Episode 304: The Anticipation Paradox: When Good Training Creates New Challenges

Train Your Own Horse with Stacy Westfall

In this episode, Stacy addresses a common issue in horse training: anticipation. A listener from Denmark asks how to handle a horse that performs learned exercises without waiting for cues. Stacy explains that anticipation is initially a positive sign of successful training, likening it to the first half of a rainbow arc. However, as training progresses, excessive anticipation can become problematic. Stacy advises seeing this as a sign of clear leadership and effective teaching, rather than a failure. She introduces the concept of "teeter-totter" training, where the goal is to balance the horse's eagerness for upward transitions (like cantering) with an equal readiness for downward transitions. This approach aims to create a responsive, thinking partner in the horse. The key challenge is maintaining the horse's initiative while teaching it to wait for cues. Stacy recommends being proactive, redirecting the horse before it anticipates, and gradually refining the horse's responsiveness over time.