Posts by Stacy Westfall

Forward is a direction, not a speed. Why is this an important statement? As I coach riders, I often see horses who look wobbly on straight lines. Some even appear to be walking a tight rope. What causes this? I see this as a question in the horse’s mind that is being expressed in their…

In this episode, I outline three examples where I often see riders using ‘low’ energy to try to influence their horse. In each example, I share what I see and the challenges that often come from this method. What do you believe about low energy? Is low energy better than high energy? Does the idea…

Do you have a thought, that you are not aware of, that is holding you back? While this might seem like an impossible question to answer- it’s not. It is however a higher level idea that will require you to do some work. In this podcast, I share a story to illustrate how a hidden…

When I say that I ride the same pattern over and over again in training, the most common question is, “Doesn’t the horse memorize the pattern?” In this podcast, I explain: -the reasons I teach with simple patterns -how using the same pattern with different techniques can help you understand how the technique influences the…

Are you willing to be out of sync with your horse to make progress? In this podcast, I talk about the idea of moving faster or slower than your horse as a concept that exists both physically, and mentally. When physically riding a horse, it makes sense that you could be ’ahead’ of the horse’s…

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just read a book or see a demonstration once…and just do the new thing with ease? The reality is often quite different. I would even go as far as saying that the process is backward from what we desire. Take the example of changing a current habit, where…

This podcast was recorded while I was on a long, ‘non’ specific ride. I categorize riding sessions into four different types to increase my awareness and effectiveness. I often teach students how to do short, very specific rides. You’ll hear why in the podcast. This could be a pep talk for how to ride for…

Self-concept is how you perceive your behaviors and abilities. It affects your motivation, attitude, and behavior. It is possible that your self concept is slowing you down more than your technical skills. Signs your self concept might need an upgrade: -You have trouble staying motivated to work with your horse. -When you do work with…

Have you developed the skill of evaluating your rides? The skill of evaluating yourself is highly valuable. It improves your ability to be fully present during your ride, it makes you more coachable when you receive instruction, and you get results faster. If all this is true…why do people resist evaluating themselves? The main reason…

A listener asks a question about changing her horse’s pushy, fidgety behavior on the ground. She asks, “How can I deconstruct a behavior or a reaction and rebuild a more favorable behavior?” This podcast discusses the difference between training (or retraining) and deconstructing or rebuilding. During training or retraining, the horse is often learning the…