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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 224: Splitting focus, allowing mistakes and growth mentality Mar 01, 2023

Show notes

Here is how I would describe the ideal rider and horse experience at a horse show:

Ideally, the rider is focus on: -what's happening with the horse (the horse's experience) - the task at hand (test, obstacle, etc.) - what the rider needs to adjust or change or continue doing to support the horse and complete the task

Ideally, the horse is focused on the rider with a soft awareness of surroundings.

THE CHALLENGE is learning to navigate multiple areas of focus, seemingly at the same time.

Showing often brings up an awareness of what is not working, including: the rider forgetting the pattern, not supporting the horse, not focused on adjusting to the actual environment, and/or what others might think about their riding.

Also discussed are common horse issues, the role of mistakes and growth mindset as you advance as a rider. The benefits of riding with FOCUS and the side effects that are beneficial in all areas of riding.

Episode 223: Q&A: "The fear preventing me from showing my horse is…" Feb 22, 2023

Show notes

A listener calls in and explains that she has previously enjoyed showing, and would like to show again…but a few thing have changed. She is older, and now lives in an area where she doesn't know as many people. She says, "The fear that is preventing me from showing my horse is the fear of getting hurt or getting someone else hurt."

In this episode I outline the importance if understanding that fear can be pointing towards an unwanted (negative) emotion, or. fear can pointing towards danger, or both can be present. Also discussed are the challenges that change with age and a change of situation, the power in acknowledging what specifically you are afraid of, the reasons why traveling brings up issues and ideas for how to assess and proactively approach the challenge.

Episode 222: Show environments, routines and insecure horses Feb 15, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, I discuss the benefits of a show environment, and why insecure horses can learn to thrive at shows. Topics include:

Three different types of show environments.
The challenge of going to a show with many beginners.
Overall show routine vs your individual routine that bridges between home and the show
Why insecure horses can thrive at shows
The difference between fearful and insecure.

And five mistakes people often make when taking insecure horses to show.

Episode 221: How hard is it to interchange disciplines, and is that frustrating for a horse? Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

In this podcast, I answer a listener's question about riding in different disciplines on the same horse. Topics discussed include:

how the horse's original training was approached (was it based in reactivity or responsiveness (the ability to think through versus reacting)
the horses talent in the discipline.
the riders talent in the discipline.
where frustration could come from and how to prevent it.
pros and cons of working on both disciplines at the same time versus dedicating a season to a discipline.
switching bits when switching disciplines.

Episode 220: Showing vs. training and developing the rider's eye Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, I discuss the difference between the mentality of showing versus training. These are complementary systems when you understand the difference between them.

Showing is polishing. Showing is taking a test. Showing is an external evaluation. The judge's job is to evaluate against a standard.

Training is communicating. Training is teaching, clarifying, adjusting, and understanding how to break things into smaller parts to create success.

Showing offers many benefits that complement training. One benefit is developing the riders 'eye' or the ability to see what is happening.

In this episode, explain how showing does this and also clarify that you can find these things outside of showing if you know what to look for. They just happen to be more obvious when showing and more subtle in many other areas.

Episode 219: High-value and Low-value cycles Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, I discuss the concept of high value and low-value cycles. I define what they are and share one tool I use to avoid or get out of a low-value cycle. This is work worth doing to create long-term success.

Episode 218: Check your confidence in these four areas Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

Episode 217: What if the goal IS what helps you develop the relationship? Jan 11, 2023

Show notes

Are you confused about how to make your dream into a goal? If you are, you are not alone. This is especially common with riders who have relationship type goals.

_To form the bond I have always dreamed of. _I dream of having a connection with him…. _To do anything on my horse with more confidence, and just have fun_

Relationship isn't WHAT you do…its how you handle the questions or challenge that come up.

SO LET'S THINK OF THIS BACKWARDS FOR A MOMENT. If you desire to: "To form the bond I have always dreamed of."

What would you DO…if you had that bond? Would you go gallop down a trail? Haul to the mountains and go camping?

If you: "dream of having a connection with him…._"

What would you go DO…if you had that connection? Would ride through the countryside to visit a friend? Would you go on a cattle drive?

If you could snap your fingers…and instantly know that you could: "do anything on my horse with more confidence, and just have fun." _ What would you go DO? Would you enter a show? Maybe try reining or dressage or jumping?

If you had a better connection WITH your horse…what would you go do?

What if you have it backward? What if the goal is what helps you develop the relationship?

Episode 216: The base layer goal that will ensure your progress Jan 04, 2023

Show notes

What if achieving your goal was simple? Not necessarily easy…as in requiring little effort. But simple, as in, one thing you could do that would ensure progress.

Does your goal require that your horse develops a high level of fitness? Or is it more focused on refining cues and communication? Or does it include a balance of both? Is your main challenge riding regularly? Or riding with more focus? Or sticking to the plan you made? What one thing could you set out to do…that if you did it repeatedly…would ensure progress toward your goal?

Episode 215: Two things to consider before changing your goal Dec 28, 2022

Show notes

If you're saying to yourself, "That was too much. I need to cut back this year." This podcast is for you.

There are times when adjusting your goals is in your best interest. But before you decide if you will repeat a goal or change it, remember to factor in what HAS changed…which is you.

YOU are not the same person you were a year ago. If you repeat the same goal, you will not be on the same journey…even though you are heading to the same destination.

At the beginning of last year, you didn't know all the things that wouldn't work or plans that would fall through. Lots of what you discovered was what DIDN'T work, and that can feel overwhelming. Sometimes people throw out the idea of repeating a goal because they remember feeling overwhelmed. But remember, you are a different person, with different knowledge.

Taking time to reflect on what you have learned and what you would do different might reveal that you can get twice as much done this next year with half as much effort.

You'll still have the option of changing your goals. There isn't a right or wrong answer here…but there is a way to make the decision that feels like embracing everything you learned, and then making a choice.

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