BROCK, TX – To Byron Hogan, it takes a man to be a cowboy.
“They raise cattle, they raise good horses, they raise good kids, when you talk to a cowboy – it’s all about the lifestyle,” said Hogan, a professional horseman and strong believer in the cowboy way of life.
“That cowboy is proud of how he takes care of his stock. He’s proud of how he takes care of his family.”
He owns Hogan Equine, a facility on a ranch of several acres. It offers personal development programs for people from all walks of life to learn from horsemanship. Hogan also mentors at-risk youths using the cowboy lifestyle and traditional virtues, like “chivalry, respect, endurance, fairness, trust and responsibility.”
Hogan believes these virtues are lost in this generation, and even more so for young men. He thinks fatherlessness and modern trends are taking away masculine values.
“When dad’s not around to teach you things, fundamentally you’d never develop that masculinity. And there’s this whole idea that masculinity is toxic. But it’s not.”
Hogan’s biography reveals he was raised in the Oklahoma Panhandle, where he embraced his grandfather’s cowboy lifestyle and strong work ethic. After earning his degree in Animal Sciences, he launched his career by winning the inaugural Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover competition in 2010. Following this success, Hogan joined the Mustang Heritage Foundation, where he developed initiatives that utilized Mustang horses to aid underserved communities. He also played a key role in producing shows like Mustang Million, Mustang Magic, and Camp Wildfire.
Growing up in what he calls a “family of dysfunction,” Hogan said he was one of the few who “made it” in life. It’s one of the biggest reasons why Hogan developed a passion for helping young men build their confidence, masculinity, and chivalry. Hogan mentors them in the exact same way he was guided as a child, which is “by being a cowboy and being around other cowboys.”
Hogan’s fascination and love for horses did not only come from being a cowboy. He genuinely believes horses have been and will always be a part of America’s foundation.
Hogan said, “God created the horse for men. They provide us transportation, they provide us power. They provide us protection like the southern border.”
With this belief, he uses the extremely intelligent animals for another noble cause: making humans better humans. As an emotional intelligence (EQ) coach, Hogan offers training and workshops for companies, organizations, and individuals to improve EQ skills.
Psychology Today states that EQ is “the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.” The workshops help people build a connection and relationship with wild horses while taming and caring for them.
“We’re figuring out how to connect to this horse while we’re stressed. And we’re trying to figure out how to get the horse to connect with us while it’s stressed. And in the midst of that we build a relationship,” Hogan explained.
EQ involves a set of skills that enable individuals to navigate social interactions and relationships effectively. The concept was popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman, who outlined the five key components of EQ: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.
- Self-awareness: Understanding your own emotions and how they affect your thoughts and behavior. This includes recognizing your strengths and weaknesses and having a clear sense of your values and goals.
- Self-regulation: The ability to control your emotions and impulses and respond to situations in a measured and thoughtful way. It involves managing stress, adapting to changes, and maintaining a positive outlook.
- Motivation: Being driven to achieve goals for reasons beyond external rewards like money or status. This includes having a passion for your work, persistence in the face of challenges, and a desire to improve.
- Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Empathy involves being able to sense other people’s emotions, perspectives, and needs, and responding in a compassionate and supportive manner.
- Social skills: Proficiency in managing relationships and building networks. This includes effective communication, conflict resolution, and collaboration skills, as well as the ability to inspire and influence others.
To learn more about Hogan Equine’s programs and the cowboy’s full story, check out his website at https://www.hogantrainings.com/.
