Shamus Haws is not "just another" horseman/clinician. Shamus' knowledge of horses is exceptional and he is gifted with communication and teaching skills reaching far beyond the average and into the handful of "top professional" horsemen today. He has figured out what he does best and is doing it: helping people on a very personal level about the incredible journey that can lead to a partnership between horse and rider; developing an effortless, soft connection, the thoughts of the horse and rider becoming one, and ultimately leading to directing the horses mind and feet. Shamus is in touch with the internal, invisible intent a true horseman must have which initiates the connection between horse and human before any external moves are evident.
Shamus was first placed upon a horse the day he was brought home from the hospital. By the age of eight, he was competing successfully in youth horse shows and rodeos. By the age of eleven, he had started his first colt. Soon after he was riding colts and training for the general public. Shamus has been ranching, riding & training horses ever since.
Shamus has taken every opportunity he can to ride with and learn from other great and talented horsemen. Knowing that there was a better way, his exposure to real horsemanship resulted in a commitment to work with horses for a better change, not only in the horses but also within himself. With more than 35 years of horse training and ranching experience, Shamus is always very eager to share his knowledge, and the knowledge that he has learned from spending time with other great horseman such as Bryan Neubert and Joe Wolter, along with the influences of Ray Hunt and the Dorrance Brothers.
"I feel that I will always be a continual student of Horsemanship. You can never gain enough knowledge. My goals on every colt I start and horse I ride is to help them be soft, supple, balanced, quiet, willing and responsive. I love the challenge of convincing horses to want to, rather than making them have to".
Shamus was first placed upon a horse the day he was brought home from the hospital. By the age of eight, he was competing successfully in youth horse shows and rodeos. By the age of eleven, he had started his first colt. Soon after he was riding colts and training for the general public. Shamus has been ranching, riding & training horses ever since.
Shamus has taken every opportunity he can to ride with and learn from other great and talented horsemen. Knowing that there was a better way, his exposure to real horsemanship resulted in a commitment to work with horses for a better change, not only in the horses but also within himself. With more than 35 years of horse training and ranching experience, Shamus is always very eager to share his knowledge, and the knowledge that he has learned from spending time with other great horseman such as Bryan Neubert and Joe Wolter, along with the influences of Ray Hunt and the Dorrance Brothers.
"I feel that I will always be a continual student of Horsemanship. You can never gain enough knowledge. My goals on every colt I start and horse I ride is to help them be soft, supple, balanced, quiet, willing and responsive. I love the challenge of convincing horses to want to, rather than making them have to".
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Shamus' gift of true horsemanship is evident by the connection that he has with horses and can be seen by his use of helpful analogies bringing the language of great horsemanship into everyone's realm of understanding. He can articulate the invisible concepts and the intent we have for our horses that is so essential to the partnership we desire, as well as teach about the "little things" which mean so much to them.
Shamus teaches his students about "feel". This is a soft connection, first between himself and his students, and then between the students and their horse. "When you connect & gain that willing partnership with your horse, you can control the mind, feet and body of a horse", says Shamus . This is essential to slow down, speed up, move the feet forward, back, right and left, as well as up or down. This freedom of movement is essential to any discipline.
"It is so rewarding to show people another way of handling their horse - a better, safer way. Without great horsemanship, problems with a horse are one accident away from people getting hurt. Everyone wants to get along with their horse but sometimes they get so focused on the end result they are trying to achieve that they don't see the real problem."
Shamus and his wife, Jolyn also operate a working horse and cattle ranch. Their brand has been passed down for five generations. Shamus has been running the day-to-day operations of the 30,000+ acre ranch and crew for the past 25 years and is very proud of the great foundation bred Quarter Horses that he raises. Their ranch is considered one of the largest and most reputable Quarter Horse breeders in the western United States. Along with Shamus' clinics and training, he personally oversees over 200 head of horses and a large commercial herd of cattle. Click here to learn more about Running U Quarter Horses.
"Between my clinics and the ranch, I get the pleasure of spending 300+ days in the saddle each year".
Shamus Haws is based in Utah, but offers large and small clinics from coast to coast, as well as demonstrations. His clinics are geared toward the ability and interests of the participants. He doesn't have a preference about whether the participants use english or western saddles or what discipline they prefer. There isn't a discipline that doesn't involve moving the horses' feet and connecting with their minds. Shamus passion in life has always been with horses and always will be. This passion has led him to many great opportunities and people, and has been blessed to be able to share it with many.
"As a reputable horse breeder and trainer, I feel it is my obligation to share my knowledge in a positive and influential way" -Shamus Haws
Shamus also has a passion for showing Ranch Horse Versatility, Ranch Riding, and Reined Cow Horses. As an AQHA Professional Horseman, Shamus loves working with youth, amateur, and select riders that also have a passion for showing. It is his goal to help take all of the Shamus Haws Horsemanship team to the top of the standings at shows across the country.