Fighting muscle memory when riding-Episode 6: The trail to the world show

[@samorthmann2511]

Count the strides!!! and keep it symmetrical!!! what a great idea. thanks, Stacy.

[@anndehoog828]

I give you so much credit for competing in a “new” discipline after so much success reining!

[@sherylbenkosky5358]

Most fun wedding I ever attended was where everyone including the bride and groom and preacher-man were on horseback. It was the best ever!!!

[@PsychicMediumMelissaHenyan]

Okay this made me giggle..."my brain showed up". Thank you for showing all of the ins and outs and not just the "pretty" stuff. I just love you.

[@StacyLWestfall]

Just keeping it real...brain and no brain, lol!

[@PsychicMediumMelissaHenyan]

@@StacyLWestfall ❤😁

[@terrilewis172]

Great discussion and showing the nice variety needed until you and your horse find their space

[@this-abledtheextravertedhe5299]

I’m a Reiner trying to learn dressage; these videos are very helpful. I had a lesson yesterday and watched two of your videos this morning that touched on western riding habits vs dressage. My trainer has no experience with reigning. I definitely have some habits to change. 👍 Thanks

[@michelekanefsky7511]

I really enjoyed this series last year and decided to watch it again before my upcoming first show of 2020. I loved it and needed it! Thanks again for being real honest and sharing this!

[@theresatyler4043]

Love you Stacy & Willow... especially since I can so appreciate all the work and confidence you bring to the arena! The best of luck , hard work and God's blessings be with you!

[@alanamccarthy7443]

I love this series!

[@maryellenbarak3946]

I’m really enjoying this series, will you be doing any western dressage shows soon. I’m on a similar journey but I’m pointing toward the 2020 WD World show. My horse is only 4 so we need more time to get balanced etc.

[@StacyLWestfall]

Yes! I am headed to a couple WDAA approved shows. Watch for the videos! I agree with the balance that is needed! A never ending journey.

[@camillagrassi93]

Really good scores whatsoever😊😊😊😊

[@emma-eventing]

omg neck ribbon!!!!!! so impressive that you could step into this new discipline and immediately earn so many bronze scores - congrats! just goes to show that good training is good training no matter the tack or pattern! maybe next year you should try some of the jumping disciplines ??? lol ;P

[@StacyLWestfall]

LOL! At the last dressage schooling show they had a dressage class...with JUMPS! I'd never seen that before and I told Willow...fair warning...I can see you doing this next year...

[@RoseAussie]

Great video Stacy, very informative and very entertaining on every level. Congratulations to you and Willow for the pretty pink rosette. Yeah! Willow you’re now officially a dressage pony. What is the height limit from a pony to a horse.🐴🐎

[@StacyLWestfall]

Thanks! Here is the official answer: According to DR135.1 in the USEF Rule Book, any animals not over 148 centimeters without shoes, or 149 centimeters with shoes are classified as ponies. All other animals are classified as horses.

[@zetacinematicsdavideelectr5232]

👍 😊 BELLISSIMO 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

[@johnhall341]

SCORES ARE LOOKING BETTER KEEP IT GOING

[@sherylbenkosky5358]

Who hooked. A slide. Sorry - I love reining the best. But I love your videos anyway.

[@jeanfish7]

Lol, the advantages of a shorter horse...so many options!!

[@StacyLWestfall]

Yes, it did make me respect the pony!

[@SHENworks]

A little too fast to read, so congratulations on your rosette! (And Willow's relaxation).

[@StacyLWestfall]

I did cram a lot of info into this one! I tried putting most of the written info into the description in case it was too fast. Thanks for the feedback!

[@stevemcinnes5480]

Again another great job, both on the classes and the video. It was nice of the fellow contestant for that tip. I'm not familiar with dressage, so what is the perfect score?

[@maryellenbarak3946]

Steve McInnes In classic Dressage (as opposed to Dressage associated with eventing) 10 is perfect. However as with most things perfect is almost impossible to obtain!

[@stevemcinnes5480]

@@maryellenbarak3946- - One of Stacy's score was a 71.20%. What does that mean?

[@maryellenbarak3946]

Steve McInnes Sorry, I didn’t proofread my reply, it should have been 100 is perfect. So her score was 71.2% of 100. There is actually a fairly complicated system based to how much value is put on certain movements within a test to get to the final score but that is the basic scoring.

[@stevemcinnes5480]

@@maryellenbarak3946 - - thanks...how many judges are there during a test class. I know in Reining there can be as many as 4 judges

[@maryellenbarak3946]

Steve McInnes It’s not much different than reining, at a small show there is one, at a larger show there can be as many as 3 sitting around the arena. At a large national or international show there can be as many as 5. Most likely there was only one at this show. It truly isn’t much different than reining!

[@jolyndaj]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@HumaneObserver]

Stacy, I appreciate your work and way with horses, and so I am going to ask you to help me understand your thinking in choosing to use a flash noseband on your horse and share with you why I hope you will stop using it. You have soft hands; I have never seen horses you ride opening their mouths to escape the bit. These devices force horses to endure whoever's hands, and I believe they are a mechanical shortcut and substitute for excellent riding and excellent training, and they are most often used at the horse's expense. Charlotte Dujardin is probably the greatest dressage rider today -- she is my favorite -- coaxing the best out of her rides, and never have I seen her employ one of these awful devices. Congratulations on riding into a whole new arena. Please do it with the same respect for the horses that you show in reining. I do not believe flash nosebands show respect for the horses. I just want to say even if your horse's flash noseband is on so loosely that it barely does anything, it is still condoning their use. Here is Charlotte Dujardin riding the unmatched Valegro, a once-in-a-lifetime horse. kzbin.info/www/bejne/epSnfX-unLyUlbs

[@StacyLWestfall]

I also love Charlotte! And both of my nose bands are so loose that I don't have to adjust them to put the bridle on and off...lol. They often slip sideways. I agree that they can be abused, as any equipment can. I also agree that my horses are not really using them. I will explore the thought more about the idea of condoning them. The interesting thing is that I have many people who #bitsarecruel and try to talk me out of bits. There are loads of people who have nothing but negative comments to say about my ride on Roxy. The number of angry people with the idea that I have on spurs is HUGE. I do agree that any tool, even our bare hands, can be used for abuse. But does the use of a tool, like a bit or a spur, always equal abuse? For me the answer is no. But I will explore the flash idea. In my mind it is pretty much on there as decoration, as the upper noseband would negate the use of the lower. Thanks for the food for thought. I'll be asking about this at my next lesson too:)