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Horse Shopping 101

Horse Shopping 101 I am getting an increasing number of inquiries from people looking for a new horse. So it is with no small amount of forethought that we did a Horse Master episode featuring
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Riding Skills: Understanding Your Leg Aids

The “natural aids” are the tools that you were born with that allow you to communicate to the horse what you want him to do while you are riding. Traditionally, there are four natural aids,
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Stirrup with heel down

Proper Position In The Saddle

Proper position unites the balance of horse and rider, giving the picture of a team moving as one. If I were to guess at the single most common equitation error I see, what immediately springs
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Advance And Retreat

While shooting a Horse Master episode on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts I was introduced to a woman, Vickie Thurber, who had an accident with her young pinto eventing horse and wanted help introducing “Poco” to
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Horse Afraid of Mounting Block

What To Do With a Horse Afraid of His Rider Question: Hello Julie, I have a 4 year old registered paint gelding, Zippo Pine Bar bred, tall and gorgeous that I have had for just
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My Horse Won’t Stand Still For Mounting

Common Complaints My horse won’t stand still for mounting. Follow Julie Goodnight’s advice to teach your horse to stand still while you mount up. Does your horse begin the ride before you do? When you
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Nurturing The Try In Your Horse

I have lived with and worked with horses for more than half a century. And the older I get, the more appreciation I have for horses and their willingness, generosity and ability to forgive. It
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Bitless Or Bridle-Less? What Is The Difference?

Bitless or Bridle-less? To me, there’s a big difference. Often when I write about riding my horses bridle-less, people confuse it with the issue of riding bitless. To me, they are totally different subjects. At
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To Shoe Or Not To Shoe?

To me, this is not a simple yes-or-no, black-or-white answer. Just as there are many good reasons not to shoe your horse, there are many reasons why you might want to shoe. There are few
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Barn Rules, Cleanliness & Respect At Feeding Time

Like most horse trainers, when it comes to my barn, I run a tight ship and I like things very orderly and very systematic. Even though my barn is totally private—no outside horses for training,
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Safety Concerns: Should Toddlers Be Riding?

Question Category: Safety Concerns Question: My niece is 4 years old, and small for her age, but loves horses and riding. We would sit her on a horse from the time she was able to
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Safety Concerns: Introducing To New Herd, New Feed

Question Category: Safety Concerns Question: Hi Julie, I am going to be moving my quarter horse mare (4 yr old) from a stall barn to a 3 acre pasture with 2 other mares who are
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Safety Concerns: Bicycle Helmets For Riding Horses–Is It OK?

Question Category: Safety Concerns Question: Are bicycle helmets as safe as riding helmets? I saw a news program that said they are safer than riding helmets, is that true? Some parents don’t want to purchase
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Safety Concerns: Advice For Parent Looking For Instructor

Question Category: Safety Concerns Question: I am the parent of an 11-year-old girl who is serious about horses. She’s been riding for 5 years in California, and we just moved to Michigan. For two months
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Riding Skills: Sitting Trot

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: I ride an Arabian who has a very bouncy trot that I just can’t sit to. I ride in an event saddle that has a somewhat deep seat, but when
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Riding Skills: Refine Your Posting Skills

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Julie, Could you elaborate more on what you mean regarding the difference between posting “from the stirrup” and posting from the thigh? I’ve only started riding English this year (western
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Riding Skills: One-Rein Stop

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Julie, first off, I have to say I spend many hours reading through your website. You are a gifted and inspirational woman, and thanks for all you share. I recently
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Riding Skills: Judging Stirrup Length

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: How can I make sure I ride with my stirrups at the correct length? Answer: Appropriate stirrup length is critical for all levels and disciplines of riders. It is important
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Riding Skills: Is Contact Required For Collection?

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Julie, I saw your clinic at the horse Expo in Illinois a couple of years ago and am completely impressed with both the your clinic and the down to earth
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Riding Skills: How To Learn To Ride Patterns

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Julie, I have a horse that I’m helping my daughter train for some rodeo queen contests. She is a beginner to horses and riding. On one of the patterns, she
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Riding Skills: Feeling Canter Leads

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Hi Julie, I have trouble feeling my canter leads, and I know the worst thing I can do is look down. What is the best way to feel the lead?
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Riding Skills: Emergency Stopping Rein

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Dear Julie, My husband and myself went to your clinic on fear of horses at the Horse Expo in Denver and I cant thank you enough!! I thought we would
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Riding Skills: Creative Images For Using The Aids

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: How can I remember how to use natural aids properly? Do you have images you use to help students remember the correct positions, etc.? Answer: From the very first time
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Overcoming Fear: My Horse Doesn’t Respect Me & I’m Scared To Correct Him

Question: Hello, I just found your website and think it’s great. I have a 15-year old gelding – appaloosa/Clydesdale cross, Copper. My problem is that I am not confident enough to follow through with things
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Overcoming Fear: Coping With The Fear After Accidents

Question: I’ve had a couple horse accidents and now have some fear issues I’ve never had to overcome before. How do you help people through their fear of horses and riding? Answer: Some level of
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Overcoming Fear: Coping With Fear Of Horses

Question: Julie, I know you are soooo busy. Just drop me two words of encouragement. I need you! I have a 16.2 hand TB that after having the greatest relationship with for 2 years I
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Young Horse Master: Behind The Scenes Of A Horse Master

Question: What’s it like to be on Horse Master? Find out with this story about Lilly Neville’s English to Western story as profiled America’s Horse magazine (on the cover in January 2009). Then sign up
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Why Do We Mount From The Left?

