This episode explores what hesitation at halter pressure really means—whether you're starting a young horse or checking the foundation of an older one. Stacy explains why the horse deserves to understand pressure from straight forward beforebeing tied, and how to safely prepare for the moment when the wall will only "speak" through halter pressure.

Key takeaways:
– The random "jog-off test" reveals whether horses truly understand halter pressure or just follow patterns and extra cues
– Lunging with inside turns creates safe, controlled opportunities to introduce straight-forward pressure before tying
– Common handler habits—walking back, switching to driving cues, or adding tools—delay true learning about halter pressure
– Two predictable reactions to sudden pressure show whether a horse is prepared for tying or practicing unsafe responses

This episode examines how testing halter pressure understanding builds trust, safety, and clarity. It's especially valuable for riders whose horses sometimes lag, brace, or pull back—reminding us that revisiting these preschool lessons can reveal and repair missing links in any horse's training.

This episode explores how a horse's lightness can quietly fade long after the "preschool" stage—and how that process often begins in the smallest, most overlooked moments of handling. Using Baby Whisper's first haltering lessons as a lens, Stacy shows how early experiences with pressure and release shape a horse's lifelong feel, and how similar patterns appear in mature horses that have learned to lean or resist.

Key takeaways:
– Lightness isn't something added later—it's created, or lost, from the very first moments of contact
– Horses become heavy when we stop noticing where release actually happens
– Even two pounds of unnoticed pressure on a lead rope can reshape a horse's expectations
– True refinement begins by returning to the body, not the halter

This episode examines how lightness develops—and how it disappears—through the rider's timing, awareness, and feel. Whether you're leading, riding, or refining, it reveals why every conversation with your horse begins with how you release.

When things are "kind of working," it's tempting to stay the course—even if you're not fully satisfied. In this episode, Stacy Westfall explores the hidden resistance that keeps riders from making changes, even when they know it could improve safety, connection, or performance. Drawing from examples across different riding levels, Stacy reveals why rocking the boat feels harder when nothing is terribly wrong…and why that's exactly when change matters most.

Key takeaways:
– Feeling dissatisfied but resisting change often comes from fearing the discomfort it will create—both for you and your horse
– Small, untracked "1% improvements" can mask backward steps if you're not measuring progress over time
– Avoiding disruption at home can lead to bigger problems when surprises happen on the trail or in the show ring
– Off-season is the best time for deliberate skill-building, even if it temporarily disturbs your "polished" picture

This episode examines the mental and emotional side of choosing change—especially when it means creating short-term resistance for long-term gain. It's for riders who want to move beyond "good enough" and step into deliberate, measurable progress with their horses.

Three students join me and share their challenges, and life lessons learned through horses.
As you listen, pay close attention to the choices these students have made and how being part of a community supported this change.

Topics discussed include:

• The wordless connection with horses
• Money
• Learning at your own pace
• The approach we learn with ourselves, and then use with our horses (and others in life)
• Becoming congruent
• Look for the good first
• Celebrating together

I hope that by sharing their stories, you'll hear that what they've achieved and realize it is possible for you too.

Frustration is an emotion that many riders report they feel. In this episode, Kathy and JoAnn share their personal journeys, which include leaving every ride feeling fulfilled and happy. 
Listen for the challenges AND for how they navigated their way to the break thoughts. 
Notice the determination exhibited when learning to self evaluate, 
and the mindfulness they used in creating their own structure for training at home. 
At one point this question is asked, 'So now if she anticipates something, what's your reaction to it?" Listen for the answer…it's brilliant!

* structuring rides when there is limited time
* the importance of being able to ask questions when they arise
* the value of self-evaluation skills for discovering the discrepancies between the rider's perception of what they are doing, and the reality
* the role of mindset when overcoming obstacles
* the benefits and limitations of learning at a clinic
* learning when you live in a rural area

This episode is filled with valuable insights, and by the end, you'll see how it was possible for them…and it's possible for you too.

