Train Your Own Horse with Stacy Westfall

Stacy Westfall
  • 4.8 (49)
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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.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Episode 318-Noticing Progress While Embracing Reality

    In this episode, Stacy explores why celebrating small wins matters, even - and especially - when faced with unexpected emotions about our progress. Through two student examples, she shows how awareness of subtle changes and acceptance of our journey's ups and downs leads to deeper understanding and growth. She shares her personal journey with the concept of "life is 50/50," from initial skepticism to discovering its transformative power in horse training. This mindset shift helps explain why resisting challenges actually magnifies them, while accepting both progress and setbacks creates space to notice the small wins we might otherwise miss. Listeners will learn how embracing both sides of progress - the expected and unexpected - leads to more sustainable progress.

    19 min

  2. 11 DEC

    Episode 317: Your Horse's Year in Review: Seeing 2024 Through Their Eyes

    In this episode, Stacy guides listeners through creating a year-end review from their horse's perspective. Building on her popular approach of sharing stories from the horse's viewpoint, she offers: &]:mt-2 list-disc space-y-2 pl-8" style="font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Two ways to participate: follow along with the podcast or download a free interactive PDF workbook (click here to go to the page with the pdf) Examples from Enzo and Ember that demonstrate how to capture your horse's personality Creative prompts to help identify memorable moments from your horse's perspective A chance to practice seeing daily experiences through your horse's eyes This unique exercise combines storytelling with practical insights to help riders better understand their horses and deepen their partnerships.

    15 min

  3. 4 DEC

    Three Revealing Behaviors: When Horses Want to Play

    In this episode Stacy explores the nuanced concept of play in horses, identifying three distinct types of playful behavior: possessed play, repressed play, and reactive play. She challenges listeners to consider playfulness on a spectrum, both in themselves and their horses. Stacy highlights the importance of understanding and managing a horse's playful energy. She argues against two extremes: constant, unfocused play and complete obedience without any playfulness. The key is finding a balance where horses can experience play or ‘blow off steam’ while still being responsive to their handler's commands. Through personal examples, she demonstrates how recognizing and appropriately channeling a horse's desire to play can improve training and relationship. Stacy emphasizes that play isn't just about wild energy, but about emotional and physical communication between horse and rider, and the ability to transition smoothly between play and work.

    27 min

  4. 27 NOV

    Why are you thankful for horses? How have horses changed your life?

    In this episode, Stacy Westfall shares a personal tip on the value of re-listening to podcasts, courses, and books to deepen learning and retention, especially when paired with implementing lessons in between. She introduces the replay of a special Thanksgiving-themed episode that features listener-submitted reflections on why they are thankful for horses. Originally aired two years ago, this heartfelt episode highlights messages from around the world about how horses bring joy, connection, and personal growth to their lives. Listeners share powerful insights, describing horses as sources of peace, strength, and purpose, as well as companions in triumphs and challenges. Stacy emphasizes the importance of gratitude and the transformative power of the horse-human relationship. This episode invites listeners to reflect on their own connections with horses while celebrating the inspiration these animals provide. Happy Thanksgiving—and enjoy the replay!

    37 min

  5. 20 NOV

    New is Always New: Why Experience Doesn't Eliminate Uncertainty

    Stacy Westfall explores a common misconception in horse training: that professionals don't experience uncertainty or caution when facing new situations. Through parallel stories of her hesitation at a coffee shop and a horse encountering a trailer ramp, she reveals that professionals absolutely feel cautious, careful, and mindful – they just accept these feelings as a natural part of the process.  What sets professionals apart isn't an absence of uncertainty, but rather their approach: they do everything possible to prepare, then rely on "educated guesses" to bridge the remaining gap.  Stacy illustrates how everyone – even experts – faces resistance to new situations. The key difference is that professionals understand that "new is always new" and embrace the inherent uncertainty rather than fighting it. They prepare thoroughly, then lean into their experience to make informed decisions in unfamiliar moments. She encourages listeners to observe their own responses to new situations in daily life, as these patterns often mirror how they interact with horses.

    18 min

  6. 13 NOV

    Episode 313: Preventing Secondary Reactions: Preparing Your Horse for Success

    In this episode, Stacy Westfall opens with an update on her current horses, and then introduces the main topic of how to train for something ‘before you need it.’ Stacy discusses her approach to training Ember, a highly athletic and sensitive young horse she describes as "a lot of horse." Using the analogy of a sports car versus a luxury car, she explains how different horses require different handling while still aiming for a balanced "middle" response. Stacy emphasizes the importance of not denying a horse's natural characteristics but rather working with them constructively. She focuses particularly on the challenge of transitioning from loose rein to contact, especially during spook situations. To prevent secondary spooking (when a horse reacts to the rider's response to the initial spook), Stacy practices hundreds of take-hold-and-release exercises during each ride. The episode concludes with encouragement for riders who discover training gaps after problems arise, comparing preparation to fire drills - ideally practiced before needed, but still valuable to learn from past experiences.

    30 min

  7. 6 NOV

    Is Your Horse Seeing Contradictions? Helping Your Horse Understand

    In this episode, Stacy explores the concept of recognizing and embracing contradictions in horse training, sharing insights from a recent experience with her horse, Luna. Luna has started anticipating spins during trot circles, which could be viewed as a problem, but Stacy sees it as a potential training advantage. She explains how anticipation can create a draw toward certain movements, making them feel more like the horse’s choice rather than a command. Stacy considers two solutions: changing the pre-spin routine or separating trot circles from the spin entirely. However, she chooses a third approach—embracing Luna’s anticipation as a sign of her eagerness to engage. By doing so, Stacy encourages a cooperative training environment where the horse’s motivation becomes a powerful tool. She also highlights how understanding and embracing contradictions is key in guiding horses through the learning process, especially in early stages of training.

    26 min

  8. 30 OCT

    The Silent Conversation: Three Hidden Challenges in Understanding Horse Language

    In this episode, Stacy Westfall explores three key challenges in reading horse body language and how misinterpretation can affect horse-human relationships. Unlike human communication, which combines words and body language, horses rely solely on physical expression, making accurate interpretation crucial. The first challenge involves understanding that horses naturally fall into two categories: stoic (calm, less expressive) and animated (energetic, expressive). The second challenge occurs when horses become well-trained, often appearing less animated but not necessarily less engaged or emotional. Westfall uses her horse Newt as an example, showing how a horse can maintain its personality while developing focus. The third challenge involves the tendency to cluster behaviors and emotions, like associating playfulness with happiness or stoicism with boredom. Westfall cautions against these assumptions and recommends verbalizing what you think you're seeing in your horse to become more aware of your interpretations. This episode provides valuable insights for horse owners seeking to better understand their equine partners' communication styles.

    17 min
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4.8
out of 5
49 Ratings

About

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.

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