This episode of The Ride Podcast where we talk to Abbie Phillips is brought to you by Farnam.
Abbie Phillips grew up riding horses on her family’s ranch, helping gather cattle and spending countless hours in the saddle long before she ever stepped into the reined cow horse arena. What began as a love for horses eventually evolved into a successful competitive career, culminating in a bold decision to leave the non-pro ranks behind and pursue life as a professional trainer and competitor.
In this episode of The Ride, Phillips reflects on the experiences that led her to the sport, from riding her first cow horse as a teenager to competing on some of the industry’s biggest stages. She shares how a pivotal career decision opened new opportunities, why she was drawn to the versatility and horsemanship required in reined cow horse competition, and what it has been like building a program alongside her husband, Kelby.
Sperle walks through what it actually takes to build a world-class ranch sorting event from the ground up, and explains how the magic works when nobody in the stands can see how it’s made.
Phillips also discusses the horses that have had the greatest influence on her career. She explains why heart and willingness often matter more than raw talent, offers insight into her approach to developing horses for competition, and discusses the mindset she relies on when competing under pressure at premier events such as World’s Greatest Horseman and The Run For A Million.