Train Your Own Horse with Stacy Westfall Stacy Westfall

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 to detect if you really believe the new belief and technique will work. The concept of a "teeter totter" in horse training, where horses naturally shift between states of lightness and heaviness, sensitivity and desensitization, and forward and less forward movement. By addressing underlying beliefs, riders can learn more about themselves and be more effective training their horse. 

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 emotional state 
Direct and indirect cues are explained
The importance of technique over the choice of equipment.
I also offer three questions you can ask yourself that will point toward your understanding of your goal, your technique, and your horse's understanding or lack of understanding. 

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 used to evaluate a horse, and often there are different levels within each category. In addition, ‘finished’ in one area doesn’t necessarily mean finished in other, more basic areas. 
In this episode, I explain the two most common versions of ‘finished’ and how to define them. 
I also share how my view of ‘never finished’ has also positively impacted my relationship with my horses.

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 try, ant two common thought errors that keep people from aiming for the final answer.
Subtle shouldn’t mean incomplete…but if you’re not careful, that’s what you’ll teach. 

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 bone can be more on top of the saddle-to the left or right One hip bone can be leading or behind These can be used in many combinations to communicate in detail with your horse. 

In this podcast, I start at the riders' head, and talk all the way down to the seat bones. Listen first to get and idea…and the second time, sit on a chair, ball or a tolerant horse and follow along with my descriptions.

If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, you have probably heard me say, “Your horse is asking you questions.”
Sometimes people will reply, “My horse isn’t asking questions…he is making statements!”
In this episode, I explain how horses develop limiting beliefs, what useful beliefs are, and how viewing something as a statement vs a question matters. 
Your horse asks questions with his body. 
When a horse is being ridden, the questions they ask look like; break of gait, speeding up, diving in, falling out, reversing directions, getting stuck in reverse…and lots of other behaviors riders often label as ‘problems’.
Your horse's questions reveal his temperament.
Your horse’s questions reveal his training level.
YOUR interpretation of his behavior reveals your thinking.