Nov 13, 2024
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.