In this episode, you'll have the opportunity to experience a glimpse behind the scenes into the lives and journey of two students inside the Resourceful Rider program.

Through these heartfelt conversations, you'll gain insight into their personal journeys. They'll share their stories of overcoming challenges, celebrating successes, and experiencing life-changing moments that have shaped their paths.

Topics include:

• Feeling like you might not be ready
• Linear vs 3D training plans
• The setbacks that come when 'leveling up'
• Retraining the frustration response
• Not viewing the horse as being defiant
• Self evaluation to improve feel and timing
• Non-judgmental learning

This episode is filled with wisdom and inspiration, and by the end, you'll see how it was possible for them…and it's possible for you too. Let's get started!

In this episode of Stacy Westfall's podcast, she delves into the concept of defining and celebrating success. Stacy reflects on why she didn't mention Gabby's recent winnings, contemplating whether it was due to societal pressures and fear of being labeled as bragging. She also highlights the importance of introspection, explaining that she didn't share her winnings because her focus was on the lessons learned from smaller, more meaningful moments during her training with Gabby.

Stacy emphasizes the shift in her perspective about measuring success. Instead of fixating on external achievements, she now values personal growth and the journey with her horses. She believes that horses enjoy learning, whether it leads to showing or simply enhances their training.

The podcast episode is followed by testimonials from listeners who have implemented Stacy's techniques in their horse training. They share stories of success and personal growth, illustrating the transformative power of understanding oneself and one's horse. The episode underscores the importance of mindfulness and self-awareness when working with horses, emphasizing that this approach leads to a more fulfilling and successful partnership between horse and rider.

In this episode, Stacy shares insights from her recent experiences at two horse shows in Kentucky and answers a listener's question regarding preparing for a Freestyle reining class and showing bridleless.

She attended a NRHA (National Reining Horse Association)  show in Frankfort and the Liberty Festival at the Kentucky Horse Park, which was organized by the International Liberty Horse Association. Stacy observed that both experiences had similarities, emphasizing the importance of accuracy, exposure to different environments, and connecting with like-minded people.

For the listener interested in Freestyle reining, Stacy recommends starting by participating in ILHA home shows and joining a local club. She advises practicing both reining and walk and trot transitions, emphasizing the transition to bridleless riding in various settings.

Stacy offers valuable advice for transitioning to bridleless showing, suggesting that riders can commit to not using reins in regular shows to practice. Additionally, she encourages creating a local club to host liberty shows and facilitate an environment for training.

Stacy's podcast provides a wealth of information and personal experiences to help horse enthusiasts understand, enjoy, and successfully train their horses while sharing insights from her own journey in the world of horse shows.

International Liberty Horse Association (ILHA)-click here

In this episode, Stacy Westfall reflects on the 20th anniversary of her first bridleless competition ride, sharing insights from her journey. She begins by addressing common challenging emotions faced by riders and their underlying causes and then addresses the similarities between basic bending and advanced bending.

Key points in this episode:

• Red flags like anxiety or concerns can feel like road blocks, but with a plan to address them, they become educational challenges.
• Dispelling the misconception that removing the bridle guarantees a feeling of freedom in riding; true freedom results from understanding and communication with the horse.
• Bend is a fundamental aspect of riding with the bridle on, and the concept remains important in bridleless riding.
• Advanced bending without the bridle reins is also for safety and signifies a high level of understanding between horse and rider.
• Three reasons why riders often feel dependent on the reins.

This episode, Stacy answers a listener's question about working with 'outliers'. Outliers are horses with unique needs or circumstances. Stacy shares insights from working with outlier horses, those not following the traditional training path.
There are many valuable things that can be learned from a traditional or standard paths, which also helps us define outliers.

Key Takeaways:

• Regularly plant tiny seeds in training.
• Keep requests small and rewards clear.
• Maintain a high success ratio.
• Adapt training to unique outlier situations.
• Seek similarities in behavior and thinking across different scenarios.
• Encourage horses to 'offer' answers for better results.

