Millions of viewers were introduced to reining competition on February 28 during the Ellen DeGeneres Show, as Ellen aired a tape of trainer and clinician Stacy Westfall performing sliding stops, flying lead changes, and corkscrew spins, while riding Whizards Baby Doll (Roxy) bareback and without a bridle.

Those who missed the show can tune in on Friday, March 14, when Ellen will again feature Westfall and Roxy, this time pre-taped especially for the show at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, on March 13. For air times go to www.ellen.warnerbrothers.com

Westfall has won many major competitions riding bareback and/or bridleless, including the NRHA Freestyle Reining and the famous American Quarter Horse Congress, where she rode in her wedding gown. “It’s my original wedding gown,” said Westfall, the mother of three boys ages 6, 7 and 9. Westfall dedicated her Congress performance to her husband Jesse, her partner in Westfall Horsemanship Center in Mt. Gilead, OH.

Whizards Baby Doll is a 7-year-old Quarter Horse mare sired by Whizard Jac and owned by Gregory Gessner, Strasburg, OH. Gessner became intrigued with freestyle reining as a spectator four years ago. “I just knew they dressed up in outfits and rode to music and I thought it was entertaining,” said Gessner, an asphalt business owner who now competes in NRHA non-pro events.