Amazing Horse Country

S6E2 Moving Beyond a Reactive Reality

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 15:11:28 -0700

In so many areas of life, it feels like our culture is drifting toward quick, reactive fixes instead of thoughtful, proactive choices. We wait for things to go wrong, then scramble to patch the symptoms. It costs us time, money, and—more importantly—the chance to build something solid before the cracks appear.

With horses, the consequences run even deeper. Reactive solutions teach our horses to expect the worst. They create tension where there could be softness, anxiety where there could be curiosity, and frustration on both ends of the rein. The more we react, the more we reinforce the very patterns we’re trying to escape.

In this episode, I explore why reactivity has become so common, how it quietly shapes our interactions with horses, and what it looks like to step into a proactive reality instead. It’s not complicated, and it doesn’t require special talent—just awareness, intention, and a willingness to step up to positive leadership to eliminate any problem or issue.

If you’d like to dive deeper into this approach to horsemanship, you can learn more at AmazingHorseCountry.com.

thanks for listening!

Scott

S6E1 Freedom within a Relationship

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:09:27 -0700

This topic occurred to me while I was redesigning our Liberty Workshop for 2026, and it brought me back to a question I’m always circling around: in the world of horses, what does liberty actually mean?

In positive relational horsemanship, liberty isn’t about giving cues just because there’s no lead rope.
It isn’t about asking a horse to repeat things they already know.
And it definitely isn’t about teaching tricks through pressure, punishment, or a pocket full of treats.

So if it’s not those things… what is it?

Learn more about Scott and a unique style of Progressive Relational Horsemanship at amazinghorsecountry.com

S5E2 Versatility

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 08:52:45 -0700

What is your opinion on versatility as it relates to horses and riding?

Here’s a thought: if you’d like to eliminate spooking, bolting, freezing, bucking, frustration, fighting, fidgeting, etc. with a horse - one focus is versatility. Listen and learn about Scott's thoughts on Versatility with horses.

Learn more about Scott and a unique style of Progressive Relational Horsemanship at amazinghorsecountry.com

S5E1 The Little Things

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 20:12:35 -0700

Scott explores the relationship with his youngest horse and discusses the importance of the little things.

Learn more about Scott and Amazing Horse Country at amazinghorsecountry.com

S4E2 Liberty and Riding - The Same Thing?

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 08:05:33 -0700

Liberty is an energetically powerful, athletic connection between human and horse. Are liberty and riding the same thing then? Who would think such a crazy thing? They're closer than you think. And here's why.

S4E1 Positivity - An Exploration of Courage

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 11:38:21 -0700

Choosing positivity over negativity requires courage. Relational Horsemanship is, in part, a journey of discovering and celebrating our courage. It's a journey of positivity.

S3E1 A New Home

Wed, 04 May 2022 07:44:46 -0700

It's been a while since we've put out a podcast. But it has been a crazy 12 months. We've moved our home and business to a new location. But it's incredible.

S2E6 A Top Down Approach to Horse Training

Fri, 07 May 2021 09:46:34 -0700

In most cases, we start at the bottom. Building small pieces and then putting them together to form larger things. Sometimes it's valuable to work it the opposite direction. Let's investigate!

Scott Phillips

Amazing Horse Country

Our fun and upbeat intro song is Celtic Union by Terry Devine-King and Adam Drake.

S2E5 Conformation

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 02:00:00 -0700

Scott and Jody sit down and talk about conformation.

Conformation is one of those words we hear tossed around in the horse world. It means different things to different folks and different disciplines.

But just how important is it? And why? Well, we have the expert here to tell us all about it.

In this episode, we welcome back Jody Schulze McMann, owner/operator of Broken Spur Equine Therapy. Jody excels in her role as a therapeutic practitioner and mentor. Jody and I have co-taught clinics where she has instructed in bio-mechanics. I'm always fascinated by the depth of her knowledge.

Scott Phillips

Amazing Horse Country

Our fun and upbeat intro song is Celtic Union by Terry Devine-King and Adam Drake.

S2E4 Interstellar Horse - Part 3

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 02:00:00 -0700

Part Three - the Final Chapter in our story!

