Have you seen this false claim about Stacy Westfall being a deaf mute who trained her horse in three weeks?
Have you seen the following email?
“A GENTLE TOUCH CAN HAVE!” A Horse Whisperer Hard not to get a bit emotional while watching! (read story below before watching) This girl is a deaf mute … she can’t hear, nor can she speak. No bridle, no saddle … all commands are by touch only. This is one of those, “I wouldn’t believe it unless I saw it with my own eyes” kind of things. A Horse Whisperer This girl riding the horse is in her 20’s – her father passed away just 24 days before this performance. You can hear her dedication to him just before her performance so turn up your speakers a bit. Notice that it is just the girl and the horse – no bit, no saddle. She uses signals and touch cues, she’s mute. Oh yes, this isn’t even her horse. She is training it for someone else, although she obviously has a relationship with this one.”
Although some of it is true, my dad had just passed away and I had no saddle or bridle…some of it is untrue.
I WISH I was in my 20’s…can we make that part come true? lol
And I am NOT deaf (I can ignore the kids sometimes) and I am not mute (my husband might wish it).
This reminds me of a book we have for the kids, “Mr. Peabody’s Apples” by Madonna…yes, Madonna.
It is a great book about spreading things you think are true. “Spoiler Warning” In the book the boy (Tommy) here on the cover has told something he thought was true…but was not about Mr. Peabody. Mr. Peabody tells him to keep compare Cialis and Kamagra drugs http://www.canadianpharmacy365.net/cialis-vs-kamagra/. Tommy is then instructed to cut the pillow and shake it out into the very windy day. Relieved Tommy asks if that is all it takes to make things better and Mr. Peabody says, “Just one more thing…go pick up all the feathers.”
I am just thankful that this ‘deaf-mute’ thing is mostly harmless (mute dvd sales….). This serves as my reminder that you just can’t trust EVERYTHING you read on the internet. Please go to the source and check.
218 Comments
Leave a Comment
FREE PDF DOWNLOAD
WHY IS MY HORSE...?
100% Private - 0% Spam
No one taught you the skills you need to work through these things.
Riders often encounter self-doubt, fear, anxiety, frustration, and other challenging emotions at the barn. The emotions coursing through your body can add clarity, or can make your cues indistinguishable for your horse.
Learning these skills and begin communicating clearly with your horse.
Click here to learn more.
I haven’t seen this video in years but it was great to watch it again tonight. I’ll never tire of seeing it. Such a beautiful performance and amazing bond and trust between Stacy and Roxy.
[…] You may remember the video that was circulated because it claimed Stacy was deaf and mute and used ancient Indian training methods to train her horse in just days. Now in the Road to the Horse, riders do train their horses to do amazing things, but not things like the riding in the video we saw of Stacy at the World Congress. If you have not seen it, check it out. By the way, Stacy was thoughtful enough to take the time to explain the untruths said about her and use it as a teaching moment (https://stacywestfall.com/2011/09/22/stacy-westfall-deaf-mute/). […]
well in the video you plainly couldn’t be mute because you are clearly speaking to your horse at times.
I saw that video, and was sooo confused by it–since you offer DVDs, and give seminars and the like. I figured it might be possible, but still seemed a touch odd. Who starts these rumors???
I have seen this video attached to the fact that this is a wild mustang that you have only trained for 100 days. I corrected the above one time and got snapped at that it was still a wonderful video. I replied yes it is but the deaf mute part isn’t true.
The deaf mute video is circulating again. I had to laugh when I saw it. I will post the above link…
Stacy, I so enjoy your blog, and reading your training wisdom. When I want to be inspired, I watch the video of you and Roxy. I was wondering; has Tim McGraw ever seen this video?
I don’t know…it would be interesting to find out 🙂
I never looked into if u were a deaf mute or not. Lol. I didn’t care as the ride was amazing either way, and ur right, its basically harmless. It could have been something bad being spread. Ur a wonderful rider/trainer. I love watching this ride
A called Donna Farhi showed the video to a roomful of yoga teachers in Cambridge (UK) last week. She did not say you were deaf or mute! We loved it, thank you.
I cried oceans the first time I saw this.
