Be Your Best Horsemanship

In this week's episode, I am breaking down my colt starting methods for teaching the release in the round pen. Join me as I share some ground work tips and explain the importance of engaging the thinking side of a horse's brain during the weanling, yearling and 2-year-old stages. Episode Resources: To join our online training community, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠philhaugenhorsemanship.com/courses . To request a t...

In this episode, I am previewing our upcoming Colt Starting Mentorship weeks and addressing two questions from our audience about physical conditioning and setting realistic timelines for getting with a new horse. Episode Resources: To join our online training community, visit ⁠ ⁠⁠philhaugenhorsemanship.com/be-your-best-membership⁠⁠⁠ . To request a topic for our next episode, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this episode, I am addressing two questions from our listeners about what to do when you feel unprepared or disadvantaged in certain situations. Join me as I share some advice and tips on taking control of your thought processes when self-doubt creeps in. Episode Resources: To join our online training community, visit ⁠ ⁠philhaugenhorsemanship.com/be-your-best-membership⁠⁠ . To request a topic...

In this week’s episode, I’m sharing some insights and experiences from our fall mentorship programs, both online and in-person, that really highlight the importance of continued investment in yourself. Join us to hear more about the experiences these trainers have gone through and how a simple commitment to personal development reaps lifelong benefits. Episode Resources: To learn more about Phil's...

In this week's show, I am joined by 10X NFR Qualifier and founder of the Liberty and Loyalty Foundation, Charly Crawford. Join us as Charly shares his insights on the importance of building a strong foundation in life, business, and horsemanship. Episode Resources: Charly Crawford Training: https://charlycrawford.training/ Liberty & Loyalty Foundation: https://libertyandloyaltyfoundation.com/

Progression, in any endeavor in life, is dependent upon a series of moments. From the small moments of learning to the big lightbulb moments that change our perception of a concept for the long-term, every moment is a significant part of our journey. In this episode, I'm sharing a story that reminded me to focus on these incremental moments in the process instead of just focusing on the end result...

When training a horse, it can be easy to adopt a results-oriented instead of process-oriented mentality. When we focus on short-term results in our training sessions, we tend to lose sight of the main purpose of our training, which is to establish long-term foundational gains. In this episode, I'm sharing some stories from our recent clinics about the benefits of process-oriented training and how...

In the training journey, it can sometimes feel like you are in a never-ending season of challenges. But, if there's one thing that I have realized through my own experiences and seeing others' experiences at clinics, it is that we are all going through the same challenges, just in a slightly different way. In this episode, I'm sharing some thoughts on keeping things in perspective and...

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Duane Chappell with Merck Animal Health as he shares insights and advice for managing risk of infectious disease by establishing solid systems for vaccination and biosecurity at your training facility. Join us as we dive into a wide variety of equine health topics, including: Understanding different types of vaccinations and when to administer each Vaccinatio...

In this episode, I'm sharing more about my journey to Road to the Horse 2025 and the excitement of being selected as one of the Championship Competitors. Tune in to hear more about how I'm preparing for this event and the mentality I have going into the competition. Learn more about Road to the Horse: https://roadtothehorse.com/

In this episode, I'm sharing some perspectives around getting more effort out of your horse―and, it might not be the advice you're expecting. Join me as I share an important lesson about helping your horses reach their full performance potential by understanding the relationship between effort and reward. Episode Resources: To learn more about Phil's foundational training and personal...

In this episode, I'm addressing some FAQs about our public and private clinics, mentorship weeks, and online training and mentorship programs. Join me as I break down each of these training opportunities and share more about how you can get involved with our upcoming virtual and in-person training events. Episode Resources: To become a member and join our monthly mentorship sessions, visit: ph...

In this episode, I'm covering a question from one of our listeners: "I would love to hear a discussion about setting yearlings up for success. I've got a 10 month old colt coming home this month and this will be my first experience with one this age. He is coming from an awesome breeder who has taken a lot of time to get him off to the right start and I would love to continue to do so...

On this episode, I am joined by Phil van Harreveld, DVM, MS, DACVS-LA, Senior Equine Professional Services Veterinarian with ⁠Merck Animal Health⁠ to discuss best practices for caring for horses with colic, as well as preventing infection in wounds near the joint area. Before joining Merck Animal Health, Dr. van Harreveld practiced as an equine veterinary surgeon for more than 22 years. He pioneer...

In this episode, I'm addressing a question from one of our listeners, Abby: "I have a 2 year old who is ready to start under saddle, but I can not get her to canter. The more I push, the slower she gets. She will canter with another horse in the round pen. I have not had this problem before and I am not sure what to do? I don’t think she will canter under saddle if she refuses on the grou...

You can't always control the first thought that comes into your mind, but you can control the second. Likewise, you can't always control the first thought that triggers a reactive response in your horse, but over time, you can learn to control the second. Tune into this episode to learn more about my perspectives on colt starting and how learning how to control your own thoughts can transl...

Whether you are dealing with challenges with your horse or with life in general, having a solid foundation to fall back on is paramount to progress. Join me for this episode as I share two perspectives around building a winning foundation and how to come back to this foundation when you get off track. Episode Resources: To learn more about Phil's foundational training and personal development...

On this episode, I am joined by Dr. Cara Wright, DVM, MS, IVCA with Merck Animal Health to discuss best practices for preventative health, deworming and biosecurity, creating an optimal training environment for our horses. Dr. Wright has focused her career on the needs of the equine athlete, integrating modalities such as chiropractic and rehabilitation to keep horses working and feeling their bes...

In this episode, I'm addressing one of the most frequently asked questions at my clinics: "What bit do you use?" Join me as I break down my bit selection process and how to better understand the role that your bit plays in communicating with your horse. Episode Resources: To learn more about Phil's favorite bits and training tools, visit philhaugenhorsemanship.com/sponsors . To r...

This episode is inspired by a comment from one of our listeners on a recent post we made about the power of having a vision: "I remember hearing you say on one of your podcasts that a visiting friend or relative had made a comment that you seemed so happy and content. You said it was because you were now working half as hard and getting twice the amount of work done. But, I know it wasn’t alw...

As I work with more and more trainers across the country, business strategy continues to be one of the most prominent topics of discussion for new and emerging trainers. Join me for this episode as I share some insights on the process of finding your niche and how refining your area of expertise can be a powerful transformation in the training business. Episode Resources: To join the Be Your Best...

This episode is inspired by a question from one of our listeners: "I would love a podcast on how a rider can regain their confidence after an injury. My gelding spooked and bucked me off while riding in an arena with friends. I broke my pelvis. Although I am back to riding, I’m still scared to canter him in an arena. Thanks in advance!" Join me as I share some advice on this topic and my...

This week's episode is a continuation of our series inspired by the Leonardo da Vinci quote: "Success lies in the relentless execution of the basics." Join me as I share some insights on how this principle applies to performance anxiety. Episode Resources: To join the Be Your Best Membership with Phil Haugen, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠philhaugenhorsemanship.com/be-your-bes...

This episode is inspired by a quote from Leonardo da Vinci shared by one of our recent clinic hosts: "Success lies in the relentless execution of the basics." Join me as I uncover the application of this quote in various scenarios, including dealing with separation anxiety. Episode Resources: To join the Be Your Best Membership with Phil Haugen, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠philha...

If there's one thing I've learned over the past 40+ years in the horse training business, it's the power of a growth mindset. One of the reasons I believe I have been able to survive as long as I have in this business is, somewhere along the way, I embraced the fact that horsemanship is really just a series of continual learning opportunities. Join me as I share some insights on how to...