Train Your Own Horse with Stacy Westfall

Episode 164- Untangling thoughts with help

05 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I love that I sound like a bit of a mess in this episode. This year I'm setting a goal that is hard to measure and even a bit of a challenge to put in...

Episode 163- A Year End Review

29 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you pause each year to reflect back on the things you did…or didn't…accomplish? In this conversation my good friend Suzi Vlietstra helps me do ...

Episode 162: Leave room for the magic

22 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I think there can be a magical dance between dreaming and doing. In this podcast I discuss: dreaming and the nuts-and-bolts of training why it looks ...

Episode 161: The power of "I don't know how…"

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The phrase "I don't know how..." is often said with a sense of defeat but it can also be freeing. 'I don't know how…but I'm going for it anyway.' Wh...

Episode 160: Yearly theme instead of goal?

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Choosing a yearly theme is a great way to guide your brain in a new direction. Unlike specific goals, themes are there as a guiding principal. A theme...

Episode 159: 5 steps to blow your own mind

01 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What would happen if you got in the habit of surprising yourself with what you are capable of? What if the SIDE EFFECT of your measurable goals…is w...

Episode 158: An inside-out thankfulness assignment

24 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I see a dance between the words; thankful, grateful and compassion. When you make your 'I'm thankful for…' list, do you make it on the list? There i...

Episode 157: What 'they' say…and what I make it mean about me as a rider.

17 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When someone makes a comment there is; what we hear, what we make it mean and how we can learn from it. A judge wrote, "You got just about every possi...

Episode 156: Three mistakes I nearly made at the AQHA world show

10 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Going ALL IN on a goal contains many learning opportunities. In this podcast, I discuss these three challenges and how I overcame them at the AQHA wor...

Episode 155: Abandoning hopes and dreams.

03 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

"The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that...

Episode 154: Creating emotions to benefit you and your horse

27 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Horses are excellent at reading emotions. Have you learned the skill of creating an emotion on demand? You'll learn how to create and emotional state:...

Episode 153: How your thoughts change your results with your horse.

20 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Henry Ford summed it up well, 'Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you are right." In this podcast I explain why this is so true with our h...

Episode 152: Stages of thought awareness

13 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The main point of life coaching is to bring awareness of how our thoughts are impacting our results. Most riders would willingly consider that their b...

Episode 151: Life coaching and the riders mind

06 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this season of the podcast I'm discussing life coaching principals and how they apply to working with your horse. Life coaching addresses 'The Ride...

Episode 150- Should you be playing a never ending game with your horse?

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, I discuss the difference between 'finite games' which involve players, rules and winners and infinite, or never ending games, where t...

Episode 149- Three traits I see in riders who reach their goals

22 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

ALL riders I've talked with experience dissatisfaction…the interesting thing is that some keep going and some do not. I see people give up…and I s...

Episode 148- Three situations where horses frequently double check the rules

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I discuss three situations where it is common for horses to ask questions about the rules. I call these moments 'Grandma's rules' whi...

Episode 147: This is the awkward, uncomfortable part of the journey.

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Increasing a riders awareness of the feelings or emotions that come up during the learning process is extremely beneficial. For most riders, learning ...

Episode 146-Why patterns can help & why riders resist riding patterns

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today I'm talking about patterns…why I recommend riding patterns and why riders often have resistance to riding patterns. I'll discuss anticipation ...

Episode 145: Skill confidence vs self confidence

25 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you're in the middle of a work session and things aren't going the way you hoped do you lose confidence? How does this impact your time with your h...

Episode 144: 3 ways riders block their physical awareness

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I explain three ways I see people holding themselves back by accidentally limiting their awareness of their body. Riding horses can b...

Episode 143: Prerequisites for flying lead changes

11 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode I'm answering a question about lead changes. In the beginning I'm very methodical about teaching shoulder control with the reins, legs...

Episode 142: How can I slow my horse down on a loose rein?

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode I'm answering a question about teaching a horse how to hunt slowing down with less or no rein contact. I'll discuss teaching multiple ...

Episode 141: My horse is on the wrong lead…

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how to identify what lead your horse is on when watching from the ground or when riding. What makes a lead 'right or wrong' or correct or incorr...

Episode 140: Uncollected- Is that resistance, stiffness and tripping mental or physical?

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I recieved an email awhile back that asked a short question. Here is what was written. "The biggest question I can't seem to get a clear answer for is...

