Description
In this episode, Stacy addresses a common issue in horse training: anticipation. A listener from Denmark asks how to handle a horse that performs learned exercises without waiting for cues. Stacy explains that anticipation is initially a positive sign of successful training, likening it to the first half of a rainbow arc. However, as training progresses, excessive anticipation can become problematic.
Stacy advises seeing this as a sign of clear leadership and effective teaching, rather than a failure. She introduces the concept of "teeter-totter" training, where the goal is to balance the horse's eagerness for upward transitions (like cantering) with an equal readiness for downward transitions. This approach aims to create a responsive, thinking partner in the horse.
The key challenge is maintaining the horse's initiative while teaching it to wait for cues. Stacy recommends being proactive, redirecting the horse before it anticipates, and gradually refining the horse's responsiveness over time.
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...
Published 11/13/24
In this episode, Stacy explores the concept of recognizing and embracing contradictions in horse training, sharing insights from a recent experience with her horse, Luna. Luna has started anticipating spins during trot circles, which could be viewed as a problem, but Stacy sees it as a potential...
Published 11/06/24