Hey everybody, this is Phil Haugen coming to you from our training facility in Weatherford, Oklahoma, on a crisp Tuesday morning. I have to say, no matter what our weather is here, I can’t complain too much—my brother Barry sent me a screenshot from Bismarck this morning where it was -21 with a -35 wind chill. Now that’s cold.

I just got back from a great two-day clinic in Llano, Texas, where the weather was quite the opposite—mid-to-high 80s and just beautiful. Llano is in the Texas Hill Country, and if you’ve ever been there, you know why people love it. The clinic was hosted by Lauren Swift, who always does a fantastic job, and we had a great group of horses and trainers.

The Power of Investing in Yourself

One of the things I told the group, and something I say at every clinic, is how important it is to invest in yourself. And I don’t just mean financially—I mean investing your time, your energy, and your mindset into growth. A lot of people at that clinic probably valued their time more than the cost of tuition because they were making a conscious decision to step away from other obligations and commit to their personal development.

It doesn’t have to be a clinic, either. Investing in yourself might mean setting aside 30 minutes a day to read, listen to a podcast, or work on your fitness. Whatever it is, that mindset of continuous improvement is what sets people apart. The minute you stop prioritizing growth, you start going backward.

I see it all the time—people who take the leap and commit to growth, even in small ways, see tremendous progress. And that’s something I always admire about the people who show up at my clinics. They’re motivated, disciplined, and have a drive to be better. That kind of mindset will take you further than anything else.

Starting Where You’re At With What You Have

After coming back from Llano, I had a private clinic with an 18-year-old from Minnesota who didn’t come from a horse family but has completely dedicated herself to learning. She’s already trained a couple of her own horses, works for people who buy and sell horses, and gets to ride a lot of different horses—which, as I told her, is a blessing. Although she did not grow up with a horse background, she has committed to starting where she’s at with what she has today, investing her time to gain experience. I always say, it’s not just about the experiences you have yourself—it’s about putting yourself in the position to learn from others’ experiences, too.

Watching her ride was so encouraging because she’s focused on her foundational skills, and that’s going to set her up for success no matter where she goes in this industry. It’s exciting to see young trainers on the right path, working on the right things, and putting in the time to get better.

An Unexpected Lesson at the Chiropractor

Now, here’s where I learned a lesson in the most unexpected way.

A couple of weeks ago, I was dealing with a pinched nerve that had been nagging me, so I decided to go to the chiropractor. I had been in before, and they did some electrical stimulation therapy with those little electrode pads. It helped, so I went back for another session.

Well, this time, there was a gal working there who, for some reason, seemed to be having a bit of a day. I didn’t think much of it until she came in to turn off the electrodes—and somehow, instead of turning them off, she must have cranked them up to full blast.

I’m telling you, it felt like getting hit in the back of the head with a sledgehammer. I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak—just locked up while getting electrocuted. Finally, I managed to let out a holler, and by that point, I was in full self-defense mode, ripping the electrodes off and trying to get up off the table. The chiropractor came running in, apologizing, and I could tell he knew exactly what had happened.

Relating It Back to Horses

After I had a chance to sit and process what just happened, I started thinking about how many times I’ve unknowingly done the same thing to a horse.

That moment when a horse goes from feeling okay to being in full-blown panic mode—when they shift from the thinking side of their brain to pure reaction—that’s what happened to me on that chiropractor’s table. And the truth is, I’ve probably triggered that feeling in horses more times than I’d like to admit.

We don’t always mean to do it, but it happens. Maybe we apply too much pressure too quickly. Maybe we ask for something before they’re ready. Maybe we don’t give them time to process. But when a horse gets into that fight-or-flight mode, it’s not because they’re being difficult—it’s because they feel like they have no other choice.

That experience made me even more aware of how important it is to help a horse stay on the thinking side of their brain instead of the reactive side. It was a tough way to learn a lesson, but I’m grateful for it.

And hey, funny enough, my pinched nerve has been gone ever since. So maybe there was a silver lining after all.

The Takeaway

Life has a way of teaching us lessons when we least expect it. Whether it’s through working with horses, teaching a clinic, or even getting zapped at the chiropractor’s office, there’s always something to learn if we’re paying attention.

So here’s my challenge to you—keep looking for those lessons. Keep investing in yourself. Keep working to get just 1% better every day. And as always, today and every day, let’s be our best.