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 Stacy and Jesse Westfall                                           

The Westfalls

Together, Stacy and Jesse Westfall present clinics across the U.S. and Canada--including educational appearances at Equine Affaire, the All American Quarter Horse Congress, the NRHA Futurity and Derby, and CanAm. Their training methods have been published in Western Horseman (January 2006, February 2006), Horse & Rider (Cover, May 2006), American Cowboy , Perfect Horse, and Women & Horses , to name a few. The training duo has been asked to travel to Germany to present at the original Equitana. Back at home, the Westfalls have three young sons--Caleb, Joshua and Nathan.

Stacy Westfall

Stacy Westfall, of Mt. Gilead, Ohio, is no stranger to the competition arena. She was the first woman to compete in and the first woman to win Road to the Horse--showcasing her horse training methods. Stacy is also a winner in the reining show pen. She's best known for her "mystery-rider" bridle-less freestyle ride. In 2003, National Reining Horse Association Futurity fans leapt to their feet after her bridleless ride rated tops with the judges. Stacy dressed in a dark trench coat, black hat and bandana to cover her face. She won without reins--and without so much as a neck rope. In 2005, Stacy won six key reining events without reins--including runs at Fiesta in the Park, the NRHA Eastern Affiliate Championship, The Tradition Freestyle Open, the Tulsa Reining Classic, the All American Quarter Horse Congress, and a repeat win at the NRHA Futurity. She repeated her Tulsa championship in 2006--without a saddle or bridle.

Growing up in Maine, Stacy rode any horse she could find. She started riding on a Shetland Pony named Misty who was trained to rear on command. Stacy trained her first colt at 14--a $150 project horse. She attended every clinic and read all she could to teach herself the art of colt starting. At college in the University of Findlay's equestrian program, Stacy rode with top trainers such as Dan Huss and AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year, Clark Bradley. She also trained with Rusty Dare and Mike Flarida. Still, Stacy's daily inspiration and life-long training partner is husband Jesse--himself a well-known reining trainer and NRHA judge.
*First women to win Road to the Horse! - 2006

Other key notes:
2003 and 2005 NRHA Open Freestyle Reining Champion-Bridleless
2006 Tulsa Reining Classic Champion--without a bridle or saddle
Multiple Year end titles—Ohio Quarter Horse Assoc.Junior Reining Champion—2004 & 2003
Central Ohio Reining Horse Assoc. Limited Open & Intermediate Open Year end Champion
Western Ohio Reining Horse Assoc. Limited Open Champion
University of Findlay Graduate-major equestrian studies/equine business management
Demo at NRHA Futurity & NRHA Derby
Presented American Flag at Derby & Tulsa Classic

Jesse Westfall

Jesse Westfall is a life-long horseman and trainer of champions. Growing up in Galena, Ohio, he loved horses and proved his dedication to animals. Although his family didn't have space to keep a horse, Jesse continually begged for a pony. His parents signed him up for riding lessons and entered him in 4-H. Luckily Jesse's 4-H advisors had horses. They made a deal. Jesse would ride his bike the six miles to the barn twice a week to help with chores in exchange for the chance to show a horse in 4-H. After two years of long bike rides, Jesse's parents couldn't deny their son's passion and dedication to horses. They purchased a POA named Sugar when Jesse was 13.

After high school, a family friend and horse trainer hired Jesse to work with his Quarter Horses. Jesse began showing in reining and Western pleasure and learning all he could about training young horses. When the time was right, Jesse contacted Mike Flarida about a horse-training job. Jesse worked with Mike in Wapaconeta, Ohio--working to refine his skills and showing in reining and working cow horse events. Jesse also worked for reiner Rusty Dare--the same trainer Stacy helped at the 1994 All American Quarter Horse Congress. Jesse and Stacy met at Congress and were engaged two years later.

Jesse has worked with many high-class reining trainers--as an apprentice and assistant trainer. Now at his own training center, Jesse works to polish horses for shows. He has trained multiple horses to Ohio Quarter Horse Association and AQHA championship titles. In 2001, he earned reserve champion honors at Congress in the Limited Open. In 2004, he was named reserve champion at the Congress Futurity, Limited Open. Jesse is a multiple bronze and pewter NRHA trophy winner. His reining training methods were showcased in the February 2006 issue of Western Horseman magazine. As an NRHA judge, Jesse presides over shows in the U.S. and Canada.

Other key notes:
National Reining Horse Association Judge
2004 Congress Futurity Limited Open Reserve Champion
Multiple Bronze Trophy winner
2001Congress Limited Open Reserve Champion
Multiple Year end titles - Western Ohio Reining Horse Assoc. 2003
Central Ohio Reining Horse Association Member
Ohio Valley Reining Horse Association Member
Ohio Quarter Horse Association Member

To view Westfall Horsemanship's Webpage, please go to:  www.westfallhorsemanship.com