All Episodes
Train Your Own Horse with Stacy Westfall — 364 episodes
Episode 364: A Pause While I Become A Student
Episode 363: Multiple Ways, Deeper Understanding — The Preschool of Horsemanship
Episode 362: Discomfort Is Part of Learning — The Preschool of Horsemanship
Episode 361: When Your Horse Hesitates at Halter Pressure—The Preschool of Horsemanship
Episode 360: How Lightness Gets Lost — The Preschool of Horsemanship
Episode 359: Bend That Begins in the Body- The Preschool of Horsemanship
Episode 358: The Preschool of Horsemanship—It Starts with Curiosity
Episode 357: Aging, Physical Challenges, and the Stories We Choose
Episode 356: Why Concentrated Moments Teach Lasting Lessons
Episode 355: Strategy Isn't the Starting Point
Episode 354: How Support Feels Different Than Correction
Episode 353: When Cues Become Conversations
Episode 352: Survival Riding—What It Looks Like and Why It Happens
Episode 351: Why 'Kind of Working' Feeds Dissatisfaction
Episode 350: How Does the Training Ever Work to Stop a Spook?
Episode 349: What Critical Mass Really Looks Like in Riding
Episode 348: Don't Wait — Prepare Before the Problem
Episode 347: 'I Just Want to Feel More Confident'—but Which Kind?
Episode 346: How Can I Reward My Horse Without Stopping the Flow of the Ride?
Episode 345: 4 Reasons Riders Don't Teach Focus
Episode 344: Ask December You: The Time Travel Trick for Better Decisions
Episode 343: Why "Almost Right" Will Bring Less Tension
Episode 342: Stuck Between Knowing and Doing
Episode 341: Forward Is a Direction—And a Trained Skill
Episode 340: Why Your Horse Keeps Falling In—and Leaning on Your Inside Leg
Episode 339: Training with Energy: Preparing Horses for Real-World Challenges
Episode 338: The Mind-Body Connection at Tricky Trail Crossings
Episode 337: Change the Angle, Change the Lesson
Episode 336: Horsemanship as Art—And the Tension of Teaching It
Episode 335: The Rider's Body – When Your Body Tells a Different Story (Part 2)
Episode 334: The Rider's Body – Your Cues vs Your Core (part )
Episode 333: The Rider's Mind - The Critical Balance Between Knowledge and Meaning
Episode 332: The Horse's Mind – From Instinct to Intention (Part 2)
Episode 331: The Horse's Mind: What Their Body Tells You About Their Thinking (Part 1)
Episode 330: The Horse's Body: Observation vs. Interpretation
Episode 329: Misdiagnosed? A New Way to Diagnose Riding Challenges
Episode 328: The Moment is Gone (But That's Not a Problem)
Episode 327: The Recipe for Success: Balancing Structure and Intuition in Horse Training
Episode 326: The Physical Expression of Your Dream: Beyond Words Like 'Trust' and 'Enjoy'
Episode 325: The Missing Link: Why Some Keep Going and Others Burn Out
Episode 324: Heart and Goal: Your Dreams Made Visible
Episode 323: "I Feel Behind" - And What To Do About It
Episode 322: Why Smart People Abandon Good Goals
Episode 321: The Missing Step: Why Your Goals Need a Theme
Episode 320: Your Next Chapter: Finding Magic in Your Own Timeline
Episode 319-The Gift of Seeing: Finding Magic in the Rewatch
Episode 318-Noticing Progress While Embracing Reality
Episode 317: Your Horse's Year in Review: Seeing 2024 Through Their Eyes
Episode 316: Three Revealing Behaviors: When Horses Want to Play
Episode 315: Why are you thankful for horses? How have horses changed your life?
Episode 314: New is Always New: Why Experience Doesn't Eliminate Uncertainty
Episode 313: Preventing Secondary Reactions: Preparing Your Horse for Success
Episode 312: Is Your Horse Seeing Contradictions? Helping Your Horse Understand
Episode 311: The Silent Conversation: Three Hidden Challenges in Understanding Horse Language
Episode 310: When Your Horse Disagrees: Managing Conflicting Viewpoints
Episode 309: Back to the Basics: The Dance of Internal and External Focus
Episode 308: Maintaining Momentum: Riding Through Life's Interruptions
Episode 307: Through Their Eyes: A Horse's View on Group Riding
Episode 306: Listener Q&A: Enhancing the Relationship between a Novice Rider and a Capable Horse
Episode 305: Listener Q&A: How Can I Increase My Confidence In My Goals?
