Episode 336: Horsemanship as Art—And the Tension of Teaching It

Train Your Own Horse with Stacy Westfall

Horsemanship is often described as an art—but teaching it requires breaking that art into pieces. In this episode, Stacy reflects on the challenge of translating feel, flow, and intuition into teachable steps—and why both structure and flow must coexist within the art of horsemanship.

Key takeaways:

• Building flow without foundation leads to instability—structure is what gives flow freedom
• Inspirational teaching often reflects flow, but lacks the tangible grip of mechanics
• Over-focus on structure can limit the experience of partnership and presence
• The artistic expression of riding emerges when steps become second nature

This episode examines the contrast between structure and flow in horsemanship, offering insight into why both are essential—and how recognizing your own tendencies can bring more balance to your training. Ideal for riders who want to understand the 'why' behind the feel, and step into the dance themselves.