Episode 350: How Does the Training Ever Work to Stop a Spook?

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.