Episode 290-The Power of Touch: Building Connection Through Contact

In this podcast episode, Stacy Westfall introduces the concept of viewing a horse's behavior as an "invitation" that riders can choose to accept or decline. She explains that horses often present two types of invitations to riders: - Emotional invitations: When a horse becomes anxious, jumpy, or displays a particular emotional state, it can be seen as an invitation for the rider to join that emotional state.  - Training invitations: Horses may also invite riders to use certain aids or respond in specific ways during training or riding. For example, a lazy horse might invite the rider to do more work to maintain energy, while a hot horse might invite the rider to constantly apply the brakes. Stacy encourages riders to: - Recognize these invitations from their horses - Become aware of their default responses to these invitations - Consider choosing a different, more productive response - Look for invitations during their next 10 rides - Aim to break habitual patterns by responding intentionally to their horse's cues.

In this podcast, Stacy recaps her experience with the Tevis Cup Virtual Challenge. She shares that she will do it again, and what she will do differently next time.  She also shares an update on Lefty and Stormy, the two orphan foals that impacted her original spring plans. Key takeaways: • the challenges of tracking miles • the benefit of participating in a group event • unlocking ‘milestones’ and learning the history of the trail   • physical improvements noticed by vets, chiropractors, and massage therapists • behavioral changes from the increased intentional work There is still time to sign up for the 2024 Tevis Cup Virtual, and if you are listening to this after the registration closes, you can begin thinking about signing up next year!

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.