Episode 345: 4 Reasons Riders Don’t Teach Focus

Most riders want a focused horse—but many unknowingly skip the steps required to develop it. In this episode, Stacy Westfall explores four common reasons riders don’t actively teach focus, and how this omission affects connection, performance, and safety. Key takeaways: – Some riders don’t believe focus is teachable—or even possible—and assume it’s just a fixed…

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Episode 343: Why “Almost Right” Will Bring Less Tension

Striving for precision too early in training often backfires—not because correctness is wrong, but because perfection adds pressure. In this episode, Stacy shares how choosing to leave something slightly off, or “almost right,” can actually lead to greater clarity and softer communication. Using a real-time groundwork session with her mare Luna, Stacy illustrates how intentional…

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Episode 342: Stuck Between Knowing and Doing

Do you find yourself nodding along to training advice, then heading out to ride only to freeze up with questions like “Am I doing this right?” or “Am I rewarding something I shouldn’t be?” Join Stacy as she explores why learning feels so hard and introduces a framework that normalizes the struggle. In this episode:…

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Episode 341: Forward Is a Direction—And a Trained Skill

  This episode builds on the previous discussion of horses “falling in” on circles by shifting from the problem to the proposed solution: teaching forward as a direction, not just a speed. Stacy explains why forward is often misunderstood and rarely trained as a purposeful, straight-line intention—and how this gap shows up in real riding…

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Episode 338: The Mind-Body Connection at Tricky Trail Crossings

Stacy shares insights from her first off-property trail ride with Ember, revealing a critical moment where riders unknowingly teach their horses problematic behaviors. By identifying the exact instant when most riders make a fundamental mistake at water crossings, Stacy demonstrates how arena training directly transfers to trail success. Key takeaways: When a horse hesitates at…

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