Riding Far, LLC was founded over 20 years ago with the idea that riders thrive when they understand themselves, their horses, and how to create change. Every rider, regardless of experience or discipline, encounters challenges—we help them navigate these obstacles. More than just psychology or horse training, we create transformative experiences through expert education, mentorship, and guidance. By meeting each rider and horse where they are, we foster meaningful growth where traditional approaches have often failed. Our work integrates modern psychology, equine ethology, biomechanics, and the best of classical and contemporary horsemanship. Committed to ongoing learning, we provide informed, comprehensive, and inspired guidance to help riders and horses succeed together.
Our Mission
Our Values
Integrity: We challenge ourselves to never ask more of our clients than we do of ourselves. We honor our word.
Passion, Knowledge, and Deep Understanding: We are driven by passion, knowledge, and deep understanding, continuously investing in rigorous self-improvement and lifelong learning. By collaborating with industry leaders equally dedicated to the health of riders and their horses, we ensure excellence in everything we do. We bridge knowledge with action and experience, staying at the forefront of theory, research, and practice to cultivate expertise and drive meaningful progress.
Compassion, Empathy, and Respect for the Horse and Rider: We approach every interaction with compassion, empathy, and respect, creating a judgment-free space where riders feel heard, supported, and valued. By listening with openness and humility, we honor diverse perspectives and genuinely care about our clients' success. With kindness at the core of our work, we uphold the dignity of both horse and rider in all that we do.
Paul T. Haefner, Ph.D.
Paul Haefner, Ph.D., founded Riding Far, LLC to share his unique blend of clinical expertise and lifelong passion for horses. A seasoned licensed psychologist with over 35 years of experience, he integrates sport psychology, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, and neuro-linguistic programming into his approach—helping riders, instructors, and trainers elevate both their performance and personal growth.
An equestrian since childhood, Paul has fused his deep understanding of human behavior with his lifelong riding experience to guide equestrians in transforming self-doubt into confidence and fear into courage. His work spans a broad spectrum: from honing mental focus for peak athletic performance to fostering self-confidence, assertiveness, and harmonious relationships—both in the arena and beyond.
Paul’s commitment to continuous learning is evident in his recent ventures into interpersonal neurobiology, polyvagal theory, and affective neuroscience, ensuring his methods remain innovative and impactful. A passionate advocate for research in human-horse interaction, he has played pivotal roles in leading organizations such as the Horses and Humans Research Foundation and the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association.
At Riding Far, Paul dedicates his career to nurturing both the rider and the horse, forging connections that enable transformative journeys for all involved.
Justin Haefner
Justin Haefner became a partner at Riding Far, LLC in 2018, enriching our team with his expertise in horse training and horsemanship education. Specializing in young performance horses, Justin leverages his profound knowledge of equine behavior and movement to foster transformative experiences for both horses and their riders.
Raised in the tradition of vaquero-style horsemanship, Justin’s lifelong passion for horses began in childhood. His extensive experience—starting young horses, foxhunting, and exploring diverse disciplines—provides a strong foundation for his training philosophy. With a keen interest in classical dressage, equine bodywork, and horsemanship, he helps horses of all disciplines develop strength in mind, body, and spirit. His approach is deeply influenced by legendary masters like Nuno Oliveira, Ray Hunt, and Tom Dorrance.
Justin is committed to continuous growth, both as a rider and a trainer. He has trained at Portugal’s Centro Equestre Leziria Grande with the Valença family and studies under renowned instructors such as Stephanie Jennings (Working Equitation), Tom and Trina Curtin and Lester Buckley (horsemanship), and Patrick King and Pippa Callanan (classical dressage). His pursuit of knowledge in horse and human physiology, psychology, and classical training principles drives his work.
At Riding Far, LLC, Justin is dedicated to making a lasting, positive impact on the equestrian community, one horse and rider pair at a time.