Stacy highlights that many of us, both humans and horses, fall into the outlier category due to various factors. She also draws parallels between training outliers and preparing for performance situations, emphasizing the need to be a keen detective in identifying and addressing issues. This approach benefits performance horses and is essential for outliers.

Links mentioned:Kyle Maynard: The Power of Failure (YouTube)

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.

In this episode, Stacy Westfall offers three distinct ways to think about how horses learn to handle surprise. Drawing from her experiences with horses like Willow, she explains how layered training builds connection, responsiveness, and the ability to recover quickly when the unexpected happens.

Key takeaways:

• A horse's recovery depends on the quality of connection already built through shared attention
• What may feel like micromanagement at first becomes the seamless responsiveness of an experienced team
• Rhythm teaches predictability, but random prepares the horse for real-life surprises
• Horses can be trained to handle inconsistencies—not by avoiding them, but by making them part of the conversation

This episode examines how training shapes a horse's response to the unexpected—and how your mindset, habits, and choices all play a role in what unfolds next.

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.

The questions you ask will impact the information you gather and your entire riding experience. 

Often times, the question "Am I doing this right" Or "Is this correct?" is a lightly veiled, "Is this wrong?" or "This is probably wrong…" or some variation. 

You'll know by the way it feels in your body. 

One way to improve your rate of learning is to ask high-quality questions. 
High-quality questions are rarely answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no'. 
High-quality questions are more specific, and inside answering them, the solution is often revealed. 

In this episode I outline when the question, 'Is this correct?' might be useful, and I outline clear criteria for when I ask it…and how I answer it.

I also explain why it isn't a question I ask regularly, and the method of questioning that I find much more effective for increasing awareness and creating change. 

One goal when riding is an increasing consistency in your horses' response to your cues. 
This will only be possible when YOU are consistent with the application of, and release of, the cue. 
The quickest, most reliable way to develop this is by keeping things simple and repeating them: riding a pattern. 

But then what?
And how can you know that the cue is being strengthened...not just the horse memorizing the pattern?

In this podcast, I outline
- where to go next so you can ensure the horse is, indeed, responding to your cue.
- the difference between steady pressure and rhythmic pressure
- groundwork examples
- ridden examples
- common mistakes people make

It is important to rely on repetition at first to gain consistency. 
This builds a solid foundation you can return to any time you need a successful ride.
Then you can begin to do things with more authority.
Then you can do things in different locations.
Then, you can refine the communication and ask for the same thing in multiple ways. 

Have you ever wondered, but how do I get him to do it for longer? 
Maybe you want your horse to keep loping until you tell him to stop.
Maybe you want him to stand until you ask him to go. 
Maybe you show in western dressage, and your horse keeps popping his head up during the free walk…and you want him to keep it down until you ask him to bring it back up. 

A big part of getting a horse to maintain something starts with the horse's first response.

Repeatable comes before maintainable.
Repeatable is key.

In this episode, I use three examples of where teaching something to be a strong, first response is key to future success. 

If you have a question about this, go to my website and either leave a voicemail message, or email me at Stacy@stacywestfall.com

Training a horse involves creating a language between horse and rider. 
It is very common for a horse to be somewhat guessing at the answer at times during this process. 
Your response to their best guess, is what helps them narrow down to the one correct answer. 
If you are consistent…

This language includes your cue system: how you use your legs, seat, reins, voice…and the way you show up: focused, unfocused, etc.

If your horse is unsure, he will often guess from some of the things they have most recently been rewarded for….or what he likes best. 

NOTHING HAS GONE WRONG.
You are refining a language with a HORSE.
If you stay consistent, the horse will use a process of elimination to determine which answer is the correct one.

If the horse is CONSISTENTLY guessing the wrong answer…then they are confused, then you must change something to help them get closer to the correct answer.
Listen to this episode for the full explanation. 

