Train Your Own Horse with Stacy Westfall

This episode explores how bend can be developed through the horse's body—beginning in the shoulders and hips and flowing forward to the head and neck. Key takeaways: – The head and neck often reflect what's happening in the shoulders and hips – Hear how the same draw exercise used with foals applies to a 17-year-old horse on the lunge line – Understand how moving the shoulders and hips creates the bend riders often try to fix with the rein – Discover how the foundation seen in groundwork carries through to bridleless riding, where the body leads and the head follows This episode examines how developing bend through the body gives meaning to the aids from your hands, legs, and tools—creating clarity that lasts from a horse's first lessons to its most advanced work.

The earliest lessons in a horse's life often echo through every stage that follows—and understanding them can transform how you work with horses of any age. In this first episode of the Preschool of Horsemanship series, Stacy Westfall shares what her foal Whisper taught her about curiosity, space, and timing, and how those same principles apply whether you're leading, lunging, or riding. What begins as a foal's natural curiosity becomes the key to creating willing, connected responses throughout a horse's lifetime. Key takeaways: – Curiosity is the foundation of learning for both horse and rider – Stepping back can spark more engagement than stepping forward – Recognizing push, neutral, and draw energy reveals unseen conversations – The earliest lessons aren't about control—they're about invitation This episode helps you recognize how curiosity and draw energy influence every interaction—so your horse begins to look to you, not away from you—building clearer communication and connection at every stage of horsemanship.

In this episode, Stacy Westfall explores how the challenges of age and physical effort intersect with the stories we tell ourselves. From running a 10K at 51 to coaching riders of all ages, she reveals how separating mental resistance from physical reality opens new possibilities—both in the saddle and in life. Key takeaways: – The body presents real challenges, but the mind often adds hidden limits – Physical strain can reveal the power of choosing a different story – Decision points become clearer when you separate thoughts from facts – Growth is possible at every decade, but only if you keep asking what's possible This episode examines how aging, physical effort, and mindset weave together. It's for anyone who has felt the tug-of-war between body and belief and wants to see how shifting perspective can change what feels possible.

In this episode, Stacy Westfall unpacks three key topics that shape both riding and life: goal setting without overwhelm, success defined from within, and the mindset you bring before the moment begins. Key takeaways: * What it means to set a goal without letting it take over your thinking * Why measuring success goes beyond ribbons, scores, or outside opinions * How the mindset you choose beforehand shifts the entire experience * Why concentrated moments magnify lessons already present in daily rides This episode examines how compressed experiences reveal the deeper patterns in horse and rider, offering lessons that carry far beyond a single ride.

What makes some riders succeed where others stall out? In this episode, Stacy Westfall unpacks Tony Robbins' model of state, story, and strategy and shows how lasting progress comes from more than just finding the right plan. She explains how success often depends on the unseen layers that shape choices in the arena and beyond. Key takeaways: – Chasing strategies while ignoring state and story leads to frustration and stalled progress – The story you tell yourself directly colors how you interpret and apply strategy – Your emotional state sets the tone for both your ride and your horse's response – Shifting state and story first allows the right strategies to actually work This episode examines how the interplay of state, story, and strategy influences both horse training and personal growth. Strategy gives you the steps, story gives you the meaning, and state gives you the power to use them.