Stacy Westfall

^[1]Stacy Westfall is a professional horse trainer who specializes in reining. She was the first woman to compete in, and to win the "Road to the Horse" competition. ^[1]

In 2006 she won the Quarter Horse Congress Free Style Reining while riding the black mare Whizards Baby Doll both bridleless and bareback.^[2] When a video of that ride was posted on her website in February 2008 it went 'viral' and came to the attention of television talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. DeGeneres interviewed Westfall on her program on March 14, 2008. Click here to see the show

Westfall's other accomplishments include:

1997 Graduate of University of Findlay.
2003 NRHA Futurity Freestyle Champion (Bridleless) ^[1]
2005 All American Quarter Horse Congress Freestyle Futurity Champion
2005 NRHA Futurity Freestyle Champion
2006 Road to the Horse colt Starting Champion
2006 All American Quarter Horse Congress Freestyle Champion ^[1]
2006 Named to The University of Findlay’s Western Equestrian Wall of Fame

Stacy defines the term "Girl Power". She is a mom first with three young boys. She's a champion reiner with world-class-go-down-in-history-take-your-breath-away-rides! Stacy is not only influential but she is empowering! Stacy's story began like so many women horse owners today ... as a horse crazy little girl. WIth her mom's unique instruction, Stacy developed the habit of "thinking like a horse". It's that well honed habit that has won numerous freestyle reining competitions and the 2006 Road to the Horse. Stacy attended the University of Findlay, known for their excellent equine studies programs and refined her already vast training talents. When she met her husband, a reining trainer, Jesse Westfall ... the foundation was completer and her path was set. Stacy's life and triumphs are an inspiration to young girls and women especially. The thought that Stacy too, was once just a horse crazy little girl gives her fans the courage to broaden their own riding skills. Stacy Westfall is to the horse industry today what Mary Lou Retton was to America in the 1980's. Stacy's amazing bridless bareback ride at the NRHA fururity was highlighted by the Ellen Degeneres show in the spring of 08. That's what we call influencing America on the subject of horses!

When she was 13, Stacy got her first horse; her Dad had promised her one — if she got all “A”s in school. Stacy rode Bay bareback wherever she went. In fact, Bay was her mode of transportation to work — seven miles each way — until she turned 16. She and her mother rode almost every day and Stacy eventually started to compete in many events including jumping and barrel racing. While other teenagers were playing sports or shopping at the mall, Stacy was riding horses.

In high school, through the urging of a teacher, she found a college in which she could pursue a major in equestrian studies — the University of Findlay in Ohio. She studied under traditional-style training instructors including Steve Brown and Clark Bradley. She also worked for champion reining trainers Mike Flarida and Dan Huss. To all of the knowledge she learned from these mentors, she applied the “think-like-a-horse” technique that had served her well in the past.

In 1994, while at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, Stacy met her future husband Jesse — himself a talented reining trainer. They married three years later and then established the Westfall Horsemanship training facility in Mt. Gilead, Ohio. They have three young boys, Caleb, Joshua, and Nathan. Stacy often teased that she was pregnant three years straight.

Like any good trainer Stacy’s aim has always been to have the most clear and precise communication with her horse as possible. Her goal in her reining was to make the reins unnecessary. While others have approximated that goal, Stacy made it a reality. In 2003 she won the National Reining Horse Association Freestyle reining competition riding with no bridle — and with not so much as a neck rope. She has gone undefeated for two years straight in major freestyle reining competitions and in 2006 she won twice while riding bridle-less AND bareback.

When in 2006 she entered the prestigious Road to the Horse colt starting competition, Stacy heard from more than a few people that she couldn’t possibly win. After all, she was facing some legendary trainers. When the competition was over, Stacy was named the winner, after a convincing performance that clearly outshone her competitors.

That little girl from Maine has grown to become one of the country’s top clinicians and competitors. While Stacy continues to compete, start young horses and train, she truly loves to explain to people what her Mom encouraged her to learn — to discover the “why” behind what the horse does..

Stacy is not Deaf

In 2010 a rumor appeared that Stacy is deaf and mute. This rumor is completelly untrue