Simply put: a pattern is a planned ride.
When you ride with a plan…you'll begin to show up consistent.
The more consistent you are…the easier it is for your horse to become consistent. 

The magic of riding a pattern, especially a simple, boring pattern, is that it allows the rider to begin to observe their habits and their horse's habits. The most common habit often revealed is a riders' lack of preparation in transitions.

The opposite of riding a pattern is riding randomly. 
How can you tell if you are riding randomly?


• You'll make last-minute decisions.
• You'll cue quickly…and with very little preparation.
• This will reflect in your horse as resistance such as head tossing, etc. 

How would you benefit from riding 10 minutes a day on a 'boring' pattern?
What might you learn?

In this podcast, I discuss two ideas, the challenge of asking questions, and 'why bend?'

The theme of this season of the podcast is, "No question is too small." Today, I explain:


• why riders don't ask more questions
• why the teacher might hesitate before answering
• what the moment of awkwardness could really be

Why bend?

• why you might skip bending
• why you might half-heartedly bend
• how bend increases safety and reduces bucking, rearing and bolting
• why bend improves balance
• advancing: the balance of bend and straightness

Do you have a seemingly simple question you'd like to ask?

Email me, you can even stay anonymous.
Ask your question because others will learn from it. Often times people don't realize they have a question, until they hear it, and immediately identify with the question. 

One major difference between the early rides on a horse, and the more finished rides on a horse, is the way the cues are used in combination. In this podcast, I describe cues as 'doors'. 

The beauty of watching an advanced horse and rider is that the cues seem so subtle that they are often hard to see. 

This is true whether you watch dressage, where the rider maintains a level of contact throughout, or in reining, where the contact on the reins appears very light. 

What these share in common is a subtleness. 
The process of training a horse involves making things clear, and then refining those cues. 

If your horse seems confused, hesitant, or resistant, it is possible he is not clear on which 'door' is open.  Today, I explain why this could be happening and how you can determine your next step. 

If you are consistently taking action, and you recognize that you are having some success, but not at the rate or speed you anticipated.this episode is for you.

Today, I'm sharing three reasons it can feel like the training process is going slower than you thought it would. LIsten, to each description, take action on the third...and you just might find that you are making more progress than you think. 

Many riders experience doubt, tension, or frustration when riding because they are unsure of themselves, or are confused by their horse's response.

Many horses exhibit resistance and behavior issues because they are confused.

In this podcast I discuss:
Common reasons riders unintentionally give conflicting cues.
How and why the cue system changes as a horse advances in training.
The importance of diagnosing if your horse is confused or resistant.
​
Simple changes can profoundly improve your connection with your horse.

If you would like help communicating more clearly with your horse, check out my Resourceful Rider program (click here)

When I hear a rider say, 'I've lost the connection with my horse." I see red flags go up in my mind.

Here's why.

The vast majority of the time, if I were picking a number, I'd say about 80% of the time, that I hear this AND SEE the horse being ridden…I see CUE SYSTEM CONFUSION. 

When you use your reins, or apply your leg, or shift your weight, these are like individual 'words,' that when combined become sentences. 

Your cue system with your horse is a language.

When a rider is unclear with their cues, it makes sense that the horse would be unclear about the correct answer.

If the horse responses to a cue from the rider in an unexpected way, the rider must determine how the language became muddled or confused to produce this.

But you won't be able to do this if you think you have a connection problem. 

Every time you want to say 'It felt like I lost the connection with my horse' I want you to replace it with "I lost the words to communicate with my horse."

The best news is, you can learn this language. And your horse is open to listening. 

I have the beautiful privilege of speaking with many people who love horses. 
The majority are women. 
Many of them are pursuing their horse dreams in the second half of life.

The tipping point where I meet many of these women is…the stage where they are stepping into action to pursue their dream.

In this episode, I explain the challenge of pursuing your dreams with your horse and I share, a very vulnerable moment that I frequently witness. 

I hope that by explaining what is happening, I can help normalize it.

