About Rick

Rick was raised in California's famed San Joaquin Valley—the home of legendary Hackamore and the Bridle Horses. Under the expert tutelage of his father, Keith Haag, Rick started riding almost as soon as he could walk. Rick worked with famous California horsemen Bob Barrett, and Tom Dorrance, and many others. 

Rick was a professional rodeo athlete, riding bareback horses and bulls, he also team roped and calf roped. He won the CCPRA rookie of the year in 1986. 
From there, Rick worked on vast ranches in Nevada, California, and Arizona. Ranches like The Finney, Cane Springs, The Flying M, the Circle Bar, and more helped him hone his horsemanship skills.

Rick has trained many horses that went on to have successful careers in jumping and eventing. Several years were spent training Thoroughbred racehorses and two of his colts sold  at the prestigious Barrett's Sale, the second largest Thoroughbred sale in the country.

Rick attended two years of horseshoeing school in Merced, California in 1985.

Rick's foundational education is based on the ultra-responsive Hackamore/Bridle horses of the California and Nevada ranges. He found those foundations are applicable to all breeds and disciplines seeking a willing, reliable equine partner.

Rick has put on many clinics helping hundreds of horses and people. Rick helps people with their horse problems, and horses with their people problems. 

Rick and his family live in southern Utah in the Great Basin and in the shadows of Utah's majestic peaks. His son Seth works fulltime with him training horses from all over the west.