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Train Your Own Horse with Stacy Westfall — Outdoor
Train Your Own Horse with Stacy Westfall

Stacy Westfall teaches people how to understand, enjoy and successfully train their own horses. In her podcast, she shares all of her knowledge in her area of expertise: horses. She offers insights into issues that riders face in their own minds as well as the way they are viewing the challenges and goals they have with horses. She shares tips on becoming a better rider as well as a better leader for your horse.
Discover how you can understand things from your horses point of view so that you can enjoy the learning process with your horse. When you are able to understand what your horse is experiencing mentally and physically the process of learning new things becomes more enjoyable.
Your goals may be showing, trail riding or simply enjoying life with horses-all of which Stacy enjoys herself.
She shares her own struggles and successes to allow listeners to understand that everyone experiences ups and downs.
Through her podcast, website, YouTube channel and social media Stacy answers questions about: Fear, when to sell a horse, goal setting, safety, ground work, trailer loading, lead changes, reining, spins, stops, western dressage, ranch riding, when to get help, lessons, clinics and improving your safety, success and enjoyment of horses.

Copyright: © StacyWestfall.com

Latest Episodes:

Episode 264: The hidden cost of how you treat you. Dec 06, 2023

Show notes

Dread. Disbelief… Disappointment. In this episode, Stacy shares an incident where she felt these, and she shares how understanding your responses in 'every day' life will show up when you work with your horse. Both of you will have thoughts and emotions when interacting. By knowing yourself, you can begin to see your reactions separate from your horse's reactions.

Topics discussed include:

Your awareness of your first response
Denying reality
A harsh response to mistakes
Glossing over or pretending you are ok with something…that you are not currently ok with
Boundaries and choices
How to determine if you're having the response you desire

When you're not all wrapped up in judging yourself, or pretending everything is fine, you can see your horse more clearly. Living and learning about your responses will strengthen your internal resilience, unlocks compassion for others, and make it easier for your horse to read your body language.

Episode 263-Messy Middle or normal process: reducing frustration and increasing fun Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

Episode 262- Unlocking Potential: Recognizing the layers of training Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

"…there are hundreds of exchanges that are happening between horse and rider, and being able to observe those in as much detail as you can really helps you unlock what's happening with the communication."

In this episode, two students join me, and we discuss the breakthroughs that are possible when the rider begins seeing the layers of training. The depth of learning lies in perceiving these layers and how they are impacting communication.

Topics include:

Creating cycles of curiosity The value of being a better observer Seeing the horse as capable Seeing yourself as capable Physically getting stronger Repetition is more opportunities to say, yes, that is the answer, yes, yes!

By hearing from different perspectives, the concepts shared might land differently for you, and inspire you to recognize your horse's and your own capabilities.

Episode 261: Becoming congruent: The skill of shifting your perspective Nov 15, 2023

Show notes

Three students join me and share their challenges, and life lessons learned through horses. As you listen, pay close attention to the choices these students have made and how being part of a community supported this change.

Topics discussed include:

The wordless connection with horses
Money
Learning at your own pace
The approach we learn with ourselves, and then use with our horses (and others in life)
Becoming congruent
Look for the good first
Celebrating together

I hope that by sharing their stories, you'll hear that what they've achieved and realize it is possible for you too.

Episode 260- Frustration dissolves when you learn to structure and evaluate your rides Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

Frustration is an emotion that many riders report they feel. In this episode, Kathy and JoAnn share their personal journeys, which include leaving every ride feeling fulfilled and happy. Listen for the challenges AND for how they navigated their way to the break thoughts. Notice the determination exhibited when learning to self evaluate, and the mindfulness they used in creating their own structure for training at home. At one point this question is asked, 'So now if she anticipates something, what's your reaction to it?" Listen for the answer…it's brilliant!

* structuring rides when there is limited time * the importance of being able to ask questions when they arise * the value of self-evaluation skills for discovering the discrepancies between the rider's perception of what they are doing, and the reality * the role of mindset when overcoming obstacles * the benefits and limitations of learning at a clinic * learning when you live in a rural area

This episode is filled with valuable insights, and by the end, you'll see how it was possible for them…and it's possible for you too.