And although it is a very, very vulnerable spot…I very much hope you experience it. 

In this episode, I discuss how quickly horses begin to recognize patterns of behavior, and I answer a listener question about working around feeding time.

While these may seem unrelated, I think the contrast highlights how incredibly valuable it is to recognize how you view your horse. 
Do you view your horse as a dependent in constant need of care and looking after?


Or as highly capable?

Are you judging their physical ability?


Their mental ability?


A combination of both?

Confidence and self-confidence are both important. 
But if one skill rules them all, it is the belief that you can trust yourself.

Confidence comes from a Latin word which means "to trust"; therefore, having self-confidence is having trust in oneself.

Self-confidence is an emotion that you generate without any history to back it up or external evidence. It's based on the belief you have about yourself. It comes from thoughts like, "I will figure this out."

Confidence is supported by experience and external evidence.

In this episode, I use the simple example of haltering a horse to illustrate how many times riders begin to collect evidence AGAINST themselves if they are not mindful of their thoughts. 

As I talk through the haltering example, imagine how something more complex like riding is full of these opportunities. 

At the end, I offer a physical experiment you can do to teach yourself to watch your thoughts more closely. You'll need ten pennies or pebbles and some increased awareness. 

• common mistakes people make when considering bridleless riding
• the importance of understanding WHY you want to ride bridleless
• assessing your horse's understanding based on past training
• the differences between bit-less and bridleless riding
• when I begin introducing bridleless cues
• how bridleless cues are different than bit-less cues
• how to create your own checklist to reach your next bridleless goal
• how to double-check your work (and keep yourself safe)

Today I'm answering a question that came in regarding two horses owned by one person. One horse is very responsive to pressure, while the other is more bold and brave…and doesn't respond as much to pressure. The caller shares how this is causing her a challenge.

In my response, I explain:

• the importance of establishing YOUR view of responsive vs reactive
• MY view on responsive (which includes 'responding' by not avoiding pressure)
• emotional pressure vs physical pressure
• the idea that people tend to naturally sensitize or desensitize and why
• the potential pros and cons of combining riders who like to sensitize and sensitive horses
• the importance of understanding YOUR view on pressure
• the 'test' I used before riding a horse that shows me their understanding of emotional control (expressed through a physical test)

I asked riders this question, "Is there a feeling you really struggle with that seems to be affecting your riding?"

These are a few of the answers: self doubt, battling negative thoughts, imposter syndrome, inadequate, anxious, nervous, anticipating problems, judging myself, sad, frustration (time frame…taking longer than expected), lack of confidence, anxiety, fear, fear, annoyed, ashamed, mental exhaustion, short tempered, unsure, lack trust, annoyed, disappointment, frustration, uncertainty, worry, low self esteem, depression, frustration, anger, grief, alone, tense, overwhelmed, doubt, (time frame), lack of confidence, defeat, self-pity, dependence, guilt, frustration

In this podcast, I share:

• the problem with denying negative emotions
• five signs you may be a reactive rider
• what reactive riders create
• traits of a proactive rider
• the skills you need to become a proactive rider

If you would like to be notified when I offer another free training session (as mentioned in the podcast) go to my website and join my email list.

This week, I'm answering a listener question about training vs emotional 'deposits' when spending time with a horse.

I answer this question from several angles, including:

• earning' the right to be in their space.
• seeing the horses side of the conversation
• your human view of work
• what Professional trainers must identify
• what non trainers (horse owners) must identify
• DISTRACTED horse…getting 'rewarded'
• rules, boundaries and training cycles

 Can you DEEPLY enjoy all the time spent together…even the 'work' parts?

Most riders only think about safety after something goes wrong. But what if the most effective way to feel secure—and actually be safe—is to prepare before a problem ever shows up? In this episode, Stacy explains why proactive riding builds not just safety, but also clarity, emotional stability, and dependable habits that hold up under pressure.

