HORSE, FIRST - with Lockie Phillips

Lockie Phillips
  • 4.8 (41)
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Yes, but let's put the horse first! Taking a clear, ethical stance on horsemanship without judgement. We are observant, humble, clear eyed, regulated and deeply respectful of our equine partners. This podcast is not: Not human self-help using horses as metaphors Not romantic liberty training mythology Not moral superiority Not training evangelism This podcast is: Deep listening Thoughtful questioning Slowing down human narratives Allowing the horse to be the authority Join Lockie Phillips, the horseman behind Emotional Horsemanship, as we explore the inner world of the horse, the human systems that impact horses and building functional, ethical partnerships with horses where the horse is the authority on correctness. Guests from all around the world plus solo episodes to build connections based on truth telling, community and the joy of the HORSE FIRST way of life.

  1. 7h ago

    Clickers, Culture, and Common Ground (With Remy Burley)

    STUDY AN ONLINE COURSE WITH LOCKIE: https://emotionalhorsemanship.com/online-courses In this episode of Horse First, Lockie Phillips sits down with Canadian horse trainer Remy Burley, a specialist in operant conditioning and clicker training. The conversation begins with identity, representation, and the reality that who we are inevitably shapes how we move through the horse world. Together, Lockie and Remy explore the idea that the personal is political, what it means to be visible within a community, and why representation continues to matter. From there, they turn their attention to clicker training and operant conditioning, a field that has become surprisingly controversial despite its growing influence on modern horse training. Rather than debating camps and labels, this episode explores the practical realities of training horses, where different approaches overlap, where they diverge, and what both trainers have learned from their own experiences working with horses and people. This is a conversation about identity, training, belonging, and the importance of staying curious enough to learn from those whose paths differ from our own. Remy is based in Canada and is available for online coaching and tuition. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 39m

  2. Jun 25

    The Most Dangerous Thing You Can Teach a Horse

    https://emotionalhorsemanship.com Most horse people assume dangerous horses are disobedient horses. What if the opposite is sometimes true? In this episode of Horse First, Lockie Phillips explores the hidden risks of teaching horses that they have no options, no voice, and no meaningful way to disagree. Far from creating safety, the removal of dissent can create horses who suppress communication until they have no choice but to express themselves in larger, riskier, and more dramatic ways. Through practical examples ranging from trailer loading and catching to veterinary care and everyday handling, Lockie examines the difference between obedience and cooperation, compliance and agreement, and why some of the safest horses in the world are the ones who know how to say "no" without losing the relationship. This is a conversation about consent, communication, and the often-overlooked connection between freedom and safety. Because the safest horse isn't the horse who never disagrees. It's the horse who knows how. And knows someone is listening Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    23 min

  3. Jun 18

    The Internship Effect (Cat Roy Stanley)

    APPLY FOR A RETREAT OR INTERNSHIP HERE https://emotionalhorsemanship.com/retreats-internships In this episode of Horse First, Lockie Phillips sits down with horse trainer, high school teacher, equestrian relationship coach, and upcoming UK clinic host Cat Roy Stanley following her two-week live-in internship at the farm. Together they reflect on the experience of stepping away from everyday life and immersing yourself completely in horses, learning, and community. The conversation explores the clarity Cat gained around consent, boundaries, safety, technique, and the subtle difference between getting a horse to do something and creating the conditions where a horse genuinely wants to participate. They also discuss business, teaching, personal growth, and the unexpected ways that living alongside horses and horse people can challenge old assumptions while opening new possibilities. Most importantly, this episode is about what happens when learning becomes experiential rather than theoretical. When ideas stop living in books, podcasts, and social media posts and start living in your body, your relationships, and your daily practice. And yes, there was a lot of laughter along the way. This is a conversation about clarity, growth, and what becomes possible when you give yourself permission to learn deeply. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 28m

  4. Jun 12

    Mustangs, Mistakes, and Becoming

    In this episode of Horse First, Lockie Phillips sits down with horsewoman, mustang owner, former jeweler, and emerging educator Hayley Josephs. Together they explore the often-overlooked stage of horsemanship where learning is happening faster than certainty, and where curiosity becomes more valuable than confidence. Hayley shares her journey from a creative career in jewelry making to life with horses in Colorado, the lessons her mustangs have taught her, and what it feels like to step into teaching while still very much being a student herself. Along the way, they discuss creativity in horsemanship, the challenges and opportunities of being a newcomer, and why some of the most important growth happens when we're willing to admit we don't yet have all the answers. This is a conversation about humility, curiosity, and the courage it takes to keep learning in a world that often rewards certainty. Because sometimes the people closest to the beginning are also the people most able to see what everyone else has forgotten. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 37m

