Julie Goodnight's Horse Master Academy

Helping Horses, One Human at a Time

Past Performance is No Guarantee of Future Success

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Anyone who has ever invested in the stock market has seen this disclaimer: Past performance is no guarantee of future success. Yet when we invest our resources into a well-trained horse, we expect a guarantee that the way he is today, in his current reality, is the way he will be a month or a year from now. I wish I had a dollar for every person that has told me that the … [Read more...]

Tack – Cheek Piece

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For many horses, particularly in the winter when the hair coat is very thick, pulling the bridle over the ears is a tight fit and can cause a lot of momentary discomfort in the horse’s mouth. If you drop the cheek piece down a few holes before you bridle, it is much easier to pull the headstall over the ears and then it can be adjusted back up to the right place. It only takes … [Read more...]

Rearing To Go

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Dear Julie, I have a 15-year-old quarter horse that has decided he must be in the lead on the trail. I ride alone most of the time but do enjoy the company of others. When he feels any competition from another horse, he arches his neck and sets his head as if he’s ready to attack. Then he’ll hop and rear. It all happens so fast, I don’t see it coming. He’s rearing more and … [Read more...]

Saddle Advice

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Ask Julie Goodnight: Is My Saddle Causing My Horse’s Issues? Question: Dear Julie, I am switching from English to Western and am hoping to get one of your Peak Performance saddles. I am looking at the Monarch Arena/Trail saddle or the Wind River Trail saddle. I really like the sounds of the close-contact design, the narrow twist and especially the memory foam in the seat … [Read more...]

How Do Rope Halters Work?

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Ask Julie Goodnight: What to Know About Rope Halters Question: I have what's probably a silly question.... My mare is 15 years old and I've never used a rope halter with her. What do I need to know to help me better understand how a rope halter works? Answer: I wish more people would ask simple questions like this-- it's not silly, but smart! When people stop and think … [Read more...]

The Different Types Of Bits

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Horse Master How To "Get is Straight" Helping a frustrated rider find the right bit and cue her horse to move straight ahead By Julie Goodnight In the Horse Master episode we named “Get it Straight,” master bit maker, Dale Myler, joined me to help a horse and her frustrated rider move ahead with relaxation—and without a constant fight as the horse yanked the reins out … [Read more...]

Riding Skills: Posting On The Correct Diagonal

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Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Try to settle this discussion - please! Is posting on the correct "diagonal" only important in English riding? I always thought it was about the horse's balance in a bend....some say it's just not a "western thing"...and will post in a western saddle, but not with any regard for the diagonal??? Sharon Answer: … [Read more...]

Horse Behavior: Quiz: Is Natural Horsemanship Right For Your Horse?

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Question Category: Horse Behavior Question: Understanding Natural Horsemanship Part I of a three part series on Natural Horsemanship By Julie Goodnight READER'S QUIZ Will Natural Horsemanship Help My Horse and Me? Take this quiz to find out. Indicate "Never" (N); "Occasionally" (O); or "Frequently" (F) in the columns to the right. 1. My horse is hard … [Read more...]

My Good Saddle

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Good Day! One of the best things about travelling is getting home and sleeping in your own bed. Although, I must admit, that most of the beds I sleep in on my travels are as nice as our bed at home, because of the current “added value” trends at business class hotels. What a great marketing strategy for business travelers! For many road warriors, the beds at the hotels may … [Read more...]