Key takeaways:

– Waiting for a problem before you teach a skill puts both you and your horse at risk
– Practicing "the answer" ahead of time builds clarity
– Emotional tone during training shapes long-term rider and horse behavior
– Safety is not reactive—it's the result of consistent, intentional preparation

This episode demonstrates how teaching the answer before it's "needed" can transform your confidence, your horse's trust, and your ability to respond clearly when the unexpected happens. It's a practical reminder that true safety comes from preparation—not luck.

Today, I'm answering a question that came in about my philosophy of 'earning the right to be in each other's space."
The caller explains that she understands the concept as it applies to a pushy horse having to earn the right to enter her space. She is curious about how this concept applies to timid or fearful horses. 
Other concepts discussed include:

• a horse being distracted or not interested is discussed as a separate issue from earning the right to be in each other's space.
• how curiosity impacts both the pushy and the timid horse
• the importance of training the emotional state
• fight/flight/freeze
• the problem with being sneaky
• the importance of showing up in the same energy that you would if you were riding a horse you were confident on.
• timid horses are drawn to powerful energy

On today's podcast I'm going to share with you a three step way to evaluate your corrections when you're training your horse. I actually don't like the word correction…but I'm using it because it gets to the essesnce of the problem the quickest. In the podcast I will explain why corrections cause more problems and how I choose a different technique.

Let's start with the three criteria I use when evaluating a technique.

I think these are easier to understand if you put yourself into specific situations, so imagine as I say this, that you are loading a horse in a trailer.

The criteria I use for evaluating your techniques would be:
1-your emotions 
2-the technique (if anticipated, does it create positive response)
3-horses, response or reaction (indicates their level of understanding)

Punishment example: horse stops moving forward on the way to the trailer, you begin jerking the rope and backing him up. 
This fails my criteria number 2. If anticipated, this horse logically goes backward when anticipating your correction.
This is what puts it into a punishment category instead of a training or teaching category.
In a teaching situation, the guidance the rider gives DURING the problem, if anticipated, causes the horse to get better. 
This approach is highly effective and is much more enjoyable for the horse and rider. 

I received this question, decided to make it a podcast topic because I have recently experienced a significant setback that derailed my plans.

I see three types of life issues that can bring you to a halt.

1) Mindset issues: This can show up as fear, limiting beliefs, or EMOTIONS YOU WOULD PREFER TO AVOID. It often feels like resistance.

2) A temporary circumstance that derails your plans. 
An example of this would be me breaking my hand in January and missing three months of riding.
This is a temporary situation that does truly take you off your planned path…
The biggest risk here is often that, although it is temporary, 
my hand is going to become fully useful, and I will be able to continue on…
The greatest risk is that your mind might leave the facts of the situation, three month delay) and loop back into mindset issues. 

3) The third type of life issue that can bring things to a halt is a circumstance that permanently closes a door. The death of a horse, for example. 

When you hit a wall, or get derailed, it is tough to recover if you haven't been practicing some type of emotional weight lifting with smaller things. The thought patterns you practice in the small things is what leads to the ability to keep going when the bigger things happen.

I often get questions like, "How do I keep my horse from getting bored?"
or "How do I keep repetitive things from becoming boring?"
or statements like "My horse got bored with that, so I changed it up."

One reason this is interesting to me is because…I don't have bored horses.
Yet, if you were to watch me day to day…I seem to do a lot of repetitive things that could easily be seen as boring.

In this episode, I share and explore the topic of boredom from both the human and the horse perspective. I share the problems that I often see occur when riders try to solve the problem of 'boredom' when the actual issue is something entirely different. 

In this episode, I am wrapping up the 'horse show' season of the podcast. Showing has hugely impacted my development as a rider, and in this episode I share two lessons I learned directly from showing.

One was really challenging.
The other is pure goodness.

I close by sharing some of the many reasons listed by people when I asked, 
"Why do you like going to horse shows?"

In this podcast, I'm discussing three viewpoints THAT ARE happening in other aspects of riding…but are most clear in showing. Understanding these three roles will improve your understanding of your riding challenges.

