Ep 164: The Key to Making a Living as a Horse Trainer
“Can I make a living as a horse trainer?”
This is a question that comes up quite frequently. And to be completely honest, when I was starting out, I never really considered whether or not I could financially make a living as a horse trainer. I was more concerned about if I was a good enough horseman to make a difference in my horses.
I asked myself questions like:
Is my horsemanship good enough to separate me from the competition?
Is it good enough to create a niche where I can produce a product that is beneficial to others?
Does my product have enough value that the demand will continue?
Can I develop my product well enough that it can be successfully used by someone else?
While there are many factors that go into “making it” as a trainer, at the end of the day, horse training goes back to horsemanship.
The cool thing about horses is that they are always just standing outside waiting to teach us something. In a way, every time we step up on our horses, we are essentially getting paid to learn and develop a skill that we are passionate about. What an opportunity!
Whether it is training horses or any other job you may have, you have to approach it with a growth mindset — what can I learn today? When you do that, you will find that your day to day becomes much more enjoyable.
One of the keys to longevity in the horse training business is getting in the habit of overdelivering. I once heard the quote, “winners develop the habit of doing the things losers don’t like to do.” In other words, delivering a winning product means doing the small extra things that enhance the value of your product. Those are the things that people remember, and more importantly, they remember that you went the extra mile for them.
Excellence is determined by the consistency and commitment you have to making small changes in your daily habits that push you to another level.
Almost 40 years in this business later, I can answer with certainty: “Yes, you absolutely can make a living as a horse trainer.”
“Be Your Best Horsemanship” is brought to you by Silver Lining Herbs, Classic Equine, Martin Saddlery, Better Horses Network, Purina, Healthycoat, CINCH, Starbar, 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.
