In this episode, Stacy emphasizes the importance of establishing contact with horses in order to achieve connection. Contact refers to physical touch, whether direct or through tools like reins or whips. Connection, on the other hand, has two meanings: the flow of energy through the horse's body in dressage, and the relationship bond between horse and human.  Through examples with her foals, show horses, and dressage horses, Stacy illustrates how contact precedes connection. 

Key takeaways:

• With foals, she uses scratches to build positive associations with touch.
• For sensitive show horses, resetting cues with firmer contact can alleviate anxiety.
• To advance, riders must feel the horse's body to harness the energy flow, but this requires the horse's training progression.
• From ground work to riding, contact training enables connection

Overall, Stacy stresses the necessity of contact to foster a willing, connected partnership.

When pursuing long-term goals with your horse, it's crucial to intentionally plan for both physical and mental recovery time. While most riders allow physical recovery for their horses after intense events, they often neglect their own need for mental rest and rejuvenation. By taking intentional breaks, postponing further work until a set date, and observing your body's and mind's recovery patterns, you can learn to better support yourself before, during, and after challenging events. Honoring your recovery needs allows you to show up fully for your horse and increases your chances of successfully achieving your goals together.

Key Takeaways:

• Plan recovery time for both physical and mental rejuvenation • Take intentional breaks by setting a restart date and sticking to it • Observe your recovery patterns to learn your needs • Proper recovery planning leads to showing up better for your horse • Increases likelihood of achieving long-term goals with your horse

In this episode, Stacy dives into the challenge of using words to describe what happens with your horse. She starts with a common experience: reading a student's description, then watching a video to match it with reality. This exercise often reveals discrepancies. For instance, while a student might describe a horse as "reactive" or "stuck," the video might tell a different story. Topics include:

• How you describe it vs what I see
• Childhood game of telephone
• Emotions impacting your viewing
• Viewing from calm, neutral
• Identifying normal stages
• Below the safety line...’just barely’ above the line
• Repeat exposure changing the way you view and interpret your horse

She also introduces the Resourceful Rider program, which helps riders connect through shared terminology and mutual understanding, aiming for consistency in describing horse behavior.

In this podcast, Stacy shares five levels of distraction that she see in horses. 

This is important to think about, because if you can recognize it in layers, or levels of distraction, then you have a chance to see the progression.  People use the term ‘distracted’ to describe a wide range of behaviors, so I want to show you this in layers.

Level 1: Checked Out Level 2: Panic, But With Recovery Level 3: Just Above the Safety Line Level 4: Second Story Window Level 5: Roof Top

Listen and identify which level you are at, and learn more about the common challenges with each level

This podcast episode discusses the dual roles riders embody: the supportive advocate and the accountable coach. The challenge arises when riders need to  switch between these roles depending on the situation with their horse.  Using personal anecdotes and analogies, Stacy illustrates how these roles manifest in real-life scenarios, such as encouraging a horse to canter in a confined space or making decisions while trail riding.  Drawing parallels between sports coaching and horse training, she elucidates the challenges riders face in pushing their horses beyond their comfort zones while maintaining a supportive rapport.  By sharing personal experiences and insights, Stacy encourages listeners to reflect on their own roles and challenges in horse training, offering practical tips for navigating these complexities.

In this episode, Stacy Westfall explores the power of goal-setting and learning in layers, using her own experiences and the upcoming Virtual Tevis Cup as examples.  She explores how breaking down big goals into smaller, achievable tasks can propel us toward our ultimate dreams., discussing how seemingly unrelated goals can complement each other. The Virtual Tevis Cup serves as a focal point, challenging listeners to rethink their capabilities and embrace new opportunities for growth, even in unexpected areas. Stacy emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, learning from mistakes, and maintaining a community-driven approach to equine endeavors. 

If you're interested in participating in the Virtual Tevis Cup or exploring layered goals for yourself and your horse, visit Stacy Westfall's website or social media for more information.

Today's podcast explores the concept of wisdom as something attainable through experiential learning, rather than mere accumulation of knowledge. 

Through two compelling success stories, you will see examples of how two women have taken the information they were given, applied it to their lives, and have discovered wisdom.

Topics include:

•  knowledge vs. wisdom
• the desire for, and problem with a checklist
• horse training has layers, and so does gaining wisdom
• technique includes how you treat yourself
• the power in seeing all options as possible, and then choosing

Through hearing Mel and Heather’s experiences, you will have the opportunity to discover how wisdom is earned.