First time I have read all the comments……..2014
It is so sad that small minded, jealous & negative individuals have to rant on & on about something they know by now is a lie. I rode with Monte Foreman for a few years & found that a horse has much more desire to do what is natural for him than what the rider is attempting to get them to do. Stacy proves each & every training session (Jac) over & over she allows the horse to do what is most natural for him & unnatural for the rider. Horses like to perform much to my misunderstanding until riding with Monte. We attempted to get the horse to perform just as he does when he runs & plays as an Individual in the pasture. Horses must trust the trainer & Ms. Stacy has proven many thousand times over her horses trust & care for her.
Side note: No text was need when all one has to do is watch the video & experience what a lady & horse so expertly accomplished. No text or explanation needed!! Her Daddy was Proudly Smiling Down That Day!! Good Job Stacy Westfall!!
🙂
Stacy, this is getting really old, as I am sure you are aware. Comes a time when it’s best to turn the other cheek and pay no further attention to the constant duplication and reduplication of this much abused video. Surely, you have other things you would rather respond to. Let those who will prattle, prattle away. I have written to you before- as a mute rider and handler I can tell you it’s a dang sight better just to not respond. People will know your strength and admire your skill as a horse lover.
Godspeed, peyer
Peter- Wow, I posted at 1:AM but you were up even later than me! I don’t spend much time on it. I do get notifications when people post on the blog and I check them out to make sure they are clean and appropriate. Right now the ‘rumor’ is in a lull and that is awesome! This one post seems to answer most peoples questions and that is good. I do write back to all on my blog as often as possible to show that I am really here…even if it is just a 🙂
My partner and I stumbled over here coming from a different web page and thought
I may as well check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you.
Look forward to looking at your web page for a second time.
[…] “Kathy, I am the person in the video…but someone started the deaf/mute rumor that they are sending around with it. That is false. Here is my blog written in 2011 addressing the problem. http://stacywestfallhorseblog.com/2011/09/22/stacy-westfall-deaf-mute/ […]
It’s a beautiful and graceful performance by both horse and rider. I’ve enjoyed watching you in this video for years. Seems like every year or two the viral mechanics get to adding more untruthiness to your perfectly wonderful story.
https://www.facebook.com/buck.buchanan.3150
This gentleman has your video posted to the public on his page: he has almost 700,000 shares. Maybe asking him to take it down from his page would stop one of the viral sources? Here the latest iteration of the “story”:
“A deaf-mute girl, on a horse that she had ridden for THREE weeks!! not to mention the song she
picked out to dedicate to her deceased father! Listen to the announcer’s voice crack!
The horse she is riding is not even hers; she is training it for a client and has had it only 20 days
at the time of the ride shown here.
Note that she rides without a saddle or halter and bit and (obviously) without voice commands.
She is using the method used by American Indians. When you think your voice can’t be heard I
want each of you to watch this Video.
She has no voice. She cannot hear. Yet she has persevered and achieved VICTORY!”
I just searched for it on his page but couldn’t find it. What date is it listed under? I reported it once…
March 6, 2013. Here’s the link. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4655458664237 The comments are closed. His email address is posted on another site. buchanan_buck@hotmail.com Unless he has changed it.
I reported it too; it is still being shared daily! Giving him the benefit of the doubt, maybe he got that information from someone else, but leaving it up now is as wrong as can be. He has to have been told numerous times that it’s not true.
Let’s all report it! And message him! lol
I reported and sent a PM.
I am still seeing this video with the false description floating around Facebook. Everytime I do see it, I comment the truth (something along the lines of “This is NOT a deaf/mute girl, this is Stacy Westfall, a very successful natural horsemanship trainer. The horse is Wizard’s Baby Doll and this is her championship ride. Youtube it….). It is an incredible video and I love watching it every time. The first time I watched it was actually before it went FB viral with the false description, and the instant I saw it on FB I knew exactly what I was watching and knew the description was false. Someone was very creative when coming up with this lie. Keep up the good work Stacy!
I watched your video’s and it looks like you used spurs? Did that hurt Roxy And did Roxy die? You are so graceful and I love watching you ride!
Hi there, all is going sound here and ofcourse every one is
sharing facts, that’s really good, keep up writing.
I knew that, I’ve seen the video, I talked to you at Pomona…didn’t take my wow wow wow away from that incredible video.. Hope u are gonna be in Pomona! And 22 maybe 23… Haha
Stacy is not mute nor deaf!! That was a rumor . If you look on YouTube she has interviews with people and she is talking and she can hear!