Episode 139: Teaching high energy horses to wait and low energy horses to be ready

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are you naturally a low energy or high energy person? Is your horse a naturally low energy or high energy horse? How does this impact you training the...

Episode 138: 3 reasons people don't develop emotional maturity in horses

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you think horses can be taught to be emotionally mature? What would that look like? Can you teach a horse to 'help you out'? Or do you expect thing...

Episode 137: The role of excitement and patience in horse training

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How often do you practice feeling excited…and patience? Is it more common for you to be excited…and rush? In this episode, I use three examples to...

Episode 136: Developing self awareness & independence when riding

23 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How can you keep yourself safe and make good choices…when you know you are conscious incompetence? In this episode I explain how to develop self awa...

Episode 135: Is mental exhaustion hindering your horse training?

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Can you effectively train your horse on a day when you feel mentally exhausted? Today I answer a listener question about this by discussing B- work, ...

Episode 134: How do you get that bond and trust with your horses?

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

To answer the question of creating a bond of trust I discuss the balancing act of Training & Time. How much time does it take? What is the flaw of tim...

Episode 133: Collection: Western vs Dressage

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How is collection the same…or different between the western world of reining vs dressage? How does relaxation fit in? What changes with the head low...

Episode 132: When would I start introducing collection to my horse?

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

"My horse has good basics. We can walk, trot and canter. The groundwork is good…what next? When would I start introducing collection?" This is a dis...

Episode 131- Painful thoughts that hold us back with our horses

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The way we think about things created a feeling that shows up in our body and our horses are aware of it. This is why it is so important to take a loo...

Episode 130: The discomfort of learning new things

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

"How can I build my horses confidence, help her learn to respect me as her leader…without her being afraid." A discussion about fear, discomfort, co...

Episode 129: Physical and mental comfort zones for horses

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode I'm answering two questions that illustrate the dance between the horses body and the horses mind. The goal for us humans is to learn ...

Episode 128: Dressage vs Reining: Lessons I have Learned

28 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

"What have you learned by studying Classical Dressage? What things changed? Will you continue to ride Dressage?" I answer these questions and discuss ...

Episode 127: Survival brain vs rational brain on a trail ride

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On trail rides there are many situations for scary footing; boggy areas, water crossing, big ditches, hills and more. In those moments do you have a p...

Episode 126-Mental games for injured horses, clicker training Q&A

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today I'm answering two questions. The first is about an injured horse that is hand walking…his owner would like suggestions about maintaining other...

Episode 125-Retraining older horses vs starting with a clean slate

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today I'm answering two questions about older horses. One about restarting and one about a horse that doesn't want to listen when he can't see the her...

Episode 124- Horse scared on the trail: Let them look or keep them busy?

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been in a situation where your horse saw something in the distance…maybe out on a trail ride OR even when you change something in the ...

Episode 123: Help! I'm constantly in my horses mouth too much…

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Many riders struggle to find more subtle cue systems and feel like they are constantly in the horses mouth...overusing the rein cues. Learning how to ...

Episode 122: Feeling overwhelmed while training your own horse.

17 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A listener asks a question about feeling overwhelmed. She is studying and learning about good horsemanship, developing true partnership and relationsh...

Episode 121: Overcoming thoughts that rob joy from your horse adventures.

10 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today's podcast is on the subject of thoughts that rob joy from our horse adventures. This can apply to anything you decide to do with your horse. Tra...

Episode 120: My horse is a bully. Where do I start?

03 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The first six minutes of this episode could change how you think about horses forever. Where would you start with a horse that is a bully when leading...

Episode 119: Distracted and overreactive vs responsive and aware, how can I train my horse to respond better?

24 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Is it the object or the energy level that triggers your horse? What does your horse do…when …other horses are running…deer jumping…new object ...

Episode 118: How can I STOP my horse from being aggressive towards other horses?!

17 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

House rules. Pasture rules. Grandma's rules… Do you really mean that? Are you bluffing? Can I chase your kids? Can I have your spot in the pecking o...

Episode 117: Challenging Conversations with Your Horse

10 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Q&A: How much say do you let your horses have your two way conversation? What types of things do you allow the horse to say? I love the idea of listen...

Episode 116: Selling or rehoming an older horse

03 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode contains general thoughts around selling horses and I answer a listener asks a question about a horse who is aging: how to find him the b...

Episode 115: Using curiosity, receiving feedback and stages of relationship impact training your horse

27 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A confident, dominant mare who doesn't really want to connect, a two year old that pins her ears at certain movements, and a horse that wrings its tai...

