Stacy Westfall (born September 26, 1974) is an American professional

horse trainer A horse trainer is a person who tends to horses and teaches them different disciplines. Some responsibilities trainers have are caring for the animals' physical needs, as well as teaching them good behaviors and/or coaching them for events, which ...

who specializes in

reining Reining is a western riding competition for horses in which the riders guide the horses through a precise pattern of circles, spins, and stops. All work is done at the lope (a version of the horse gait more commonly known worldwide as the cant ...

. In 2006, she became the first woman to compete in and win the Road to the Horse competition. In 2006, she also won the

All American Quarter Horse Congress The All American Quarter Horse Congress (AAQHC) is known as the largest single breed horse show in the world. The annual event is held at the 360 acre Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds in Columbus, Ohio, and is hosted by the Ohio Quarter Ho ...

Freestyle Reining competition on the black mare, Whizards Baby Doll, riding both

bridle A bridle is a piece of equipment used to direct a horse. As defined in the ''Oxford English Dictionary'', the "bridle" includes both the that holds a bit that goes in the mouth of a horse, and the reins that are attached to the bit. It prov ...

less and

bareback Bareback riding is a form of horseback riding without a saddle. It requires skill, balance, and coordination, as the rider does not have any equipment to compensate for errors of balance or skill. Proponents of bareback riding argue that riding ...

Early life and career

Westfall grew up in

South China, Maine South China is a village in the town of China in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. It is one of five villages in the town. Located between Augusta and Waterville, South China sits along the shores of its namesake, China Lake. It is an ...

. While her parents were not horse professionals, her mother was her instructor until Westfall went to college at the

University of Findlay The University of Findlay (UF) is a private Christian university in Findlay, Ohio, United States. It was established in 1882 through a joint partnership between the Churches of God General Conference and the city of Findlay. UF has nearly 80 ...

in Ohio. Westfall began to perform bridleless in freestyle reining, a form of reining competition where exhibitors design their own routines and perform to music, after accidentally dropping a rein while in a traditional reining competition. In 2003, Westfall was awarded NRHA Futurity Freestyle Champion (Bridleless). In 2006, she was the first woman to compete in the Road to the Horse colt starting competition, and its first female winner. Also in 2006, Westfall was the

Freestyle Champion, performing with her mare Roxy. On March 14, 2008,

Ellen DeGeneres Ellen Lee DeGeneres ( ; born January 26, 1958) is an American former comedian, actress, television host, writer, and producer. She began her career in stand-up comedy in the early 1980s, gaining national attention with a 1986 appearance on '' ...

interviewed Westfall on her program and welcomed both Westfall and Roxy to the studio. Roxy lived until February 8, 2012, having won multiple championships across her life. Westfall also gives clinics, trains horses, and competes in reining.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Westfall, Stacy Living people Western horse trainers People from Mount Gilead, Ohio Cowgirl Hall of Fame inductees 1974 births