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"Thank you, Stacy, for everything you have done. Your videos have taught me a lot. I'm currently working on a 2 year old mare and she is doing wonderful. This is my first horse to train. I have been around horses my entire life but never trained nor rode with a foundation and right now Diamond (2 year old mare) is doing wonderfully. She leads well with a lead rope started to lead better without but have a ways to go on that. She works wonderfully in the round pen. Already knows how to turn on the inside and then when pressure is taken off turns towards me, and all in two sessions. She is progressing very very well. Thank you again for doing what you have done."

 

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"Hi, I am a AA dressage rider with a girlfriend stable, dabble in breeding with a few babies around. I watched Stacy at our Expo 2008 and she was the first ground training clinician to hold my attention the entire session. My technical mind has low tolerance for the new-age approach using fluffy terms as the seven 'games' or 'playing' with your horse, demonstrations with various camera shots and soul searching background music. I love my horses but the last thing I want to be viewed as to my 1300lbs walnut brain partner is a playmate. Stacy's teaching is straight forward, logical and easy to follow. She does not play on emotions or place a horse's thought processes on a human level which I believe is critical when working with horses. She articulates clearly, uses great illustrations and explains 'the why' along with 'how'. I bought one video at the Expo, liked it so much, invested in the entire set. Stacy is my favorite all-round trainer and I highly recommend her to everyone in the horse world."
 -Carla R. Blair, Nebraska  

 

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Chloe and I have come a long way with the help of Stacy’s Basic Groundwork DVD but taking Stacy’s advice I put my Chloe (22 month filly) in training with a professional.

 

Never being around or owning a horse nor having a broke horse to practice my ground work skills on, Stacy through her DVD’s encouraged that this was not a demeaning thing to do.  She also suggests to take your time and make sure the groundwork is solid and good on the ground to be assured it would be good in the saddle.

 

More ground work to do and then onto Starting Young Horses.     

 

Thanks

Susan Talmage

 

 

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Dear Stacy,
Just wanted to say thank you for making such an informative and easy to understand and follow DVD instructional series.  The attached picture proves it works!  This was the result after 7 30 minute sessions!  Sunshine progressed quickly and now only needs slight help holding her hoof up and a verbal cue to back up.  You're an excellent trainer of horses and people too!  I highly recommend your DVD series and products to anyone wanting to further their relationship with their horses!

 

Sincerely,

Debbie G.

Lake Charles, LA

 

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Hi Stacy!  This August, I bought Tuff, a seven year old Arabian/Morgan cross, who was also proud cut.  Tuff had bucked me off months before I ever thought about buying him, but when I found out he was going to be sold at auction, I couldn't help thinking he had a little potential.  I bought Tuff for $150.  It took me and a freind 45 min to get him in the trailer to bring him home.  One of my first rides on him at home, he spooked at a four-wheeler and started bucking.  Thankfully, the bucks weren't very big, and I was able to sit to them and bring his head around.  Then I decided, with a little help from you, that it was time to start over from square one.  I began working Tuff on the ground, using the excersises from the Basic Groundwork DVD.  He had been through all this sometime before, so it wasn't too many weeks before I put the saddle back on him.  A few days ago, I mounted him for the first time since starting over.  He did great!  Tuff used to be hard to catch, but now he follows me in the round pen without a halter.  He even stands groundtied for short periods of time!  We've just started on the excersises in your Starting Young Horses DVD, and I'm very eager to see how this will all work out.  The extra time has been so worth it, thanks again for your helpful DVD's, and for your training questions!

-Katherine C. of Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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I recently purchased a 4 yr. old Paint mare after a 20 year break from horses.  I've purchased all your DVD's to help me with the training of "Molly".  Your DVD "Starting Young Horses" is great and Molly is coming along nicely.  One day I decided to work on getting Molly to bow and within 3 short lessons she bowed for the first time.  This picture is that first bow! AMAZING and easy to follow lesson guide.  Thank you, now she bows for anyone with a simple cue!  No halter no devices necessary.  Thank you for sharing your talent.
Kim S.