Episode 114- Exercise: coach yourself to coach your horse

20 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Here are four ways exercise can improve your riding. 1-To exercise regularly you'll need to coach yourself 2- Exercise can help you physically become ...

Episode 113: How to calendar your horse goals

13 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In a perfect world…what would this year look like with your horse? What would you accomplish? In January of 2022…what would you like to have achie...

Episode 112- Can you have Relationship AND Results with your horse?

06 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you were forced to choose between having a great relationship with your horse OR getting big results…which would you choose? Relationship OR resu...

Episode 111: 3 reasons you're afraid to set big goals with your horse

30 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Are you going after big goals with your horses? How do you define 'big goal'? What does that look like for you? Here are three reasons I often see rid...

Episode 110- Inspired by Man o' War aka Big Red

23 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Which horse first inspired you? The earliest memory I have of being inspired by a real horse was my mom, reading stories to me of Man O War aka Big Re...

Episode 109: Fear around training your own horse

16 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How do you separate fear from danger? In this podcast I discuss the importance of recognizing fear and what it could be pointing to. I also explain wh...

Ep 108: 3 observations from almost buying a horse.

09 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I almost bought a horse. In this episode, I discuss many of the factors that went into my decision to NOT buy the horse including logic, emotion, dail...

Episode 107: Training Cycles: Yearly, weekly, daily

02 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I use training cycles to make my daily rides more efficient and productive. The same techniques work when I view my week month and year in a similar w...

Episode 106-Make your dreams a reality in 10 minutes

25 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How many times in your life have you made a list of things you want? I've done it in different forms for years. Maybe it was on a financial list…thi...

Episode 105-Older horses and the decision to euthanize

18 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, I'm going to discuss a tough subject, older horses, and the decision to euthanize. This decision is often made in emergency situation...

Episode 104- Western Dressage Test Explained

11 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Do you understand how western dressage is judged? In this podcast, I share the results of Presto's test and explain the scoring system. Each number th...

Episode 103: Is the phrase, "It's all training"…a useful statement?

04 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"It's all training." Is this statement useful to you as a rider? I see three ways that this statement can be damaging to individuals and to the indust...

Episode 102: Riding one horse in multiple disciplines

28 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How many things can a horse excel at? In this episode, I discuss riding horses in different disciplines. I talk specifically about which classes I bel...

Reflect, reset, move forward with understanding.

21 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How often do you take time to reflect on your journey with your horse? Here is a quote to guide this podcast, "Life can only be understood backwards; ...

Episode 100- The horses that have taught me.

14 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Horses are great teachers. In this episode, I share stories of the horses that have taught me over the years such as focus, loyalty, and trust. I also...

HELP: My horse REALLY connects to other horses when trail riding…

07 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A listener calls in with a question about her horse who gets very worked up on trail rides with too many other horses. She describes how the horse see...

Teaching your horse to be a thinking participant

30 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes horses are trained to operate more like robots-'don't think, just do what I say'. Other times horses are left to make most of the decisions-...

Separating rider issues from horse issues when trail riding

23 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Question: How can I reduce my horse's reactivity to noise when trail riding? The answer involves separating the issue into smaller parts and looking a...

How can I train my horse to ride safely near traffic?

16 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Riding near traffic can be challenging. Your horse must deal with vehicles of varying sizes, traveling at speed, and making loud noises. The road itse...

Help, my horse has emotional outbursts on the trail

09 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 95-"Is there a way to teach emotional control to a horse? He is super quiet when ridden alone. When ridden in groups I can feel his nerves bun...

Reducing anxiety during trail rides

02 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 94- A listener asks for some advice on how to reduce her horse's anxiety…and hers…when out on the trails. The discussion includes riding r...

When horses freak out at the idea of trail riding

26 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I explain the relationship I see between pressure, composure, and building a horse's confidence on the trail. I also answer the quest...

Building a horses confidence on the trails

19 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How do horses develop confidence on the trails? Does confidence come from riding with another confident horse? Are some horses just born confident and...

The most common MISTAKE people make trail riding

12 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 91: Take a moment and think about what YOU think might be the biggest problem or most common mistake you see when out trail riding. Visualize ...

Trail riding vs arena riding: advantages and disadvantages

05 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Trail riding vs arena riding. They both come with advantages and disadvantages which is why I find a combination of both beneficial. In this podcast I...

Getting Started in the Horse Industry-a conversation with Molly Wagner

29 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I'm talking with  Molly Wagner about getting started as a professional in the horse industry.  Together, we are going to tackle two voicemail...