Episode 304: The Anticipation Paradox: When Good Training Creates New Challenges
Episode 303: Consistency is Key: Transitioning from Arena to Trail
Episode 302: Words Matter: How Language Shapes Your Equestrian Experience
Episode 301: Indecisive No More: Conquering Decision Fatigue, and Miserable Maybes
Episode 300: The Challenge of Choosing Change
Episode 299: Thematic Thinking: Unlocking New Perspectives
Episode 298: Mimicry's Limits: How Horses Move Beyond This And You Can Too
Episode 297: Marking Mistakes: Why Non-Reactivity Matters in Horse Training
Episode 296: From Theory to Saddle: Building Your Equestrian Toolbox
Episode 295: Allowing Choices: Empowering Your Horse's Mind
Episode 294: Predictable vs Unpredictable: From 'Oh This Again' to 'Oh, I See It There!'
Episode 293: Recalibrating Your Horse Goals: A Step-by-Step Guide
Episode 292: You are Invited: Two Invitations Horses Offer Riders
Episode 291- Lessons Learned on the Trail and Foal Update
Episode 290-The Power of Touch: Building Connection Through Contact
Episode 289: Recovery Time: The Missing Piece of Your Training Plan
Episode 288: Dancing with Discomfort: Steps of Faith and Evidence
Episode 287: Distracted: Should I let my horse stop and look, or keep him moving?
Episode 286: When Words Fall Short: How You See It vs. How I See It
Episode 285: Five levels of distraction you can see in a horse.
Episode 284: How Riders Can Avoid These 3 Self-Created Obstacles
Episode 283: Switching Gears: Mastering Multiple Roles with Your Horse
Episode 282-Riding Towards Understanding: the Virtual Tevis Cup Challenge
Episode 281- Earning Wisdom: Two Stories of Personal Growth
Episode 280: Gratitude Amidst Adversity: Caring for Orphaned Foals
Episode 279-The Pitfalls of Regret: Tracing Its Effects on Thought Patterns
Episode 278: Rushing Forward: Overcoming the temptation to rush
Episode 277: Two ways you may be disconnecting from your horse
Episode 276: Resolving Resistance: Believe your horse's feedback
Episode 275: The biggest relationship mistake I see riders make with their horses.
Episode 274: From Doubt to Discovery: See your horse more clearly to bring back the wonder and joy
Episode 273: "From 'I Don't See It' to 'I See It!': Breaking Down the Barrier Between Seeing and Understanding"
Episode 272: Stuck at the Start: the 5 steps riders use to improve and why many get stuck on step one
Episode 271: The Unseen Connection: Counting Strides vs. Navigating Emotional States
Episode 270: The Art of Being: Embracing a Way of Being Approach
Episode 269: Catalyst for Change: 3 Steps to Shift Your Way of Being
Episode 268: Seeing your horse dream on a daily basis
Episode 267- Dream bigger, measure backward, and let things count.
Episode 266: Red zone, yellow zone, green zone
Episode 265: Raw reactions vs. rewarded responses
Episode 264: The hidden cost of how you treat you.
Episode 263-Messy Middle or normal process: reducing frustration and increasing fun
Episode 262- Unlocking Potential: Recognizing the layers of training
Episode 261: Becoming congruent: The skill of shifting your perspective
Episode 260- Frustration dissolves when you learn to structure and evaluate your rides
Episode 259- The value of seeing the whole process
Episode 258: Choosing and Celebrating Success
Episode 257: Liberty Festival, reining, and bridleless riding
Episode 256: Bend is your friend, especially when bridleless
Episode 255: Lessons from Outliers: Horses not on the 'traditional' path
Episode 254: My horse is so heavy: skillset and mindset changes
Episode 253: Tack & technique: choosing bits
Episode 252: What is a finished horse?
Episode 251: Should I reward the smallest try…or expect more?
Episode 250: How to use your seat to cue your horse.
Episode 249: Does your horse have a limiting belief?
Episode 248: Am I doing this right?
Episode 247: How do I know it's the cue and not the repetition of the pattern?
Episode 246: How do I get my horse to keep doing it longer?
Episode 245: Why does it work one day, then not the next?
Episode 244: Why ride patterns? (especially boring ones)
Episode 243: Why should I bend my horse? (and why you avoid asking more questions)
Episode 242: "But all the doors are closed"….why some horses exhibit resistance.