Ditch and I are in trouble. The ship is disintegrating. The AI is insane. And to make things worse, the oxygen generators are shut down. We have precious seconds to save our hides!

In this episode, Ditch and I push our Liberty Teamwork to the limit as we desperately attempt to get off the ship. But will the AI let us? You'll have to listen to find out.

Want to meet the real Ditch? He's an important member of our herd. Check him out, and make sure to say "hi" to him if you're ever at our ranch. He's a personable guy!

Thanks for enjoying our podcasts and videos. These things do have a cost and we'd love it it you could contribute even a couple bucks. Just click here: Sure, I'd love to help!

Want even more, including webinars and 1 on 1 online training? Just join our Horsemanship Mentor program. Check it out. We'd love to have you!

S2E3 - Equine Myth Busting -The Eyes

Sat, 06 Feb 2021 09:49:48 -0700

There's more than meets the eye.

The eye is the window to the soul.

The eye can do a thousand things that the fingers cannot.

While there is an immense amount of truth in those statements, there are also many myths about horses, including their eye. Join us for some equine myth-busting!

Thanks for enjoying our podcasts and videos. You can help support our production costs and even join our Horsemanship Mentor program. Check it out. We'd love to have you!

Our fun and upbeat intro song is Celtic Union by Terry Devine-King and Adam Drake.

S2E2 Interstellar Horse - Part 2

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 02:00:00 -0700

Part Two!

Ditch and I encounter a mysterious destructive entity onboard the Olad'ya. Then the excitement happens. The AI begins to shut down the oxygen system! Could things get any worse for the two of us?

In this episode, Ditch and I have to rely on our relationship, mutual trust and all of our Liberty to Riding skills. We encounter many obstacles that we can only overcome when we work as a team.

Want to meet Ditch? He's an important member of our herd. Check him out, and make sure to say "hi" to him if you're ever at our ranch. He's a personable guy!

Thanks for enjoying our podcasts and videos. You can help support our production costs and even join our Horsemanship Mentor program. Check it out. We'd love to have you!

S2E1 Interstellar Horse - Part 1

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 18:55:17 -0700

Liberty. A word that's synonymous with Freedom. Liberty is also used to describe a style of connecting with a horse in such a way that they follow the handler or rider without the use of reins or other physical cues.

Horses are born experts at liberty, because they know what it's like to move in freedom. They're also born experts at following - as the members of a herd follow a leader, and horses interact through space and energy all of their lives.

But what happens when you wake up on an abandoned cargo vessel in a remote region of space? Well, that happened to me and my horse, Ditch. Here's Part 1 of the story of how we survived - using Liberty work.

Thanks for enjoying our podcasts and videos. You can help support our production costs and even join our Horsemanship Mentor program. Check it out. We'd love to have you!

S1E9 - When Your Horse is Right

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 02:00:00 -0700

Can your horse be right or wrong? Can you? When riding we're often confronted with situations where our horse has independent thoughts. Is this detrimental? Is it valuable? We look at these questions and answers in the context of positive leadership and relationship building. How we work with our horse's thoughts defines our relationship and establishes our credibility as leaders.

This is the most production we've put into a podcast to date. We'd like to thank our voice actor, Monique Noble, for her talents in this show.

Thanks for enjoying our podcasts and videos. You can help support our production costs and even join our Horsemanship Mentor program. Check it out. We'd love to have you!

Our fun and upbeat intro song is Celtic Union by Terry Devine-King and Adam Drake.

Also featured is After All and Prospect by Dynamedion, and compositions and sound effects by Scott Phillips.

S1E8 - Chip and Relational Horsemanship

Sat, 13 Jun 2020 20:41:20 -0700

A Minicast? We're working on a new production coming up where Chip and I encounter a werewolf. It's crazy, I know! So here is a little bit about Chip and our style of horsemanship.

What does relational horsemanship mean? How do we relate to horses? And how can that take our riding to new heights? Check it out.

Help support our podcasts and videos. You can even join our Horsemanship Mentor program. Check it out. We'd love to have you!