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Horse & Rider Article Titled: Time to Part Ways? Three Reasons to Consider Selling Your Horse

In the article Stacy detailed very specific issues when you should consider selling.  For me personally the article seemed to keep bringing me back to the issue of safety.  You see I work in the Risk Department for a very large company and keeping employees safe is my job in workers' compensation.  I have many friends with horses that get injured because they are careless or simply not paying attention to their surroundings and/or their horse's body language.  In the years together with Sayo, I have never been injured or even come close as safety for myself and Sayo is job 1.
 
Once I determined that it was not safe for me because of my riding level combined with my age (57) and Sayo's youth I knew it was time to sell.  She will make a fine partner for the right person but I now know that person is not me.  Doing the right thing is not always easy because sometimes it means letting go. 
 
Stacy knows that being successful is not about winning or being first, it is about putting forth your very best effort.

Stacy's article helped me succeed by providing thought provoking guidance to help me with a difficult decision.                            

Sharon C.

The Follow Up to Sayo's Story:

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While I've been riding since I was 4, I had a BIG project on my hands in 2008 and realized I needed HELP.  I had bought a 3 year old GREEN Percheron stallion. Thankfully I found Stacy's DVD's.  Stacy helped me so much with this horse, particularly including ground driving, since we intended to have a riding/driving horse.   When I met Stacy at the MI Expo, she was such a delightful/impressive teacher & person.  What was surprising to me is that I had several "ah hah" moments about my two older horses off the track. Thanks so much for being an excellent communicator, teacher, and human.  You are blessed on so many levels. Lisa H.

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Stacy and Helpers; We went to the MN Horse Expo Sunday just to see your demonstrations and we were not disappointed. I thought you did an excellent job and explained things in a very clear consise manner. I liked that your presentation wasn't full of sales pitches like other clinicians tend to do. Even my not so horsey husband was interested in your talks and facinated by the video at your booth. He finally gave me the Ok to order your videos. Thank you for an entertaining day! -Sonia

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I am sure you hear this all the time but watching someone ride that is so in sync with their horse leaves me speechless, you are truly one of a kind and have a natural gift that pours out of you and is easy to see in the horses you ride and with such modesty. You are much more than an incredible rider you are a role model. Bless you and good luck in all you do, Adrienne

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Just wanted to let you know how much I love "TheGreatest Good" poster. I have it hanging in my office and it always inspires me to strive to help others. Thanks Stacy for such an inspirational picture and quote.

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Hi Stacy, well I cannot believe the things I can get my horse to do now.  Even beginning with the simple lunge.  I ca n now get m y horse to stop lunging and switch directions by the point of my arm... LOL, I am so amazed ho w easy it is.  Last night I had her jumping over barrels from m y lunge line.  I purchased your DVD package and it was the best money I have ever spent!!  I spent more than that on another set of DVD’s from a very well know trainer and honestly... I fell asleep during the videos, they were sooooooo slow.  not to me ntion the training videos were taped using a seasoned horse who did not create resistance, so for m e to learn from that was very very difficult.  BUT YOUR DVDS are simply amazing.  Not only did I learn so very much, but I did not get sleepy at all. (LOL)  You are a wonderful teacher and so easy to understand, Thank you for teaching me to understand my horse.  Janel P

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After watching your ride for your dad and seeing all you can accomplish in an arena full of chaos with your colt Popcorn, I have re-evaluated my goals. I just want to say thank you for being such a great role model for all of us women and little girls... mine sure do look up to you! I always here "mom, is that how Ms. Stacy would do it?" No lie! So thank you!! And by the end of next year, I am aiming for walk/trot/lope all bareback! May not sound very big, but for me and my horse who loves to just RUN, it's going to be a challenge! I will send you pics when the mission is accomplished :) Take care Stacy...and keep up the awesome work!!   -Danielle C Kill Devil Hills, IN

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Stacy- My daughter and I attended your clinics in Birch Run, MI and we both wanted to THANK YOU for doing such an excellent job. We have raised, trained and competed with horses our entire lives and have worked with other trainers and attended several different clinics given by trainers always trying to learn more. Your clinic and methods are by far the best. You explained things very clearly using your experience, sense of humor and respect for your horse and the people attending your clinic.

You were available all weekend for questions, photos, and autographs all the while smiling and answering the same questions over and over! Even though you are a VERY successful and accomplished horse woman, you never talked "down” to anyone or boasted about your knowledge and accomplishments.