Episode 241: Three reasons it can feel like the training process is going slower than you thought it would….
Episode 240: How to relax your body and communicate clearly when riding.
Episode 239: Do you have a connection issue or cue system confusion?
Episode 238: To those who are pursuing their dreams...
Episode 237: How capable is your horse…really?
Episode 236: One skill that rules them all…first ride to bridleless
Episode 235: The challenge of bit-less and bridleless riding.
Episode 234-Pressure: Do you prefer sensitizing or desensitizing?
Episode 233- Are you riding reactively or proactively?
Episode 232-Training bank account and emotional bank account
Episode 231-Groundwork: earning the right to be in each other's space
Episode 230: Are your corrections causing more problems?
Episode 229: "What do you do with your horse goals and dreams when life brings it to a halt?"
Episode 228: How do I keep my horse from getting bored?
Episode 227: The two biggest lessons showing has taught me.
(updated)Episode 226: The trainer, the showman, the judge: ways of thinking that impact your riding.
Episode 225: Calculated plateaus in training and showing
Episode 224: Splitting focus, allowing mistakes and growth mentality
Episode 223: Q&A: "The fear preventing me from showing my horse is…"
Episode 222: Show environments, routines and insecure horses
Episode 221: How hard is it to interchange disciplines, and is that frustrating for a horse?
Episode 220: Showing vs. training and developing the rider's eye
Episode 219: High-value and Low-value cycles
Episode 218: Check your confidence in these four areas
Episode 217: What if the goal IS what helps you develop the relationship?
Episode 216: The base layer goal that will ensure your progress
Episode 215: Two things to consider before changing your goal
Episode 214: Reviewing…without a self-doubt spiral.
Episode 213: 'How greed' and your success pattern
Episode 212: The 'gap' in the conversation tells you what your horse is thinking.
Episode 211: Starting energy vs. Re-starting energy
Episode 210-Hundreds of reasons to be thankful for horses this Thanksgiving
Episode 209: The teacher and the student (human or horse)
Episode 208: Reflecting to reveal your pattern of choices.
Episode 207: The very real work of changing your mind.
Episode 206: How riders use planning against themselves or their horse
Episode 205: Planning transitions and revealing habits
Episode 204: Your horse experiences your body.
Episode 203: The Resourceful Rider
Episode 202: 3 things to do when the next step ISN'T obvious
Episode 201: The next most obvious step.
Podcast 200: Can you relate to any of these struggles or success stories?
Episode 199: The trickiest concept
Episode 198: The benefits of NOT believing you can.
Episode 197: The delayed side effects of your habit patterns: desirable or undesirable?
Episode 196: Teaching, Testing and Micromanaging: The difference is timing
Episode 195: I don't want my horse to stop meeting me at the gate.
Episode 194: Which comes first; the head or the body?
Episode 193: The #1 way to identify if you're trying to skip the messy middle
Episode 192- Forward is a DIRECTION, not a speed.
Episode 191: Do you show up strong and clear for your horse?
Episode 190: Doing less of a 'bad thing' won't work.
Episode 189-Why I teach with patterns…and how it isn't about the pattern.
Episode 188: Moving faster or slower than your horse; physically and mentally
Episode 187: The backward cycle of learning; 'after', 'during', 'before'
Episode 186- Specific vs. non-specific riding
Episode 185- How to determine if your self concept is slowing you down.
Episode 184-The benefits and challenges of learning to evaluate your ride
Episode 183-Creating building blocks or rearranging the blocks you have to create something new.
Episode 182-How to deal with a mouthy horse and prevent biting.
Episode 181- Three reasons it can be challenging to sit a horses lope
Episode 180: Help, my horse started laying down while riding
Episode 179: Getting forward motion from a horse without negative tension.
Episode 178: My mare goes from calm and sweet to disconnected: self awareness, anticipation, and adjustability
Episode 177- Rein contact: does your horse think support or correction?
Episode 176: But is this really what my horse likes doing?
Episode 175: Why horses might put their ears back during work
Episode 174: Horse bucking while leading: earning the right to be near me
Episode 173: Teaching a foal to be bold
Episode 172: What to do with feelings like terrified and scared
Episode 171: Positive and negative tension in riders
Episode 170: Can you change the story in your head about a horse or is it time to move on?
