Posts by Stacy Westfall
Can you recommend an online show for a beginner with a gaited horse?
“My goals are not near as grand as yours, but one of my main goals with my mare is to compete in something. I have done a lot of ground work with her and have been working through your steering course. Can you recommend an online show that would be great for a beginner. I…
Read MoreDoes the phrase ‘goal setting’ make you cringe?
I talk a lot about setting goals.? I’m aware that even using this phrase brings up negative emotion for some people. Sometimes the idea of setting a goal brings up stress because you’ve set one in the past and failed to achieve your desired outcome…and you don’t want to feel that way again. Maybe you…
Read MoreBehaving badly or struggling with something difficult: applies to horse too
I see so many similarities between raising children and educating horses. I took this screen shot in February of 2016 and it is still on my phone because it rings true for me…in all relationships.
Read MoreStubborn or persistent? I’m talking about me not the horse…
Two of the things I talked about in this weeks podcast were looking ahead to set your goals and…goal setting. Sometimes it is beneficial to look at this in reverse. Look back a year or two and remember what you were thinking, what you were aiming for. Suggestion: If you keep journals go back and…
Read MoreUnbridling problems: my horse flings her head up and causes the bit to bang her teeth
“Hi Stacy, I was wondering if you could answer a question for me? It would be greatly appreciated. I have a new horse that has an issue with the bridle being taken off. She takes the bit fine when bridling but anticipates the bridle coming off. When you reach up to remove bridle from ears,…
Read MoreThe rewards of goal setting…years later
Seriously, setting goals works! This trophy just arrived in the mail from the AQHA! In 2019 when I decided to show at the Western Dressage World Show in October…I made that decision and began planning in January. That planning allowed me to see that showing in classical dressage would help my western dressage. That realization…
Read MoreEpisode 113: How to calendar your horse goals
In a perfect world…what would this year look like with your horse? What would you accomplish? In January of 2022…what would you like to have achieved? In this podcast I share with you how I use my calendar and tracking to get so much done. One of the reasons that I take January goal setting…
Read MoreRavenclaw won her first belt buckle!
Ravenclaw (that’s her AQHA name, I call her Gabby at home) won her first belt buckle! Just arrived in the mail from the Western Dressage Association of America. Excited to see what she can do this year!
Read MoreMy horse can’t be ridden but I want to keep his brain active…do you have any ideas?
“Hey Stacy! I have a coming 8 year old QH gelding who can no longer be ridden. He was my amateur ranch versatility reserve champion ride. Unfortunately, due to a fall he took as a 3 year old, he now has calcification pinching a nerve in his hip, causing him to be extremely uncomfortable and…
Read More“Wisdom comes from the journey, not the destination.”
I love quotes. I collect them in several forms, one of which is by snapping photos of them with my phone. I enjoy scrolling back through, looking for something and stumbling across a little nugget of wisdom like this one. I believe that life truths work in all areas…including with our horses. This one rings…
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