The programis real.
Lifelong horseman, clinician, competitor and the founder of the Breaking the Mold horsemanship program, based in Tolar, Texas.
Built from years in the saddle
With more than four decades of hands-on experience, Paul has dedicated his life to understanding the true language of the horse and sharing it with riders across the United States.
Breaking the Mold was not created from trends, shortcuts or theories. It was built from years in the saddle, learning directly from the horses themselves. Through success, challenges and countless hours of training, Paul developed a program rooted in true horsemanship: the kind that builds confidence, understanding and lasting results for both horse and rider.
He travels the country conducting clinics and educational programs that go beyond preparing for competition, building a complete horse and rider partnership through movement, communication and proper preparation. Speed and success, he’ll tell you, come from preparation, education and horsemanship. Not shortcuts.
“They weren’t simply trainers teaching me maneuvers. They were horsemen.”
Nearly ten years of Paul’s journey were spent under the direction of Ray Hunt and Jack Brainard. They taught him to look deeper: to read the horse, understand the mind, recognize what the body was saying, and see a problem before it became one.
“Most importantly, to understand the why behind what I was asking. They didn’t teach me to copy them. They taught me how to think like a horseman.” It’s the same thing Paul asks of riders today: not to follow him because he said so, but to learn enough to ask their own questions. Why am I doing this? What is it creating? What is my horse telling me?
Five principles, in order
Everything taught at a Breaking the Mold clinic comes back to these. They are the foundation of a strong, responsive and mentally confident horse.
- IBalance
A horse has to carry itself before it can carry speed.
- IIConnection
Clear communication between horse and rider, in both directions.
- IIICollection
Engagement brings the hind leg underneath and lets the back round.
- IVMovability
A movable rib cage, available shoulders, every part going where it’s asked.
- VForward Motion
Drive and power, with a horse that stays with you all the way through.
He’s run the pattern himself
Trainer, competitor, educator. Paul knows what a horse feels like coming into the first barrel when the foundation is there, and when it isn’t.
That’s why the program starts where it does. Speed should never tear down what you’ve built. It should enhance the preparation and the foundation you’ve developed.
The greatest lessons of my life never came from winning. They came from the horses that taught me to listen.Paul Humphrey
A community of riders doing it right
More than anything, Paul stands for honesty in horsemanship. His mission is to help riders develop the knowledge, feel and leadership required to bring out the best in their horses. Through Breaking the Mold, he continues to build a community of riders dedicated to doing things the right way: through patience, understanding and respect for the horse.
For Paul, Breaking the Mold is more than a program. It is a lifestyle, a philosophy, and a legacy built through the horse.
Ride with Paul
See where the tour is headed next, or bring a clinic to your arena.