Your stories were great about learning to ride bareback, being worried about falling off, your photo shoot for Horse & Rider, etc. Your training methods are clear and you have proven they work over and over again! It helped us to realize that you have the same challenges and passion about horses as we do.

Knowing this helps us to realize that with the knowledge, tools and commitment to our horses, we can accomplish our goals too! We now hope to bring our horses down and attend one of your clinics held at your farm. Until then, we are armed with the knowledge that we gained from the clinics, your DVD's and other training tools. Our two new three-year-old geldings are now anxiously awaiting us, and our other horses will be getting tuned up for spring!!! Thank you again. You are awesome!! Kathy & Alisa F 

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We're partners in Mounted Cowboy Action Shooting ( what I call playing Cowboys and Balloons) and are enjoying learning together. You are an inspiration to me and I watch your video every couple of weeks or so to remind me of our goal.

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I want to thank you for teaching us your bridleless riding techniques; I attended your NRHA Futurity clinic just to "see what it was all about" and found myself totally excited and motivated to learn to ride my horse bridleless.

I am fortunate to own a wonderful and talented eight-year-old reiner so I went home and got to work on your cloverleaf pattern. After a morning of working the pattern with the bridle, then with the reins tied up and by the afternoon I was loping the pattern totally bridleless. What a wonderful exercise and a great feeling to lope your horse bridlelleess! Thank you so much for the great videos and clinic!

I saw your freestyle run live at the NRHA Futurity the year you won it on Can Can Lena. WHAT A RIDE!  I never dreamed I would learn how to ride bridleless. You and the good Lord have made that a reality. WHAT A RIDE!

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When I would work her around in her pasture (which is somewhat round but we don’t have a round pen) she would NEVER follow me when I turned away…She would move away from me and change directions because I was bothering her but as soon as I backed off, she’d go do her own thing. She didn’t want a leader. But she is doing so well now. . . she will follow me around and she is SO much more willing! She respects me. What a difference! 

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Jesse and I are doing well with all you taught us! I love the "chicken dance elbows". It keeps Jesse out of my space but yet a little close, the way I like it. The pattern you taught us has really helped my balance. I am still working on large circles but they are becoming more "round" and I can do 10 times without breaking gait!!!!  A Day I Will Never Forget!!!!

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This is my horse I bred called Possum ( Mytee sweet te money). She is rising 3 years Quarter Horse, and I have started to break her myself.

Thanks to your DVD's I have a light and responsive horse that wants to work with me, (very pushy in your space before). She is the type you show her something once and she says, "Ok, we can do this" or maybe I expect her to do it.

The picture is when she first had the saddle on and she didnt do anything and was looking at me as if to say, “Where are we off to?” I have done everything on the ground, but as yet haven’t got into the saddle. That’s the next step.

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I wasn't raised around horses and actually started riding about a year and a half ago. Prancy (buckskin in the picture) was given to me as a two-year old and she had never been rode. A very close friend of mine said that he would teach me how to break her and I started working with her last year.

My sister had told me about this video on YouTube that I needed to watch. It was Stacy riding. I didn't know that it was even possible for someone to ride like that. I was very touched by what the anouncer had said about Stacy's father encouraging her and automatically related that to my dad.

It was actually a year ago today that my dad died. This past year has been tough--first Christmas without him, first birthday without him and so on. I listened to that Brooks and Dunn song a million times "Cowgirls Don't Cry" and that part that says "ride baby, ride".

To make a really long story short, I bought the entire Westfall DVD set because I wanted to learn as much as I could and make Prancy into a great horse.

I've watched them multiple times and used so much of what Stacy said to train myself and my horse. Prancy is more than a project or a phase of my life. She has helped my get past some of the hardest times I have ever had to face. It has been so rewarding to see her progress and grow into the individual that she is. She is a horse, but she is also a friend. She knows when I'm nervous, upset, sad. My favorite part of the day is seeing her when I get off work.

I'm definitely far from knowing a lot about horses and Stacy seems like such a wonderful person to learn from. I have already learned so, so much from her.

