Be Your Best Horsemanship

Collection is a key component of a horse’s foundational success. However, most breeds of horses are not built to be naturally collected. Tune into this episode as I share my step-by-step process for building collection and confidence in a horse. Read the full show notes at philhaugenhorsemanship.com/podcast .

One of our biggest faults as human beings is that we don’t like to fail. That's why when we are introducing a new concept to our horses, we have the tendency to micromanage. When we micromanage their every move, we think we are preventing them from failing; however, we are only getting in the way of their understanding. Tune into this episode as I share my experiences with overcoming my micro-mana...

One of the most common conversations that pops up in the roping pen has to do with how we approach practice. Oftentimes, when someone comes to me for roping advice, they are having trouble catching consistently. Naturally, they ask me to watch their swing, analyze their delivery, or fine-tune another portion of their performance. But, what is happening with their rope is usually not the true sourc...

How do you deal with frustration? This was a question submitted by one of our loyal listeners, and it's a topic that has taken me years to find a good answer to. In short, my approach to dealing with frustration comes from a mindset shift.  Tune into this episode to learn my process for overcoming frustration and maintaining a positive training atmosphere. Read the full show notes at philhaug...

If you’re a first generation horseman or horsewoman, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. On this episode, I’m joined by an ambitious young trainer named Paula Cooper who transitioned from competitive skiing into roping and rodeo at the age of 16. Although Paula had a later start in her horsemanship journey, this has not stopped her from becoming an extremely competitive roper and trainer, e...

If you’ve listened to our podcast for very long, you have probably heard me mention how much I love the western industry. I truly believe that I have one of the best jobs in the world, and that is because of the people I get to work with on a daily basis. On this episode, I’m joined by one of my recent private clinic students, Rayne Grant. Rayne is a high school senior competing in barrel racing,...

In this episode, we're throwing it back to the beginning. The audio in this episode is pulled from an introductory lesson in Phil's very first DVD series, Foundation to Finish. Over a decade after these training DVDs were originally recorded, the training philosophies still hold true. This episode is all about understanding the crucial connection between a trainer's ability to engage a horse's tho...

After nearly 40 years as a professional horse trainer, I have come to the conclusion that there is one thing that I must have to make a great horse. It has nothing to do with tack or training equipment. And, it has nothing to do with the skills that I have as a horseman. Tune into this episode to find out my #1 must-have for making great horses. Read the full show notes at philhaugenhorsemanship.c...

I’ve said it many times over the years–horses have taught me far more than I will ever teach them. And, this still continues to hold true. As we move into a new year, I have been reflecting on the challenges, successes, and seasons of growth I have experienced. While there have been a fair share of wins, the struggles and failures are always present in the horsemanship journey. But, that’s exactly...

I would guess that many of you have had a horse that did everything great at a walk or trot. Then, when you applied more speed, that horse suddenly began to spook or have other reactive responses that weren’t there before. If this is you, don’t worry. It’s a very common issue. On this episode, I'm sharing a few training methods you can use to help your horse feel comfortable and confident at faste...

In the horsemanship journey, there are moments when you win and moments when you learn. Even when the competitive outcomes aren't what we had planned, it is imperative that we train ourselves to appreciate the small wins and the ‘not so fun’ things along the way.  On this episode, I'm sharing some perspectives on how to reframe your mind to appreciate each opportunity. Read the full show note...

When we set goals, it's easy for these goals to become overwhelming. Why does this happen? I believe it's because we make a commitment to the end result, but we tend to fall short in our commitments to the small, incremental actions we have to take to get to that end goal.  On this episode, I'm sharing my perspectives on creating systems that support your goals. Read the full show notes at ph...

Watching the National Finals Rodeo brings up a lot of emotions for me―while I have never made a run inside the Thomas & Mack, I still thrive on the excitement, the goosebumps, and the joy of seeing people’s dreams come true. When I watch the rodeo night after night, I think a lot about the journey that each of these athletes had to get to that point in their careers. I think about the steps th...

When you ask your horse to do something, are you met with resistance or release? One of the most common issues I see in today's performance horses has to do with misunderstanding the release point. When you ask your horse to perform a maneuver and their first instinct is to resist or push against you, this is a sign that you need to go back to fundamentals. When you ask your horse to do something,...

Everyone has a slightly different way of doing things when it comes to training horses. Yet, many of us experience the same challenges from day to day. You'll always hear me say that knowledge is powerful. However, knowledge is only as powerful as your individual application of this knowledge. Progressing your training program requires you to have an open mind. It requires you to take a step back...

In everything we do, we are either creating good habits or bad habits. The horse using the thinking side of its brain is a learned habit. On this episode, I am providing a few actionable things you can do today to stimulate your horse's thought process, getting that animal in a state of mind to be receptive to your training. Read the full show notes and watch a demonstration at philhaugenhorsemans...

Jumping outside of your comfort zone is something that I believe we should all prioritize in our horsemanship journey. On this episode, I'm sharing a few stories from my experiences preparing for and competing at the A Bar Ranch Futurity. This futurity required me to compete in a few events that are outside of my horsemanship niche, and the experience taught me a lot about the power of stepping ou...

Sometimes, we become so laser-focused on our goals that we forget about keeping things fun for ourselves and our horses. This year, I have made a point to diversify my training, and it has been incredibly transformative for myself and my horses.  Tune into this episode as I share a few new training methods I've been introducing into my program, and how diversity can help create a more well-ro...

This episode is inspired by a question from one of our listeners: Phil, I would like to know your opinion on 'frustration?' I believe if a horse or rider is frustrated, it's time to stop, re-group and plan for another day. A trainer friend of mine disagrees and will push the rider or the horse even if one or the other are in a current state of frustration. I think no good can come from pushing onc...

Do you ever catch yourself in a routine of taking care of everyone and everything… but yourself? Whether it be a lack of time, lack of resources, or other reasons, sometimes, we catch ourselves putting our own needs behind everyone else's. While this selfless nature is admirable, it can also cause us to feel burnt out and frustrated when we aren't achieving the goals we set out for ourselves.&nbsp...

In this episode, I am breaking down the process of overcoming two common issues in the barrel racing industry: Why is my horse stalling out on the back side of a barrel? My horse is losing momentum going into a turn. How do I fix it? Read the full show notes at philhaugenhorsemanship.com/podcast .

Do you ever wake up feeling behind? Do you ever get the feeling like you have more to do than you could ever get done? Feeling like you are never caught up? If so, you are not alone. In the horse training business, time is one of our biggest limitations. On this episode, I am sharing some ways to be more efficient with your time by seeking out resources and mentorship. Read the full show notes at...

Having goals is important, but having a system in place to support these goals is even more important. Over the years, I've begun to take a more proactive approach to my goal setting. Instead of waiting until January 1 to write out my intentions for the year, I start mapping out my system well in advance. However, mapping out this system is just the beginning. I also have to put in place the commi...

We are in the midst of an exciting time in the equine industry. Whether you are raising horses, buying prospects to train, or searching for a rodeo-ready athlete, there is no question that the value of the horse has risen dramatically over the past few years. The trends of today’s horse market bring up a few thoughts about the process of increasing the value of your equine assets. Ultimately, this...

Every morning when I wake up, my goal is to win the day. To me, winning the day means being in a better position when the day is over than when the day started. It means progressing myself, even if just by a small increment. The idea of winning the day is something that helps me maintain a high level of productivity, and it drives me to work hard each day. When you are working as hard as you can a...