horse world.
2. Training Philosophy
   • Focuses on developing both horses and humans, emphasizing that horses are “honest” while humans often complicate things.
   • Starts with the horse first to establish clear, reliable behavior, then teaches the owner to match that level.
   • Goal: Make clients independent (“I want you to not need me anymore”) while offering ongoing education for those who want it.
   • Motto: “Less crying and less dying” — safer, happier horses and riders.
3. Jake’s Background
   • Not a lifelong horse person — got into horses in his 20s after wilderness survival training (Tom Brown Jr.’s school), various odd jobs (bouncer, carpenter, daycare, etc.), and discovering Parelli Natural Horsemanship.
   • Spent years working for Parelli (from ranch hand to touring arena manager and instructor) before going fully independent in 2017.
4. Business Strategy & Growth
   • Located in Ocala, “Horse Capital of the World,” for the density of horses, warm climate, and lifestyle (palm trees, beaches).
   • Deliberately keeps the business small and family-run to avoid over-expansion risks; learned from past experiences with employees/interns leaving suddenly.
   • Diversifies income through scalable online content (YouTube, Patreon) — “making money while sleeping” — rather than just trading hours for dollars.
   • Offers various formats: private lessons, workshops, multi-day clinics/camps, and horse training programs.
5. Clients & Wealth Observations
   • Wide range: backyard hobbyists to Olympic-level competitors; some barely afford lessons, others spend hundreds of thousands on imported horses.
   • Notes that true success with horses requires consistent work and discipline — money helps (better horses, more lessons), but doesn’t replace effort.
   • Many wealthy clients are driven and hands-on because they built their own success the same way.
6. Work-Life Balance & Future Plans
   • Horses were once 24/7; now prioritizes family time, beach trips, and off-roading/camping in his customized Jeep to avoid burnout.
   • Future: Expand reach through online education and brand exposure (e.g., coaching competitors for “Road to the Horse” colt-starting championship).
   • Long-term legacy: Build the physical ranch into an asset that can be leased or handed to a dedicated successor; no pressure on son to take over.
7. Closing Wisdom: Five Stages Toward Mastery
   • Awareness → Understanding → Doing → Reproducing (consistent results) → Teaching

Follow Jake & Pear Tree at https://www.patreon.com/peartreeranch & https://www.youtube.com/@peartreeranch