Episode 169: Fearful horses: instinct, training, speed of learning and accidental rewards
Episode 168: Q&A: 'I need help getting my horse to bend'; groundwork & ridden
Episode 167: Things to consider when prepping for first big horse show
Episode 166-Goal Setting & Overcoming Obstacles Starter Kit
Episode 165: Mastery and the Plateau
Episode 164- Untangling thoughts with help
Episode 163- A Year End Review
Episode 162: Leave room for the magic
Episode 161: The power of "I don't know how…"
Episode 160: Yearly theme instead of goal?
Episode 159: 5 steps to blow your own mind
Episode 158: An inside-out thankfulness assignment
Episode 157: What 'they' say…and what I make it mean about me as a rider.
Episode 156: Three mistakes I nearly made at the AQHA world show
Episode 155: Abandoning hopes and dreams.
Episode 154: Creating emotions to benefit you and your horse
Episode 153: How your thoughts change your results with your horse.
Episode 152: Stages of thought awareness
Episode 151: Life coaching and the riders mind
Episode 150- Should you be playing a never ending game with your horse?
Episode 149- Three traits I see in riders who reach their goals
Episode 148- Three situations where horses frequently double check the rules
Episode 147: This is the awkward, uncomfortable part of the journey.
Episode 146-Why patterns can help & why riders resist riding patterns
Episode 145: Skill confidence vs self confidence
Episode 144: 3 ways riders block their physical awareness
Episode 143: Prerequisites for flying lead changes
Episode 142: How can I slow my horse down on a loose rein?
Episode 141: My horse is on the wrong lead…
Episode 140: Uncollected- Is that resistance, stiffness and tripping mental or physical?
Episode 139: Teaching high energy horses to wait and low energy horses to be ready
Episode 138: 3 reasons people don't develop emotional maturity in horses
Episode 137: The role of excitement and patience in horse training
Episode 136: Developing self awareness & independence when riding
Episode 135: Is mental exhaustion hindering your horse training?
Episode 134: How do you get that bond and trust with your horses?
Episode 133: Collection: Western vs Dressage
Episode 132: When would I start introducing collection to my horse?
Episode 131- Painful thoughts that hold us back with our horses
Episode 130: The discomfort of learning new things
Episode 129: Physical and mental comfort zones for horses
Episode 128: Dressage vs Reining: Lessons I have Learned
Episode 127: Survival brain vs rational brain on a trail ride
Episode 126-Mental games for injured horses, clicker training Q&A
Episode 125-Retraining older horses vs starting with a clean slate
Episode 124- Horse scared on the trail: Let them look or keep them busy?
Episode 123: Help! I'm constantly in my horses mouth too much…
Episode 122: Feeling overwhelmed while training your own horse.
Episode 121: Overcoming thoughts that rob joy from your horse adventures.
Episode 120: My horse is a bully. Where do I start?
Episode 119: Distracted and overreactive vs responsive and aware, how can I train my horse to respond better?
Episode 118: How can I STOP my horse from being aggressive towards other horses?!
Episode 117: Challenging Conversations with Your Horse
Episode 116: Selling or rehoming an older horse
Episode 115: Using curiosity, receiving feedback and stages of relationship impact training your horse
Episode 114- Exercise: coach yourself to coach your horse
Episode 113: How to calendar your horse goals
Episode 112- Can you have Relationship AND Results with your horse?
Episode 111: 3 reasons you're afraid to set big goals with your horse
Episode 110- Inspired by Man o' War aka Big Red
Episode 109: Fear around training your own horse
Ep 108: 3 observations from almost buying a horse.
Episode 107: Training Cycles: Yearly, weekly, daily
Episode 106-Make your dreams a reality in 10 minutes
Episode 105-Older horses and the decision to euthanize
Episode 104- Western Dressage Test Explained
Episode 103: Is the phrase, "It's all training"…a useful statement?
Episode 102: Riding one horse in multiple disciplines
Reflect, reset, move forward with understanding.
Episode 100- The horses that have taught me.
HELP: My horse REALLY connects to other horses when trail riding…
Teaching your horse to be a thinking participant
Separating rider issues from horse issues when trail riding
How can I train my horse to ride safely near traffic?