Laura Kemp

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I was delighted to see that Chloe has her registered name. What fun to see that the name, Whizards Smart Doll, that I had submitted in October is a runner up! That is certainly a thrill! I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

Stacy has brought me so far with my horses. Each day I apply her DVDs to my training program. The biggest contribution to our training has been her 4-leaf clover pattern while using cones. My horses have become very flexible using this method.   Using this pattern is a get tool for teaching my horses to go one handed and most importantly to ride with my legs!   I use the pattern as a warm up (with no cones) at shows. My horses instantly relax and so do I.

Attached is a picture taken of Stacy and I in Fort Worth at the World Paint Horse Show. I was so very honored to meet her. I look like a “star struck” person meeting a Star! – but I was! I am very thankful for all she has done for me and my horses.

THANKS STACY!

Lynn Driscoll

Bastrop, Texas

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I just wanted to tell you that you are such a inspiration to me. I have been riding for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately I could never afford to own my own horse until about four years ago.

When I first bought him he was 12 years old. He was an ex-barrel racing horse and set in his ways. His owner said he wasn't fast enough, but he was fast enough for me. I brought him home and did miles of trail riding on him. He was always a little feisty and he never really had a good "whoa.” He would not stand still for mounting or anything else. 

About a year ago I went to my first expo in Syracuse. I met you and bought your DVDs.  Back home I watched your DVD's again and again. I started working with my horse on his ground work and getting him to listen to me. Now one year later, wow, what a different horse. He listens to what I say and he does most of what I ask of him. We are still learning. Your DVD's made such a difference in the way I ride. I am so much more confident because I know he will listen.

He stands to mount, stops when I ask, and rides like a new horse. I am so proud of him and me. Thanks so much so everything that you do. I can't wait to see what you do next. 

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I recently purchased a 4-year-old Paint mare after a 20-year break from horses. I’ve purchased all your DVD’s to help me with the training of “Molly”. Your DVD, “Starting Young Horses,” is great and Molly is coming along nicely.

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Recently one of our friends showed me Stacy's Championship ride and it has inspired me to ride and train my horse better. So far I have been able to successfully stop and back her up with out using the reins. I am so happy with the progress that, I would recommend Stacy to anybody!  - Kaitlyn B.

Stacy,                        (Stacy coaching at show)
 
I hope everything is going well for you!  I know you asked for me to send video of Cutter and I's progress, but I haven't had anyone around to video Cutter's runs at the shows I've been attending.  I just wanted to give you an update on how we were doing, and hopefully I can send you a video next month.
 
First of all, I have to say that the clinic you gave changed how I think of reining patterns entirely.  I was so focused on how other competitors' horses could stop and spin and do everything so much better than my horse, and I would get so nervous!  But the tips you gave on how to run correct reining pattern have upped my scores quicker than more training on my horse would have, plus paying more attention to details in the pattern gives me something positive to focus on.  It really illustrated that just because someone's on an expensive professionally trained horse doesn't mean they are set to win the class.
 
I've been showing Cutter just about every 2 weeks since the clinic with a regional reining association, and our scores steadily increased all summer.  Last weekend I scored my first 70 and was thrilled.  It's mainly still the sliding stops holding us back, but we do the best we can.  He's changing leads and spinning very well, and so far not getting show smart (or he's just incredibly honest).  We're 4th in the year end standings now for the Green Rider class, and even have been placing in the Green Horse class against the open riders.
 
The man I've been training with wants me to sell Cutter this fall and buy a ready-to-show reining horse, but so far I'm undecided.  Part of me wants to finish Cutter and get him going one-handed, but part of me wants to get something I can show in NRHA shows next year.  I'm also pretty attached to the little bugger, but the idea was always to put some training on him, sell him, and upgrade horses.  I guess if the right deal comes around, I'll jump on it.  Either way, I hope to attend another of your clinics next year with whatever horse I end up with.  I'll try to get a video of Cutter's run during one of the last shows of the season to show you our progress.
 

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Hi Stacy,

    After reading your Article some time ago about teaching your horse to bow I tried it with my big 8 yr old paint Gelding "T-Bird". I was amazed at how quickly he picked it up, and we are now perfecting the lay down too. I was thrilled to find your web site, and will be purchasing all of your videos! I really enjoy all of your Horse and Rider articles too. You are so informative and clear on your training and goals. Thanks for sharing it with all of us! You are such an inspiration to reach for higher goals. Hope to join you for a clinic one of these days- Will you be adding any Oregon clinics to your schedule?

Take care,
Melissa H.