One of my go-to drills for evaluating softness and speed control is loping a small circle. It’s a very basic exercise, but sometimes it’s the simplest exercises that can be the most revealing when uncovering the holes in our foundation. On this episode, I'm sharing the key benefits of loping small circles and what to look for when loping a 'perfect circle.' Read the full show notes at: ⁠philhaugenhorsemanship.com/podcast-episodes⁠


Episode Resources:
To learn the exercises discussed in this episode, enroll in Foundation to Finish at: philhaugenhorsemanship.com/courses/foundation-to-finish
To join the Be Your Best Membership with Phil Haugen, visit: philhaugenhorsemanship.com/be-your-best-membership.
To request a topic for our next episode, visit: philhaugenhorsemanship.com/podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it and tag #beyourbesthorsemanship!

The Benefits of Loping Small Circles

"Be Your Best" is hosted by professional horse trainer and clinician, Phil Haugen. Inspired by his “1% better everyday" training philosophy, Phil explains the methods, mindset, and performance tips that drive continuous learning and growth in horsemanship, as well as in life.  Join us each week as Phil shares his experiences over the past 30 years in the horse training industry, discussing the methods that have helped him bridge the language barrier between horse and rider to enhance understanding and performance from foundation to finish.

Education

Training

Language Courses

Higher Education

K-12

Educational Technology

Self-Improvement

This episode is inspired by a question from one of our listeners:
"I would love a podcast on how a rider can regain their confidence after an injury. My gelding spooked and bucked me off while riding in an arena with friends. I broke my pelvis. Although I am back to riding, I’m still scared to canter him in an arena. Thanks in advance!"
Join me as I share some advice on this topic and my phased approach to building confidence in horse and rider after an injury.
Episode Resources:
To join the Be Your Best Membership with Phil Haugen, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠philhaugenhorsemanship.com/be-your-best-membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
To request a topic for our next episode, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠philhaugenhorsemanship.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it and tag #beyourbesthorsemanship!

Regaining Rider Confidence After an Injury

This week's episode is a continuation of our series inspired by the Leonardo da Vinci quote: "Success lies in the relentless execution of the basics."  Join me as I share some insights on how this principle applies to performance anxiety.
Episode Resources:
To join the Be Your Best Membership with Phil Haugen, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠philhaugenhorsemanship.com/be-your-best-membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
To request a topic for our next episode, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠philhaugenhorsemanship.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it and tag #beyourbesthorsemanship!

Tips for Overcoming Performance Anxiety

This episode is inspired by a quote from Leonardo da Vinci shared by one of our recent clinic hosts: "Success lies in the relentless execution of the basics."  Join me as I uncover the application of this quote in various scenarios, including dealing with separation anxiety. 
Episode Resources:
To join the Be Your Best Membership with Phil Haugen, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠philhaugenhorsemanship.com/be-your-best-membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
To request a topic for our next episode, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠philhaugenhorsemanship.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it and tag #beyourbesthorsemanship!

The Relentless Execution of the Basics

If there's one thing I've learned over the past 40+ years in the horse training business, it's the power of a growth mindset. One of the reasons I believe I have been able to survive as long as I have in this business is, somewhere along the way, I embraced the fact that horsemanship is really just a series of continual learning opportunities. Join me as I share some insights on how to embrace the journey of continual growth in your training career.
Episode Resources:
To join the Be Your Best Membership with Phil Haugen, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠philhaugenhorsemanship.com/be-your-best-membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
To request a topic for our next episode, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠philhaugenhorsemanship.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it and tag #beyourbesthorsemanship!

Embracing the Journey of Continual Growth

As I get to stick around longer, life constantly reminds me of what is important in life. Over Mother's Day weekend while I was surrounded by family, I found myself reflecting on the importance of investing your time and energy in the right places. Join me as I share some insights on how to make the most of the time you have available and maximizing your efficiency as a trainer. In this episode, I'm also sharing a preview of some of our new training opportunities releasing in fall 2024 and 2025. 
Episode Resources:
To join the Be Your Best Membership with Phil Haugen, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠philhaugenhorsemanship.com/be-your-best-membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
To learn more about Mentorships with Phil Haugen, visit: https://philhaugenhorsemanship.com/mentorships
To request a topic for our next episode, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠philhaugenhorsemanship.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it and tag #beyourbesthorsemanship!

The Benefits of Loping Small Circles

Download our free app to listen on your phone