Episode 259- The value of seeing the whole process Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, you'll have the opportunity to experience a glimpse behind the scenes into the lives and journey of two students inside the Resourceful Rider program.

Through these heartfelt conversations, you'll gain insight into their personal journeys. They'll share their stories of overcoming challenges, celebrating successes, and experiencing life-changing moments that have shaped their paths.

Topics include:

Feeling like you might not be ready
Linear vs 3D training plans
The setbacks that come when 'leveling up'
Retraining the frustration response
Not viewing the horse as being defiant
Self evaluation to improve feel and timing
Non-judgmental learning

This episode is filled with wisdom and inspiration, and by the end, you'll see how it was possible for them…and it's possible for you too. Let's get started!

Episode 258: Choosing and Celebrating Success Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of Stacy Westfall's podcast, she delves into the concept of defining and celebrating success. Stacy reflects on why she didn't mention Gabby's recent winnings, contemplating whether it was due to societal pressures and fear of being labeled as bragging. She also highlights the importance of introspection, explaining that she didn't share her winnings because her focus was on the lessons learned from smaller, more meaningful moments during her training with Gabby.

Stacy emphasizes the shift in her perspective about measuring success. Instead of fixating on external achievements, she now values personal growth and the journey with her horses. She believes that horses enjoy learning, whether it leads to showing or simply enhances their training.

The podcast episode is followed by testimonials from listeners who have implemented Stacy's techniques in their horse training. They share stories of success and personal growth, illustrating the transformative power of understanding oneself and one's horse. The episode underscores the importance of mindfulness and self-awareness when working with horses, emphasizing that this approach leads to a more fulfilling and successful partnership between horse and rider.

Episode 257: Liberty Festival, reining, and bridleless riding Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, Stacy shares insights from her recent experiences at two horse shows in Kentucky and answers a listener's question regarding preparing for a Freestyle reining class and showing bridleless.

She attended a NRHA (National Reining Horse Association) show in Frankfort and the Liberty Festival at the Kentucky Horse Park, which was organized by the International Liberty Horse Association. Stacy observed that both experiences had similarities, emphasizing the importance of accuracy, exposure to different environments, and connecting with like-minded people.

For the listener interested in Freestyle reining, Stacy recommends starting by participating in ILHA home shows and joining a local club. She advises practicing both reining and walk and trot transitions, emphasizing the transition to bridleless riding in various settings.

Stacy offers valuable advice for transitioning to bridleless showing, suggesting that riders can commit to not using reins in regular shows to practice. Additionally, she encourages creating a local club to host liberty shows and facilitate an environment for training.

Stacy's podcast provides a wealth of information and personal experiences to help horse enthusiasts understand, enjoy, and successfully train their horses while sharing insights from her own journey in the world of horse shows.

International Liberty Horse Association (ILHA)-click here

Episode 256: Bend is your friend, especially when bridleless Oct 11, 2023

Show notes

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 or concerns can feel like road blocks, but with a plan to address them, they become educational challenges.
Dispelling the misconception that removing the bridle guarantees a feeling of freedom in riding; true freedom results from understanding and communication with the horse.
Bend is a fundamental aspect of riding with the bridle on, and the concept remains important in bridleless riding.
Advanced bending without the bridle reins is also for safety and signifies a high level of understanding between horse and rider.
Three reasons why riders often feel dependent on the reins.

Episode 255: Lessons from Outliers: Horses not on the 'traditional' path Oct 04, 2023

Show notes

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.

Key Takeaways:

Regularly plant tiny seeds in training.
Keep requests small and rewards clear.
Maintain a high success ratio.
Adapt training to unique outlier situations.
Seek similarities in behavior and thinking across different scenarios.
Encourage horses to 'offer' answers for better results.

Stacy highlights that many of us, both humans and horses, fall into the outlier category due to various factors. She also draws parallels between training outliers and preparing for performance situations, emphasizing the need to be a keen detective in identifying and addressing issues. This approach benefits performance horses and is essential for outliers.

Links mentioned:Kyle Maynard: The Power of Failure (YouTube)

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