About Phil Haugen

With over 40 years of training experience and thousands of horses through his training program, Phil Haugen has become recognized as a valuable resource in foundational horsemanship and colt starting. Raised in western North Dakota, Phil grew up knowing the value of a well-trained equine partner and the importance of creating a foundation built on trust and respect. Phil competed in calf roping, team roping, and saddle bronc riding in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) for 20 years, and is now a PRCA Gold Card member. He has qualified for the PRCA Badlands Circuit Finals and the Prairie Circuit Finals in these respective events. Winning at both ends of the arena led Phil to earn the coveted Linderman Award in 1989. He was inducted into the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2021 and nominated for Western Horseman’s Best of Trainers & Clinicians in 2023.

Phil has developed a unique training style based on his experiences in and out of the competitive arena. His philosophy of “Training Through Understanding” starts with a simple, common sense approach that keeps the horse in a trusting, secure, and confident state of mind. His approach centers around the concept of helping the horse “think” and “understand” the responses you are asking for and teaching trainers how to enhance their communication and leadership with the horse(s) they are working with. Phil believes that meaningful communication and proper horsemanship can allow any horse and rider to achieve their optimal individual potential.

This approach has produced over $1,000,000 in Equistat earnings by performance horses that have been through Phil’s program. These horses have not been limited by age or discipline and have excelled in major barrel racing events, tie-down roping, team roping, breakaway roping, futurities, derbies and Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifications. Phil and his family currently reside in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He continues to compete in roping events while maintaining a full training roster and clinic schedule. He is the host of the globally-recognized podcast, ‘Be Your Best Horsemanship’ and connects with trainers worldwide through his clinics, events, online training and mentorship programs.