Phrases or thoughts like: 
"oops, I messed that up",
"that was terrible" 
"ooh, that was bad",
"I hope they didn't notice that"
and "lets try that again" are all clues to the way you are thinking…and they happen in and out of the show arena. 

When you attend a horse show and ride into a class, there are three different ways you can show up; as the showman, as the trainer, or as the judge. Most people are jumping around between these three without knowing it, which is less effective and exhausting. 

Learn what each of these roles has to offer and how understanding them can improve the quality of the time spent with your horse.

Learning the skill of establishing a calculated plateau will require you to know yourself, know your horse, and exercise self-control.

A calculate plateau happens when a rider chooses to stay at, or return to a known level of skill. This is beneficial for creating consistency and confidence in the horse and rider. It also proves that the rider knows their horse well enough that they can create this. 

In this podcast, I explain what a calculated plateau is and is NOT as well as the benefits.
One of the main benefits of creating plateaus in show situations is to prevent over-showing, which is a state of mind. It is asking the horse, and/or yourself, to perform at a higher level than you are consistently capable of doing in regular training.

Here is how I would describe the ideal rider and horse experience at a horse show:

Ideally, the rider is focus on:
-what's happening with the horse (the horse's experience)
- the task at hand (test, obstacle, etc.)
- what the rider needs to adjust or change or continue doing to support the horse and complete the task

Ideally, the horse is focused on the rider with a soft awareness of surroundings.

THE CHALLENGE is learning  to navigate multiple areas of focus, seemingly at the same time.

Showing often brings up an awareness of what is not working, including:
the rider forgetting the pattern, not supporting the horse, not focused on adjusting to the actual environment, and/or what others might think about their riding.

Also discussed are common horse issues, the role of mistakes and growth mindset as you advance as a rider. The benefits of riding with FOCUS and the side effects that are beneficial in all areas of riding.

A listener calls in and explains that she has previously enjoyed showing, and would like to show again…but a few thing have changed.
She is older, and now lives in an area where she doesn't know as many people.
She says, "The fear that is preventing me from showing my horse is the fear of getting hurt or getting someone else hurt."

In this episode I outline the importance if understanding that fear can be pointing towards an unwanted (negative) emotion, or. fear can pointing towards danger, or both can be present.
Also discussed are the challenges that change with age and a change of situation, the power in acknowledging what specifically you are afraid of, the reasons why traveling brings up issues and ideas for how to assess and proactively approach the challenge.

In this episode, I discuss the benefits of a show environment, and why insecure horses can learn to thrive at shows. Topics include:

• Three different types of show environments.
• The challenge of going to a show with many beginners.
• Overall show routine vs your individual routine that bridges between home and the show
• Why insecure horses can thrive at shows
• The difference between fearful and insecure.

And five mistakes people often make when taking insecure horses to show.

• how the horse's original training was approached (was it based in reactivity or responsiveness (the ability to think through versus reacting)
• the horses talent in the discipline.
• the riders talent in the discipline.
• where frustration could come from and how to prevent it.
• pros and cons of working on both disciplines at the same time versus dedicating a season to a discipline.
• switching bits when switching disciplines.

In this episode, I discuss the difference between the mentality of showing versus training. These are complementary systems when you understand the difference between them.

Showing is polishing.
Showing is taking a test.
Showing is an external evaluation.
The judge's job is to evaluate against a standard.

Training is communicating.
Training is teaching, clarifying, adjusting, and understanding how to break things into smaller parts to create success.

Showing offers many benefits that complement training. One benefit is developing the riders 'eye' or the ability to see what is happening.

In this episode, explain how showing does this and also clarify that you can find these things outside of showing if you know what to look for. They just happen to be more obvious when showing and more subtle in many other areas.

In this episode, I discuss the concept of high value and low-value cycles. I define what they are and share one tool I use to avoid or get out of a low-value cycle.
This is work worth doing to create long-term success.