Be Your Best Horsemanship

Speed is a complex response, acting as both a horse's natural self-defense response and a desired attribute in performance events. The delicate balance between controlling speed and harnessing it can prove to be one of the most challenging parts of horsemanship, especially when you are dealing with a naturally strong, "chargey" horse. On this episode, I'm sharing some techniques...

Seasoning horses is a part of the training process that can be one of the most mentally challenging phases of horsemanship. On this episode, I'm sharing some thoughts on how to approach building a horse's confidence in unfamiliar situations away from home and the psychology behind setting expectations for seasoning a horse. Episode Resources: To join the Be Your Best Membership with Phil H...

I’ve always considered myself to be a very forward-thinking person. I rarely pause to look back at the past–I’m always thinking ahead and planning what I’m going to do next. While I believe that this forward-thinking mentality has served me well in many areas of my life, I also believe that it causes me to forget to slow down and appreciate the little things from time to time. On this episode, I&#...

Have you ever been reading something on your phone and having a conversation with someone at the same time, only to realize minutes later that you have no idea what the other person has been talking about? It's not that you are intentionally ignoring them; it's simply a glitch in how the human mind works. It's a proven fact that the human mind can only give full attention to one though...

On this episode, I am joined by Holly Longest, owner of Jettin Bye Farm in Quinton, VA. Holly owns and operates a full-time, all-inclusive equine rehabilitation facility and trains horses both privately and publicly. Join us as we dive into a day in Holly's life as a multidisciplinary equine business owner and discuss the keys to balancing life, business and horsemanship. Episode Resources: To...

Horsemanship is a skill that can be developed over time. While some individuals may possess natural talents that lend themselves to having great horsemanship, it is important to understand that skills are not solely reliant on innate abilities. On this episode, I’m breaking down the science of skills and explaining how thinking of confidence and self-image as skills can contribute to success insid...

We all know that confidence is one of the biggest determining factors of success, both for ourselves and our horses. However, the path to building confidence is unique to each individual. When it comes to horses, not every horse will respond to our signals in the same way. That's why it is important for us, as trainers, to be aware of these individual tendencies so that we can adapt our commun...

This episode was inspired by a topic request: “Which horse do you ride first each day? Do you like to start with your easiest set of horses first, or your more challenging ones?” Join us as we dive into the topic of time management and how to manage your training schedule effectively. Episode Resources: To join the Be Your Best Membership with Phil Haugen, visit:  ⁠philhaugenhorsemanship.com/be-yo...

On this episode, I'm sharing insights from our recent horsemanship clinic in Giddings, TX where we discussed the importance of mastering the fundamentals, focusing on the plan rather than just the results, creating moments for release, and making small adjustments for big impact. In this episode, you'll learn my philosophies on how prioritizing preparation can lead to massive results in yo...

Bits and training equipment are some of the hottest topics of discussion at many of my clinics. With so many great options for training tools out there, it can be challenging to know which tools to use in a given scenario with a given horse. On this episode, I'm breaking down my philosophies on bits and other training equipment and how to use these tools to demonstrate better communication and...

No matter what stage of training you are at, we are all living some version of the same journey. It’s a journey filled with peaks, valleys, frustrations and victories. It’s a journey that will evoke the full spectrum of emotions. Understanding how to navigate the ups and downs of the horsemanship journey is the key to maintaining momentum and continuing to progress 1% one day at a time. On this ep...

On this episode, I am joined by the founder of X Factor Team Roping and X Factor Barrel Racing, Pace Freed. X Factor has grown to become the #1 rated training app in our industry and has expanded access to knowledge tremendously. Join us as we chat about the evolution of the roping industry, the role of horsemanship in competition, and where the rope horse industry is headed.  Episode Resources: T...

A horse training program is a lot like a business franchise. A franchise is simply a proven system for success. Depending on how a franchise is managed, one will thrive and one will fail due to poor application of the system. The same is true in horse training. On this episode, I'm sharing some perspectives on the application of knowledge and a few examples of how small changes in application...

In my mind, there is one thing that separates the good trainers from the great trainers, and that is a commitment to continual growth. Those who continue to seek out and absorb new perspectives, new methodologies and new systems are the ones who recognize and embrace the fact that there is always more to learn. They understand that, no matter what level you have reached, there is always an opportu...

Whether you are training horses personally or professionally, we are all in the same boat when it comes to optimizing the efficiency of our day-to-day operations. With a limited amount of hours in the day and operating expenses on the rise, we are all searching for ways to work smarter. On this episode, I'm sharing some recent changes I have made in my training program that have increased the...

Have you ever looked at someone and thought, “wow, they’re so talented” or “they’re so much more talented than me?” While it’s true that we each have our own God-given talents that are naturally instilled in us, I believe that most of what we compare ourselves to is not other people’s talents, but their skills. On this episode, I’m discussing some fundamental differences between talents and skills...

On this episode, I'm answering your inbox questions about my favorite bloodlines for performance horses and my experiences in training each. While I cannot speak to every great set of bloodlines out there, I am sharing my experiences with the horses I have personally trained and the characteristics that I liked most about each. I have been very fortunate to ride a wide variety of horses that h...

No matter what level you have reached or how much money you have earned, I believe that we all struggle with feeling inadequate from time to time. Personally, I know there have been more times than I can count when I have felt inadequate in some area of my life or training career. Over the years, I've learned that I can't always control the first thought that enters my mind, but I can cont...

On this episode, I am joined by professional barrel racer and 4x National Finals Rodeo Qualifier, Emily Beisel to talk about her horsemanship journey and how she has progressed to the level of competition she is at today. Tune in to hear more about how Emily's barrel racing career got started, the "it factor" she looks for in horses, maintaining the right mindset for NFR-caliber comp...

One of my go-to drills for evaluating softness and speed control is loping a small circle. It’s a very basic exercise, but sometimes it’s the simplest exercises that can be the most revealing when uncovering the holes in our foundation. On this episode, I'm sharing the key benefits of loping small circles and what to look for when loping a 'perfect circle.' Read the full show notes at:...

When we micromanage our horses, they get to the point where they are no longer looking for the answer – they’re simply waiting for us to manipulate their movements. When you put yourself in that position, you’re not teaching your horse anything. On this episode, I'm sharing my thoughts on avoiding micromanaging tendencies and giving your horses space to learn and make mistakes. Read the full s...

On this episode, I'm answering an inbox question about a topic that addresses one of the biggest mental battles we have to overcome as trainers: " What advice would you give to someone who is having a hard time enjoying the process of seasoning a horse? I was feeling really good about our progress for the first few months, and here lately, it seems like we are getting worse with each run. Adding s...

Whether we're seeking fulfillment in our training journeys, careers, or any other area of our lives, we tend to look toward the destination as a means for satisfaction. When we operate with a "results-oriented" perspective like this, we tend to lose sight of the parts of the everyday process that can be even more gratifying than the final result. On this episode, I'm sharing some thoughts on findi...

I talk about the concept of "teaching effort" a lot when it comes to starting colts and training horses, but the truth is, this principle applies to everything we do in life. Each moment of each day, we have the chance to make a conscious choice about the level of effort we put forth. In this episode, I'm sharing a few examples of how making the decision to commit to effort has impacted the result...

Part of living is loss. As devastating as it may be, one of the guarantees of this life is that we will all experience many losses, whether that is the loss of a human being, a horse, or any other loss. When we lose a horse, we are not only losing that animal; we are losing the hopes and dreams that went along with it. Not only is there an emotional loss to deal with, but often times a financial l...