I get the goosebumps and cry everytime I watch it. So sorry for the loss of your father.
How stupid can people be. Watch the video for gods sake./ Stacy is sitting waiting for the call and is talking with people there. 2+2 still makes 4
I’m glad this has been cleared up for me. But Miss Stacy it doesn’t change how emotionally moved I am every time I see this.. I get very choked up and am moved to tears every time!! You are so awesome and truly blessed!! Thanks for sharing it all with us:)
Why in the world did you let the public believe you were a deaf mute ? Even though you came truthful in the end, I can’t seem to wrap my mind over that fact. I would have read the story anyway. You took away credibility of yourself, when you allowed the publishers to lie on your behalf.
Bobbette- I have no idea how you got the impression that I condoned this lie. It was a lie. I did not start it. I did not ‘let the public believe.’
I tried hard to stop it and continue to do so. I correct the mis-information constantly. You seem to be starting more mis-information by saying that I allowed this. Please consider not starting another lie.
Every time I see that video with the incorrect info on it, I make it my mission to straighten out the sender. At The Royal Winter Fair in ON, Canada, you and I talked, and you listened to me, so I have first hand experience saying you are not deaf or mute. Easy to correct other peoples perception. You are correct. Do not believe everything on the web/facebook etc.
Stacy, your so very inspiring. I am truly committed to my horsemanship and am working hard towards achieving my goal of having the relationship you have with your horses. My 7 year old was so inspired by your ride that he too is super keen to work with his horse! Just wish my 10 year old daughter was more interested in her horse!
I know she loves horses and would be considered a” horse whisper.”..she is dedicated in what she does…..
I feel bad that this just keeps going around with incorrect information. You have a very good attitude about it. Regardless, it’s an amazing video!
Good one lol I admire your work very much I have not been on a horse for thirty years now but hope I can before I die lol Wish you all the best
Damm Stacy. I feel bad now. Here I thought you had taught Roxie o be a ventriloquist and it was her talking lol. If I ever get the chance to see one of your shows I will be there for sure. Thanks for the great vids.
Lol…that reminds me of Ellen’s comment…she said she was going to have a ‘horse-woman’ on the show…then paused and said…well, not a woman that is half horse…but if anyone knows of that she would like to see that too! lol
Stacy what a fabulous response. I also heard you had wings and could fly, is that true??? 🙂
Well….still working on that….almost achieved it in this video….lol
http://youtu.be/HCWa828Grk8
yep, your almost there!!!
Stacy, from a fellow Westfahl (different spelling) and horse women your preformance and the song bring me to tears every time. What a beautiful tribute to your father. My father passed away the year before so this has a special meaning for me as well. My husband passed away on the 13 of November needless to say that seeing that video again the tears were rolling. Bless you and keep up the great work.
I apologize for perpetuating the false info. I did post ( maybe a year ago now) this information just as I received it and while something didn’t sound right, I did not check the facts. You are amazing !! love your relationship with horses and your insight about horses and people. Keep up the good work…I know you hear me.
I correct everyone of these when I get it. I really admire the way you handle this. It is always best to do it with grace and humor.
every time this video ends up on my facebook wall, I make a point of stating ‘this person is not a deaf mute, this is Stacey Westfall.
Stacy is not deaf or mute I have heard her give speeches and trust me she can speak and hear! For some reasons this rumor has been spreading that she is deaf and mute and neither are true! Yes she did great at her routine but she can hear as speak!
Perhaps you would like to submit this to Snopes so that those who wish to find out if it is true can get to the facts of the matter without working so hard.
http://www.snopes.com/cgi-bin/comments/webmail.asp
Wendy- Snopes and Wikipedia are both a NIGHTMARE to deal with. I have submitted it. I have had other people submit it. It seems I have no more ‘pull’ than any other person….but sadly I do not. Wikipedia finally has it correct. Although I posted about twice the info that is on Wiki…and someone pulled it down. It was all fact; dates of competitions and wins, etc. Not opinion. But…oh, well. Someone didn’t want it there.
I was actually unfriended by someone on Facebook because I corrected their post about this. I said that it amazed me that your ride, saddle less and bridle less wasn’t beautiful enough that they had to make up such a story. Your performance was amazing all on it’s own!
