Which Type is Stacy Westfall’s Freestyle Reining Champion Horse Whizards Baby Doll (Roxy)?

If you are hooked into YouTube or the reining horse world at all, chances are pretty good that you’ve seen Stacy Westfall’s 2006 Championship Freestyle run aboard Whizards Baby Doll, affectionately known as Roxy. Her run, done without a bridle or saddle, incited a worldwide response via the internet.

To see a video of her actual run, visit this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wLikusmCEA

There is no doubt that Stacy’s ride is awe-inspiring … and also no doubt that not every horse could do what Roxy did. It takes a special kind of horse to perform so well without a saddle or bridle, and in such a high-pressure environment.

What Temperament Type is Roxy?
So now we get the question of the day. There is no doubt that Roxy is an amazing mare, but what temperament would she have to be to perform so flawlessly AND not take advantage of her rider’s situation – sans saddle or bridle?

Can you discover Roxy’s temperament type just by watching the video?
If not here are some clues in an article excerpt that give you more insight into Stacy and Roxy.

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Excerpted from “Bridleless, Bareback Reining Queen Stacy Westfall” by
By Molly Montag, Cowgirl Living Magazine

Although she says Can Can Lena’s personality was akin to a “prim British nanny,” Westfall says Roxy is more mischievous. “If (Roxy) knew she could get rid of me, she probably would,” Westfall says.

It took years to train Roxy to perform without a saddle or bridle, and for Westfall to learn to stay aboard.

Goals are important when training a horse to do anything, Westfall says, but it’s important not to go too fast. She believes she’s always training her horse, whether she’s on its back or interacting with it in its stall.

When training a horse to perform without a bridle, Westfall starts by training with the reins and then moves to tying the reins loose around the horse’s neck. This way she can practice without using the reins, but can pick them up and stop the horse if it takes off.

Stacy and Jesse were right about Roxy’s talent. Riding with a saddle but with no bridle – and in her wedding dress – Westfall guided Roxy to victory in the 2005 Congress freestyle reining championship.

Eventually Westfall felt comfortable riding the mare without a saddle or a bridle. It was her winning ride on Roxy in the All American Quarter Horse Congress – a performance she dedicated to the father, who died suddenly only 24 days before the competition – that proved to the world, and to Westfall, that it could be done. “It was a personal challenge that happened to be on a national stage,” she said.

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Can You Guess Roxy’s Temperament Type?
Based on the information and video provided, can you pick which of these five basic temperament types Roxy is most likely to be? What would be your first and second choices?

Fire Horse: The Perfect Show Horse
Fire horses love to be at the center of attention and they want to be adored. They make excellent hunters and dressage horses, as well as good pleasure horses. They need to be told that they are loved. They enjoy grooming and bathing because it makes them beautiful.

Wood Horse: The Ultimate Competitor
Wood horses love physical challenges and must be kept active or they will develop bad habits like kicking and biting. Wood horses make excellent jumpers, barrel racers and cutters so long as they understand the rules of the game. Don’t try to subdue or overpower a Wood horse but instead reason with them.

Earth Horse: The Dependable Lesson Horse
Earth horses love two things: respect and food. They are solid citizens who want to be appreciated for the good work they do, and food treats often go a long way toward keeping them happy. They make perfect school horses and work well with children. They develop bad habits when their daily routine is upset.

Metal Horse: The Hard-Working Ranch Horse
Metal horses enjoy order and control, and can stand up to some of the toughest working conditions. They do their jobs perfectly but otherwise desire very little interaction. They can be found in all disciplines and are often found in working-horse situations like ranching.

Water Horse: The Arab Park Horse
Water horses need safety and a trustworthy rider. They can be brilliant show horses but panic easily. They perform well in events that call for animation and excitement, and are motivated by cheering crowds. They need steady riders to help them through scary situations.

Send Us Your Guesses for a Chance to Win!
If you think you know Roxy’s type, please email us your best 2 guesses at contest@holistichorsekeeping.com. If either of your answers is correct, we will enter you for a drawing for a free prize.

What’s the prize? A free electronic downloadable product of your choice in our online store:

Holistic Horsekeeping Online Store

Each contestant may send in only one entry, and entries must be received by June 30 to qualify. We will choose the winner on July 1, and announce the results in the July 1 newsletters.

Got questions about this contest? Drop us a line at contest@holistichorsekeeping.com. We’ll be happy to get back to you!

2. Have Trouble Typing Your Horse? Now You Can Get Help!
If you haven’t been to the Horse Harmony Test website recently,then it’s time for a fresh visit. Not only have we added a new simpler test with which you can type your horse, but we now also offer the services of professional typers.

For those of you who type your horse, using either the simple or full test, but still remain clueless about your horse’s temperament, you might want to enlist the help of our new typers. For just $30, one of our typers review your test results, discuss your horse, and help you define your horse’s type – all via the phone. Check out this new service here:

Horse Typing Service

+++++ Horse Swap Page +++++
And of course you don’t want to forget about the Horse Harmony Swap page. Suppose you successfully type your horse and discover that he’s just not the right match for you, or that you can’t meet his needs. It might be time for a parting of the ways. No problem.

Visit our Horse Swap page where you will find listing so of others horses who need to find suitable homes based on their temperament. List your horse on this page for $45 for 6 months. Browse around … maybe you will find the perfect swap – your “over the top” Wood horse for another person’s “laid back and mellow” Earth horse. It has happened before … so give it a shot.

Horse Harmony Swap