Help, my horse has emotional outbursts on the trail
Reducing anxiety during trail rides
When horses freak out at the idea of trail riding
Building a horses confidence on the trails
The most common MISTAKE people make trail riding
Trail riding vs arena riding: advantages and disadvantages
Getting Started in the Horse Industry-a conversation with Molly Wagner
Western Dressage: a conversation with Lynn Palm
How much MONEY am I spending on my horse habit? A conversation with Nicole Ross
The challenge of change - a conversation with Ginny Telego
The older & wider rider - a conversation with Suzi Vlietstra
Clicker training horses- a conversation with Mustang Maddy
Getting started in reining-A conversation with Jesse Westfall
Ride with Confidence- a conversation with Barbra Schulte
Leading one horse while riding another, how to teach ponying
Horse shows: ethics, reining, competition, pitfalls & different cue systems
My Horse Won't Walk On The Lunge Line & Can I Do Groundwork Without Lunging?
Discussing quality, quantity, and boredom during horse training
Add planning and refinement to your riding: circles, straight & cues
Teaching horses to give to pressure, ground tie & stand quietly
Ranch Riding Troubles and Electric Fence Issues
Handling stress when you can't ride your horse.
Empowering riders, respecting space, finding balance between go & whoa aids
Why lunging horses? Benefits and warnings.
Put yourself in the role of the horse
Using More Leg on Hot Horses
Training Horses for Others vs Training Your Own.
How to Teach a Horse to Spook
Teaching horses tricks...or problems?
Q&A: 5 tips for trail riding young horses & goals during pregnancy
The Tipping Point in Horse Training.
Improving Steering & Teaching Neck Reining, Once in a Lifetime Horses
Equine Career Q&A, Full Confession and Self Awareness
Good horse training is boring...
Why would I look forward to my horse spooking?
5 Tips for Motivated Riding
Experiencing A 'Bad' Riding Lesson
Christmas Morning in the Barn
Ride with Faith...and Training
Q&A: Rescue horses, boring riders, why striking & kicking?
Training aids or gimmicks? Martingales, draw reins, etc.
Choosing saddle pads, cinch/girth, billets & breast collars
Saddle Fit and Challenges
Tack: Bridles, Headstalls, Bits & Reins
Tack: Halters, Lead Ropes, Lunge Lines
Finding Work/Life Balance with Stacy Westfall and Ginny Telego
Q&A: Changing Horse's Habits, Sell or Keep, Hobble Training and Riding Bareback
Q&A: Are multiple riders good or bad? Training Secrets?
Locking and Unlocking Traits in Your Horse
5 Tips for Bringing Up Your Horses Energy
Whoa! Teaching Your Horse to Stop.
How Can I Improve My Horse's Lope or Canter?
Improving Your Horses Steering
Training HOT Horses
True Forward Motion in a Horse
Why I Do Not Disengage My Horse's Hips
The Two Most Basic Cues When Riding a Horse
Rewarding Physical and Mental Changes in Your Horse
Do This During Groundwork With Your Horse
3 Reasons to Do Groundwork With Your Horse
The Reason We Are Fascinated With the Horses Body
Learned Helplessness and Working Horses
Listener Question: How Do I Peak My Horses Performance for a Show?
Horse With Mental Issues or Training Issues?
Listener Question: Untraining a Horse or Adding Layers?
Correcting Behavior We Dislike In Our Horses
3 Negative Thoughts Riders Often Have Toward Horses
Is Your Horse Training Routine Dead?
Horses Can 'Learn how to Learn'
Is Your Horse 'Swearing' at You? His Intentions Matter.
Is Your Horse Anticipating?
Is Your Horse Being Creative?
Your Horse Has Questions
Beyond Prey vs Predator: You're Underestimating Your Horse
Your Horse Needs You to Do This
The Hierarchy of the Riders Aids as the Horse Advances
Your Weakest Aid When Horseback Riding
Improving Your Aids When Riding Your Horse
Are You Helping or Interfering With Your Horse When Riding?
Riding Horses; Western vs English vs Bareback
3 methods for improving your horseback riding & breaking the habit of looking down: Episode 15
Episode 14: Muscle Memory: habits & experience can improve your horseback riding skills
Episode 13: Make riding easier for your horse; add strength and flexibility
Episode 12: Is Horseback Riding Dangerous?
Episode 11: Q & A: Evaluating Horse, Confidence & Desire, Limiting Beliefs
Episode 10: Riders should make mistakes in the right direction
Episode 9: How riders view pressure will affect their horses
Are you failing your horse or disappointed as a rider?
Setting SMART goals for you and your horse
The horse's path of learning is NOT the same as the rider
Riders experience four stages of competency
Responsibility & accountability between horse and rider
Responsibility and the stages of learning riders experience with horses
Leadership vs Getting Along: Horses want to know who is leading, Grandma's rules
Fear vs Danger: Riders can improve if they know the difference