Ep 103: You Are Worth It

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 and our horses.

In the horsemanship journey, we invest a lot of resources into our horses. Between vet bills, therapeutic treatments, feed and hay, we do our best to give our horses every chance to perform at their full potential.

But, I believe that some of the most important investments in the horsemanship journey have nothing to do with our horses. When it comes to progressing our horses, this progress starts with us.

A horse’s potential is limited only by our own knowledge. While methods and horsemanship techniques may evolve, there are some principles that have remained consistent for decades. These core principles have to do with how a horse’s mind works and how we, as trainers, can tap into this mindset and improve our communication with that animal.

I believe that when we make a commitment--whether that be an investment of our time or money--to improve our knowledge of these foundational horsemanship principles, a return on our investment is almost guaranteed. When we understand the horse better, we put ourselves in a position for them to understand us better, too.

If you are at a point in your horsemanship journey where making an investment in yourself seems scary, I want to be the first to tell you--you are worth it. Whether you are investing your time, your money, or both, I encourage you to have the confidence in yourself to make a return back on that investment. Speaking from experience, I can say that when you learn to prioritize yourself and your personal growth, everything else has a way of falling into place.



“Be Your Best Horsemanship” is brought to you by Classic Equine, Martin Saddlery, Better Horses Network, Purina, Healthycoat, CINCHStarbar, and Clarifly. These brands have been part of the Phil Haugen Horsemanship team for many years, and their products continue to play an integral role in the success of our performance horse training program. To support these brands, visit our Sponsors tab.

Previous
Previous

Ep 104: Dealing with Frustration

Next
Next

Ep 102: Maintaining Speed & Momentum in Your Turns