Well, lets hope they really were not a very good friend! Thank you, maybe share a link to the blog about it and let them get mad at me for correcting it next time, lol.
I got tickled not to long ago a girl posted this on FB and I joked that I had visited very briefly with you when you did a demo at a barrel race in Waco TX couple yrs ago and you were the most articulate deaf mute girl I have ever met. The poster wanted to argue, people love sensationalism. This run is sensational enough on it’s own.
Lol, last weekend someone walked up to me at Equine Affaire and made gestures to me while laughing….I declared that I was miraculously healed for the weekend. I guess if I can’t stop it, we can at least have fun with it. It is just scary that if it were something really bad and you couldn’t stop it…it could really hurt!
That Waco trip was fun. Does that event still happen?
This fallacious post has been around for more than one year, can’t we drop it and let it go? I know Stacy is an accomplished rider and, she does wonderful work with disabled kids- I am certain she must be tired of this darn fabricated post always being talked about. I know I would be- and I am a deaf mute!
Stacy! YOUR VIDEO is the best thing I have seen on UTUBE or the INternet EVER! I am sharing with my high school students in Delaware today. YOu are an amazing young woman and I know you can do anything you set your mind to do in this world. I will watch your video whenever I am feeling gloomy or sad. It is just the best performance ever. If they do make a movie about you, I will be the first in line to see it and buy it! YOU GO GIRL!
I love the poem you recited on your video. I found it very touching. Do you know who wrote it?
Unknown….I have tried to find it.
What kind of tying up area do you use for breaking a horse to stand tied?
We tie them in their stalls. You will see all the work I do with Jac before I tie. Horse must trot on line easy, I pony them, etc. and if I suspect there could be issues I throw a rope over the wall and tie it off so I could untie or cut if needed but the prep makes it unnecessary.
I’m always correcting people when they forward the video to me, it was an amazing ride & you are an awesome trainer, no need to embelish the story when it’s already so great!
One more thing, reading the above comments…who’s Tracy?
I knew it wasn’t true and I have known that for AGES. It gets me really ticked off when people say this and yes, I do send them some nasty-grams saying this is is not true. 😛 I mean, COME ON. If you watch any video of your rides, you can clearly see you having a conversation with another person. Jeez.
I am very sorry so many people think it is a put down to be deaf. Not you Stacy but people responding. Your riding is beyond spectacular but being deaf is not a put down. Communicating with a horse has nothing to do with the person being deaf or mute. Found this whole blog weird. I work with special needs people and was rather offended by some comments.
everytime I see the post I cant help but correct them.. I respect you so much as a horseman, and I dont feel that it needs any more “bling” to make what you do with this horse incredible.
I’m glad you aren’t deaf or mute for the very reason nothing can hold you back from the relationship you obviously have with horses. Though we like to know someone has overcome difficulties its nice to know that you didn’t have to in order to present your performance. I am sorry for the loss of your father, he would have been proud and he would have been proud at your honesty and integrity at setting the record straight.
Monica
Stacy, I just saw this on facebook and wrote a reply to this guy, disputing his allegations of deaf, mute and 20 days. Naturally I received no reply. I had seen the original video and was touched by your and Roxie’s performance shortly before you attended the 2010 Reining Championships in Kentucky, I think that was the year. I remembered you doing some speaking at that time and also noticed, if you were deaf, you didn’t seem to be. I have trained enough horses to appreciate what you accomplished with Roxie. I am very sorry to hear of your loss. Every horse I have trained are very special to me, they are my friends and I never forget them. It’s to bad they don’t live as long as turtles or elephants or parrots. But that’s how life is. I learned how to train from a fellow from Ohio, who was born in 1861 and was influenced by a horse training celebrity to the King of England, who died at the age of 39. I to have been called a “horse whisperer”. Keep on training Stacy, you have the talent and love your work. I think everyone loves your work. Oh, your story with Roxie and the ride is good enough without all the lies. I think anyone would be pleased to have a ride like yours as an accomplishment.
Robert
Robert, couldn’t help but reply. Who died at the age of 39? The fellow from Ohio, who was born in 1861 or the horse training celebrity to the King of England or the King of England?
The fellow from Ohio, who was born in 1861 would now be about 152 years old. How old are you and when did you learn from him? You left me puzzled. JimW