Episode 345: 4 Reasons Riders Don’t Teach Focus

Most riders want a focused horse—but many unknowingly skip the steps required to develop it. In this episode, Stacy Westfall explores four common reasons riders don’t actively teach focus, and how this omission affects connection, performance, and safety. 

Key takeaways:

– Some riders don’t believe focus is teachable—or even possible—and assume it’s just a fixed trait
– Many confuse physical obedience with mental engagement, ignoring signs of distraction
– “Good enough” behavior often hides a lack of real focus, which unravels under pressure
– Riders frequently wait until the horse is overwhelmed before trying to teach focus—when it’s too late

This episode examines how small oversights in daily work can lead to bigger issues in new environments or under stress. It provides riders with the awareness to identify subtle distractions and the tools to create more mentally present, engaged horses—long before they “need it.”