  5. Jun 11

    The Horse World Has a Teaching Problem

    In this episode of Horse First, Lockie Phillips names a difficult truth: many of the biggest harms in horse culture aren’t just about methods, they’re about instruction. From gatekeeping information and disempowering students with phrases like “You’re not a trainer,” to insecure teaching systems that rely on dependency instead of education, this episode explores how toxic pedagogy keeps both humans and horses stuck. With real-life examples and a clear call toward ethical, skill-building mentorship, Lockie invites listeners to stop paying for shame and confusion, and to seek instructors who create capable, comfortable adults and safer, more communicative horses. For more information check out www.emotionalhorsemanship.com! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    20 min

  6. May 30

    The Higher You Go, The Gentler You Must Become (With Michelle Knapp)

    In this episode of Horse First, Lockie Phillips is joined by senior clinician and long-time colleague Michelle Knapp for a conversation about one of the most difficult challenges in horsemanship: How do we pursue higher levels of skill, precision, and performance without falling back on lower-quality training practices? Together, they explore the role of dressage in modern horsemanship, the difference between refinement and control, and why advanced work should demand more understanding—not more force. They also discuss what it means to teach under a shared banner without becoming a copy of someone else, how to avoid guru culture as a teaching team grows, and why the best teachers create independent thinkers rather than loyal followers. Along the way, Michelle shares her thoughts on the students she loves teaching most, the art of holding people through meaningful breakthroughs, and how to maintain high standards without breaking horses—or humans—in the process. This is a conversation about leadership, refinement, and the responsibility that comes with helping both horses and people become more capable. Because better horsemanship isn't about doing more. It's about doing it better. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 17m

  7. May 28

    Confusion Is Not The Enemy

    In this episode of Horse First, Lockie Phillips dismantles one of horse culture’s most dangerous myths: that confusion always creates tension, behavioural problems, or unsafe horses. Confusion is not failure, it is cognition, and it is an essential part of real learning. A horse who is never confused is either repeating what they already know or performing without understanding, like a parrot mimicking words. This episode argues plainly that obedience is not cooperation, and that horses trained with the ability to consent, dissent, and offer alternatives become safer, steadier partners. When horses have a way to say no without needing a dangerous way out, humans can finally relax, trust the dialogue, and know that participation is real. For more information check out www.emotionalhorsemanship.com! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    17 min

  8. May 14

    Horse First Is Human First

    In this episode of Horse First, Lockie Phillips explores the idea that truly centring the horse automatically changes the human. Horse First is not human last, it’s the reciprocal path to becoming more regulated, more accountable, and more skilled, because horses respond to our nervous systems, our timing, and the space we take up, not our intentions. In a world that already centres humans by default, focusing on the horse becomes a rare correction that benefits both species at once. A grounding episode on selflessness, proportion, and the kind of human horses invite us to become. The EH School is a quiet place in a loud industry. A low-cost, high-value membership where horse people come to slow down, think clearly, and build real skill with horses at the centre. With a deep video library, an off-social discussion space, and live calls with Lockie, you’ll have support that feels steady, practical, and refreshingly human. Not a system to obey. A craft to practice. https://emotionalhorsemanship.com/eh-school-sign-up Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    12 min
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4.8
out of 5
41 Ratings

About

Yes, but let's put the horse first! Taking a clear, ethical stance on horsemanship without judgement. We are observant, humble, clear eyed, regulated and deeply respectful of our equine partners. This podcast is not: Not human self-help using horses as metaphors Not romantic liberty training mythology Not moral superiority Not training evangelism This podcast is: Deep listening Thoughtful questioning Slowing down human narratives Allowing the horse to be the authority Join Lockie Phillips, the horseman behind Emotional Horsemanship, as we explore the inner world of the horse, the human systems that impact horses and building functional, ethical partnerships with horses where the horse is the authority on correctness. Guests from all around the world plus solo episodes to build connections based on truth telling, community and the joy of the HORSE FIRST way of life.

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