Our fun and upbeat intro song is Celtic Union by Terry Devine-King and Adam Drake.

S1E7 - Saddle Fitting

Thu, 28 May 2020 02:00:00 -0700

It is important to every horse that the saddle fits comfortably. It's also important to you that your horse be able to perform athletically and pain-free. Joining me is equine bio-mechanics expert, Jody Schulze McMann. In addition to her extensive practical knowledge of equine body work, Jody is also skilled in saddle-fitting. In this episode Jody shares some of the principal considerations when evaluating a saddle for fit.

P.S. About the audio quality. We recorded it on a working ranch and you can hear machinery and lots ambient noise. All part of the atmosphere :)

Help support our podcasts and videos. You can even join our Horsemanship Mentor program. Check it out. We'd love to have you!

Our fun and upbeat intro song is Celtic Union by Terry Devine-King and Adam Drake.

S1E5 - Sir Isaac Newton and Horse Training

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0700

What does Sir Isaac Newton have to do with horse training? Well, his 3rd law of motion is tied in to how you ride your horse in some very obvious ways that you likely haven’t thought about – but when you do it might change how you ride from now on. So lets explore!

Help support our podcasts and videos OR join our Horsemanship Mentor program. Check it out. We'd love to have you!

Enjoy!

Our fun and upbeat intro song is Celtic Union by Terry Devine-King and Adam Drake.

S1E4 - Meandering

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0700

Horses are an incredible animal that communicate primarily through energy and empathy. How can we connect with that? In this episode, I head out into the pasture, hang out with my horses and share my thoughts.

Help support our podcasts and videos OR join our Horsemanship Mentor program. Check it out. We'd love to have you!

Enjoy!

Our fun and upbeat intro song is Celtic Union by Terry Devine-King and Adam Drake.

S1E3 - Equine Body Work

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0700

Introducing Jody Schulze McMann, owner/operator of Broken Spur Equine Therapy. Jody excels in her role as a therapeutic practitioner and mentor. She'll be joining us for several episodes throughout the year discussing a variety of topics from saddle fitting to equine bio-mechanics to the different modalities of equine therapy. In this episode Jody answers many questions that are commonly asked about equine therapy.

Jody and I have co-taught clinics in the past where she has instructed in bio-mechanics. I'm always fascinated by the depth of her knowledge, and privileged to call her a good friend.

Help support our podcasts and videos OR join our Horsemanship Mentor program. Check it out. We'd love to have you!

Scott Phillips

Amazing Horse Country

Our fun and upbeat intro song is Celtic Union by Terry Devine-King and Adam Drake.

S1E2 - Horse Sense

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0700

Is horse sense sensible, nonsense, or common sense?

Do horses have the ability to sense things more easily and accurately than humans, and if so, how? And better yet, can we make use of their abilities? Like the saying goes, two minds are better than one. I’d like to share some personal examples and my thoughts on what I consider an incredible asset offered you by your horse.

Help support our podcasts and videos OR join our Horsemanship Mentor program. Check it out. We'd love to have you!

Enjoy!

Our fun and upbeat intro song is Celtic Union by Terry Devine-King and Adam Drake.

S1E1 - Welcome to the Amazing Horse Country Podcast

Sat, 15 Feb 2020 10:47:00 -0700

Welcome to Amazing Horse Country. We're a horse and people training facility located in beautiful central Alberta, Canada.

I'm Scott Phillips.

I develop and teach a unique style of horsemanship that is positive and supportive for both horses and riders. Like our logo says, we are about Inspiring Connection and Creating Success. Our clients come from every corner of the horse world: from those new to horses to advanced English and Western riders.

We're about sharing knowledge, helping horses and riders and having fun. We do that through a variety of clinics at our ranch and abroad, and online programs including webinars, 1-on-1 with Scott and Horsemanship Mentor programs....and of course...

This podcast! Which you'll find is all about sharing knowledge and having fun with horses. Our official launch date is April 15 - make sure you tune in!

Thanks for joining us!

Scott

Become a member at AmazingHorseCountry.com. It's free!

Our fun and upbeat intro song is Celtic Union by Terry Devine-King and Adam Drake.