Be Your Best Horsemanship

Latest Episodes:

Preparing Your Horse for More Speed Mar 02, 2021

Show notes

Horses are wired with a “flight” instinct, which causes them to react in high-pressure situations. In the performance horse industry, we put our horses in high-pressure situations every time we ask them for more speed.

In this episode, I'm covering a few drills that can help you prepare your horse to handle a speed increase smoothly by maintaining a "thinking" state of mind.

To learn more about the Foundation to Finish and Foundation & Fundamentals online training programs discussed in this episode, head over to philhaugenhorsemanship.com/courses.

Every Repetition is for a Purpose Feb 23, 2021

Show notes

As human beings, we are naturally wired to seek an end point. When we start a project, we want to finish it. The toughest thing to understand about the horse training industry is that there is no real end point.

On this episode, I’m talking about how you can push past that “comfortable” spot with your horse so that you can continually develop that animal’s potential.

Learn more about the exercises discussed in this episode in our Foundation to Finish training course at philhaugenhorsemanship.com/courses.

How My Personal Development Journey Has Impacted My Horsemanship Feb 16, 2021

Show notes

I feel like I have grown more in the past 5 years than I have in the rest of my years combined. And this is because over the past 5 years, I have made a commitment to focusing on personal development. In this episode, I am sharing some of the realizations that have come about as a result of my personal growth journey, and how these experiences have shaped my perspective on horsemanship. Read the full show notes at philhaugenhorsemanship.com/podcast.

Preparing a Colt for the First Ride Feb 09, 2021

Show notes

Over the years, I’ve gotten a lot more patient about putting the first ride on a horse. Before that first ride, I will spend a significant amount of time on groundwork. I do this because I know that horse has to have a certain amount of trust in me before I attempt to get on its back. By helping my horse be prepared for that first ride, I build that horse’s confidence and reduce any insecurity toward the situation. During the groundwork phase, I want that horse to get to the point where it is able to recognize the release and begins to associate me with that relief.

On this episode, I'm going in-depth into my colt starting process and discussing some of the training methods I use to prepare a colt for its first ride.To learn more about the exercises we use in our colt starting program, check out the Foundation and Fundamentalsonline training program. You can also check our clinic schedule for upcoming Colt Starting Clinics.

Overcoming Discomfort to Improve Understanding Feb 02, 2021

Show notes

Horsemanship is not about the mechanical manipulation of our horses. We can use our hands, feet, or bits as tools to communicate with our horses, but we cannot rely solely on these tools when we add speed to the equation.

Our horses must have a reasonable understanding of our feel, timing, and balance before we can expect to communicate with them effectively at faster speeds. Improving our level of communication with our horses begins with putting ourselves in uncomfortable situations.

In this episode, I’m sharing some training methods that will help you break out of your zone of comfort and take the first step in building better communication and understanding with your horse.

To learn more about the step-by-step exercises discussed in this episode, check out the Foundation to Finish online training program at philhaugenhorsemanship.com/courses.

Rebuilding Your Horse's Foundation After Time Off Jan 26, 2021

Show notes

During the winter months, it gets more difficult to devote adequate time to our horsemanship. The days get shorter, the temperatures get colder, and it’s simply not as easy to find favorable conditions for training.

Taking a little time off isn’t a bad thing if we are aware of the correct way to approach training after a break. Time off reveals where our horses are weak in their fundamentals which, in turn, indicates we, as trainers, have been weak in our communication.

In this episode, I'm covering some of the most common areas where horses will display weaknesses after a break, and how to overcome these weaknesses by rebuilding trust and communication with your horse.

Interested in becoming part of our online training community? Head over to philhaugenhorsemanship.com/courses to explore our VIP training courses to get access to the fundamental exercises and monthly coaching opportunities mentioned in this episode.

Horsemanship is Leadership Jan 19, 2021

Show notes

As trainers, we have a responsibility to help our horses reach their full potential. And, this requires us to step into a leadership role.

Horsemanship is simply leadership. Horses are not born with the natural instinct to be submissive. It is a learned habit. That’s why, as trainers, we have to take on a leadership role with that animal to help engage the thinking side of its brain and perform the maneuvers we are asking for.

On this episode, I'm sharing some tips to help you develop your leadership skills as a trainer and become an effective listener.

Read the full show notes at: philhaugenhorsemanship.com/podcast

Making the Most of Your Time When Training Jan 12, 2021

Show notes

Horsemanship is a continual learning process. It’s a process that takes a significant amount of time and patience. Luckily, the level of access we have to information allows us to connect with one another, learn, and grow at a faster rate than ever before. However, the downside of this is that we have gotten into a habit of expecting instant gratification. In horse training, the desire for instant gratification can be detrimental to our long-term progress and success as trainers. We often want a “quick fix” to whatever challenge we’re experiencing today, but in this business, a quick fix now usually leads to even bigger challenges later. On this episode, I’m sharing my philosophies for maximizing your time while keeping a patient, yet progressive, mindset as a trainer.

Learn more about the training methods discussed in this episode at philhaugenhorsemanship.com/courses.

The Cowboy Mentality Jan 05, 2021

Show notes

The western industry is built upon the cowboy mentality -- that commitment, grit and never-give-up attitude that so many of us seem to live by. As you begin setting your goals for the coming year, I challenge you to fully embrace the cowboy mentality. Approach each of your goals with that same level of commitment, grit and never-give-up attitude. Be fully committed to bettering yourself.

Read the full show notes at philhaugenhorsemanship.com/podcast

Why You Should Be Softening Your Horse's Ribcage Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

For many years in my training career, I only focused on training the parts of the horse’s body that I could see. I focused on creating softness in their face, neck, and shoulders, but I never worked on controlling anything behind the saddle horn. Over the years, I have learned that there are five main parts of a horse’s body that are all interconnected: head, neck, shoulders, ribcage, and hindquarters.

Each of these body parts work with one another to create proper, fluid movements throughout the horse’s body. If one of these five areas becomes stiff or hard to control, that is usually an indication that I do not have proper control of one or more of the other areas.

In this episode, I'm sharing my methods for creating softness in your horse's ribcage and why this exercise is so important for performance events, such as barrel racing and roping.

To learn more about the exercises discussed in the episode, enroll in my Foundation to Finishcourse.