Question: Why do we mount and begin grooming/saddling on the horse’s left side? Answer: There are several answers to your questions…. First, because horses are very one-sided, that is, they only think on one side
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Should I Get A Gaited Horse?

Question: Hello Julie, I am looking at buying a Tennessee Walker. With my current horse, I am finding it a challenge to post. I’m 48 years old. I purchased your DVDs and they were helpful,
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Horse Buyer’s Guide

Question: Want to know all you should look for when it comes to buying a horse? Click to download the PDF>> buyersguide Copyright ©Julie Goodnight 2000. All Rights Reserved. No part of this website may be
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Are Mules More Difficult Than Horses?

Question: Dear Julie, I was at the Ohio Equine Affaire and was able to sit in on one of your talks. It was the one on ‘herd dynamics.’ Very, very useful information! I have a
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A Hydrated Horse Is A Healthy Horse

Question: Getting a horse to drink enough water has been a challenge for a long time. So long, in fact, that “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink” is
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Issues From The Saddle: Why One Rein Is Better Than Two

Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: My riding instructor and I have a question regarding using one rein while riding. I’ve seen it mentioned in several different articles and books. John Lyons discusses using
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Issues From The Saddle: Understanding Pressure

Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: How do you know how much pressure a horse needs to respond to your cues and directions? Answer: From observing any given riding session, on any given day,
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Issues From The Saddle: Teaching Horse to Keep Head Down

Question: I watched a show several weeks ago with Julie helping a rider work with a horse that lifted his head up to get away from the bit. I thought she taught the rider to
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Issues From The Saddle: Speeding Up A Slow Horse

Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Julie, I was at the Equine Expo in Massachusetts last week and enjoyed your clinics immensely. Quick synopsis of my quarter horse…I got him a year and a
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Issues From The Saddle: Slowing Down A Fast Horse

Question: Hello, Just wondering if you could give me some advice. My horse, a six year old mustang had been trained for about ten months. He stops, turns fine, but I cannot get him to
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Issues From The Saddle: Nervous To Go On Trail

Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Dear Julie, I have an 8-year-old gelding that is very easy to work with on the ground and in the arena. He tends to become uptight, and nervous
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Issues From The Saddle: My Horse Holds The Bit And Throws Head When Unbridling

Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Julie, My horse holds the bit in her mouth when I am trying to take the bridle off and then throws her head up in the air and
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Issues From The Saddle: Must Be In Front On Trail

Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Dear Ms. Goodnight, I have a 15-year-old quarter horse, MAX, who decided he does not want to be the second horse out on the trail. I ride alone
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Issues From The Saddle: How To Deal With A Spooky Horse

Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Hello Julie, I was glad to see you are doing a clinic in my area in NH. I have a 10 year old who was born on my
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Issues From The Saddle: Horse Won’t Move Forward; When To Use Spurs

Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Dear Julie, I’ve seen your show on RFD-TV about how to lower your horse’s head. In the episode you mentioned something about spurs, how to use the spurs
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Issues From The Saddle: Horse Pulls To Arena Gate

Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Hello, I am have a Tennessee walker and she rides around the arena fine until she passes the gate. Then it happens, she starts to walk sideways in
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Issues From The Saddle: Horse Eats Grass While Trail Riding

Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Dear Julie, I have a young quarter mare that is constantly reaching for food on the trail. I have gotten after her for this and have never allowed
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Issues From The Saddle: Gate Sour

Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Hello, I am have a Tennessee walker and she rides around the arena fine until she passes the gate. Then it happens, she starts to walk sideways in
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Issues From The Saddle: Cold Backed Horse

Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Hello Julie: I was on the Internet searching for info on rearing and found your web site. I have a question I hope you can help with. I
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Issues From The Saddle: Clarification: Weight Limits For Riders

Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: I purchased a welsh pony 12.1 hh 18 y.o with loads of experience as parade, driving, riding western, English and the list goes on. He is not spooky
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Issues From The Ground: Won’t Stand For Farrier

Question Category: Issues from the Ground Question: I have a couple yearlings that are not standing very well for the farrier. My stud yearling, an appaloosa, just wouldn’t stand well at all. The farrier after
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Issues From The Ground: Will Not Stand Still

Question Category: Issues from the Ground Question: Hi Julie, I was at your clinic in Colorado Springs—I don’t know if you’ll remember me, but I had the 4 year old black BLM mustang, Ranger, with
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Issues From The Ground: Why Won’t My Horse Listen To Me?

Question Category: Issues from the Ground Question: Hi Julie, Training concern: Horse won’t stand still to be groomed. I have a 16 hand QH gelding that I have had since October. I am a new
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