Posts by Stacy Westfall
Episode 256: Bend is your friend, especially when bridleless
In this episode, Stacy Westfall reflects on the 20th anniversary of her first bridleless competition ride, sharing insights from her journey. She begins by addressing common challenging emotions faced by riders and their underlying causes and then addresses the similarities between basic bending and advanced bending. Key points in this episode: Red flags like anxiety…
Read MoreThe ride I knew my horse and I could do at home.
The thing about living a comeback story is…you don’t know it’s a comeback until after its over. When you’re in it, you’re just taking the next step. The first time I rode through the arch titled, “Gateway of Champions” my horse wore no bridle. It was my first time ever riding at the National Reining…
Read MoreEpisode 255: Lessons from Outliers: Horses not on the ‘traditional’ path
This episode, Stacy answers a listener’s question about working with ‘outliers’. Outliers are horses with unique needs or circumstances. Stacy shares insights from working with outlier horses, those not following the traditional training path. There are many valuable things that can be learned from a traditional or standard paths, which also helps us define outliers.…
Read MoreIf you move all your cues to your horse into your body, be sure YOU stay present inside your own body.
When emotions are high, logic is low. If I had known that, 20 years ago, before walking into the arena, maybe there would have been a happy ending. But there was not. That night, I would trot into a sold out coliseum, with over 5,000 people watching. I’d never been in front of a crowd…
Read MoreBridle-less riding reveals the level of understanding.
Twenty years ago, I competed bridle-less for the first time. Ten years before that, I made my first attempt at it. Both times, I failed. Failed to communicate clearly. Failed to prepare properly. And failed to achieve what I had set out to do. As a teen, this resulted in riding a flat out run…
Read MoreEpisode 254: My horse is so heavy: skillset and mindset
In this episode, I answer a listener question about a horse who has become heavy on the bit. Topics include: The importance of identifying concerns as a crucial first step before implementing any training techniques. How to identify limiting beliefs or thoughts that could hold you back I offer a new belief…with a warning How…
Read MoreEpisode 253: Tack & technique: choosing bits
In this podcast episode, I answer a question from a listener who is preparing to start their horse under saddle and has questions about the progression from a rope halter to bits with shanks. Topics include: Progression with a focus on understanding the purpose of each tool. Consideration of the horse’s understanding level, motivation, and…
Read MoreEpisode 252: What is a finished horse?
A listener wrote in that she recently got a new trail horse, and she said, “he’s supposed to be a “super finished” trail horse.” But he is not acting the way she imagined a finished trail horse should… Which brings up the question: What is a finished horse? There are many categories that can be…
Read MoreEpisode 251: Should I reward the smallest try…or expect more?
Early in training, or early in introducing a new concept, it is an EXCELLENT idea to reward the smallest try. But here is the question. When do you start expecting the full answer? This is where people often get stuck. In this podcast, I explain the challenge that comes along with only rewarding the smallest…
Read MoreEpisode 250: How to use your seat to cue your horse.
It is remarkable how well horses can learn to read a rider’s seat cues. In this podcast, I explain how I use my seat cues to communicate with my horses, including how these seat cues can naturally develop. A seat can: Follow the motion Get ahead of the motion Get behind the motion One hip…
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