A promise to a horse, Willow’s Story: Episode 12

I make one promise to my horses.

I promise to develop you to your fullest potential.

Pulling a cart, a safe trail horse or the show pen…

I don’t decide…I help them find it.

I sold Willow as a weanling.

I bought her back as a 4 year old when she was too small.

I thought I could make her a kids horse.

I started her under saddle.

I trail rode & messed around.

For two years.

I wanted to do reining but she wasn’t ready for that pressure yet.

So I looked around and decided to try western dressage.

She did well.

I’m a lifelong learner.

I find most horses enjoy learning.

In 2019 I decided to show Willow in traditional dressage.

Why show? People ask.

Why not? I answer.

Its just another place to develop our communication.

And to hold up my promise to develop each horse to its potential.

Showing never hurts a horse.

Bad decisions and poor choices hurt horses.

And that can happen behind closed doors as easily, or more easily, then in an arena.

So when we went to our last show. … in the mud, between the rain.

Willow and I earned our bronze medal in dressage.

While I’m proud of the show ring awards, I’m more proud of being part of her story.

I’m proud that I recognized where she was at.

And that I kept asking, ‘but what if you can do more’

And she said, ‘maybe I can.’

And she did.

AQHA, USEF, USDF registered name: I Can Can I

Trained, shown and loved by Stacy Westfall

3 Comments

  1. Martina Brown on July 10, 2019 at 10:19 pm

    I watched the video and I noticed how Willow looks so great doing traditional dressage. She is such a cutie! You two look great together. Glad you tried western and traditional dressage…to help find a great fit for her.

  2. Jenny Wood-Outhwaite on July 6, 2019 at 8:52 am

    I LOVE LOVE this!!
    Happy tears kind of love!
    SO beautiful!
    Congratulations on the Gold!! Incredible little pony!!

    Your constant dedication to the welfare of horses and sharing your wealth of knowledge continues to amaze and inspire!!!
    Thank you for sharing your gift so we can attempt to simulate it if even in a small way!!

    Our horses and WE are better because of you!

    Thank you

    Jenny

    • Stacy Westfall on July 6, 2019 at 2:21 pm

      Thank you! Understanding horses is a life long journey that I’m committed to…and sharing it is fun! If it helps anyone or any pony (or horse, or mini…lol) then all the better!

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