Western Dressage: a conversation with Lynn Palm

22 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today I'm talking with Lynn Palm about western dressage.  Lynn literally wrote the book on the subject of western dressage. She competes, judges, and...

How much MONEY am I spending on my horse habit? A conversation with Nicole Ross

15 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How much does it cost to own a horse? It is not an easy question to answer because there are so many variables but today's guest, Nicole Ross of Horse...

The challenge of change - a conversation with Ginny Telego

08 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Why is change hard? Why do we 'want' to change…but find it challenging? Today Ginny Telego explains a model for change that involves recognizing sev...

The older & wider rider - a conversation with Suzi Vlietstra

01 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Getting into horses or returning to horses later in life can be a challenge but can also contain many hidden blessings. My guest today, Suzi Vlietstra...

Clicker training horses- a conversation with Mustang Maddy

24 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Does clicker training work with horses? Won't they just start looking for treats all the time? In this podcast, I'm talking with Mustang Maddy about c...

Getting started in reining-A conversation with Jesse Westfall

17 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Is it possible to get started in reining and fully train your own horse from start to show? Today's guest says 'yes' and he has the track record to pr...

Ride with Confidence- a conversation with Barbra Schulte

10 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are talking about Riding with Confidence and my guest is Barbra Schulte. She is a Hall of Fame rider and a performance coach. I looked throug...

Leading one horse while riding another, how to teach ponying

03 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 81: Today's question is about teaching horses to pony or the art of leading one horse while riding another. Ponying can be a great way to exer...

Horse shows: ethics, reining, competition, pitfalls & different cue systems

27 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 80: Today, I'm answering two questions, both of these involve the idea of riding different disciplines. The first question discusses ethics, s...

My Horse Won't Walk On The Lunge Line & Can I Do Groundwork Without Lunging?

20 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 79: Answering two questions in this episode! Question 1: My horse wants to run and play at the beginning of lunging. It takes a long time to g...

Discussing quality, quantity, and boredom during horse training

13 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 78: A listener called in a question about training her first two-year-old. She is struggling to find the balance between quality vs quantity a...

Add planning and refinement to your riding: circles, straight & cues

06 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 77: How does planning help set your horse up for success? How do the layers of training build into a more refined cue system? These topics and...

Teaching horses to give to pressure, ground tie & stand quietly

29 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 76: Today I'm answering three questions that I think are all related. One is about a horse that pops his head up when he steps on the lead rop...

Ranch Riding Troubles and Electric Fence Issues

22 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 75: Q&A: Ranch riding, ranch trail…the horror! How to better prepare for the transition from home to show.  Preparing a horse for rider ner...

Handling stress when you can't ride your horse.

15 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 74: Have you ever had a reason that stopped you from riding? Maybe you were injured? Maybe your horse was injured?  I find that when I look b...

Empowering riders, respecting space, finding balance between go & whoa aids

08 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Ep 73: Listen as a caller describes how she changed her lunging experience in a matter of days. Stacy outlines the steps that made this 'leap' in lear...

Why lunging horses? Benefits and warnings.

01 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Ep 72: Question: You referenced lunging in your podcast and videos. I was hoping you could talk more about it. Perhaps elaborate on how you go about i...

Put yourself in the role of the horse

25 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Ep 71: How are you doing? Before you answer that question, I'd like you to pretend that you are a horse. What's the first image that comes to mind? An...

Using More Leg on Hot Horses

18 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 70: Question: After warming up and we're beginning to work, I have a really hard time keeping his gait consistent, usually start out slow and ...

Training Horses for Others vs Training Your Own.

11 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 69: Question: "I was wondering how you keep your motivation for riding your own horses when you are training other people's horses. I feel lik...

How to Teach a Horse to Spook

04 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 68: How to teach your horse to spook, in three easy steps! 1) start with a horse with lack of experience or holes in the training 2) try not ...

Teaching horses tricks...or problems?

26 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 67: Can training horses to do tricks like rearing, bowing or lying down cause problems? I answer this question by using examples of six differ...

Q&A: 5 tips for trail riding young horses & goals during pregnancy

19 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 66: Today I answer two listener questions. Question #1- "My question for you is how you can tell when your horse is ready to go on its first t...

The Tipping Point in Horse Training.

12 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 65: What is a tipping point in horse training? Why does it matter? How would it help with spooking? In today's episode, I discuss the idea of ...