At each of my clinics, my attention first turns to the horses’ tack to check for fit, adjustment and function. When it comes to saddle fit, my eyes always go to these three parts of the horse first: the withers, the shoulders and the loins. Most of the saddle fit issues I see affect one of these three parts of the horse. Often problems can be fixed by simply adjusting the … [Read more...]
Cinching Up Just Enough – Julie Goodnight Q & A
Q: How tight should I tighten my horse’s cinch—and what is the right process. I don’t want to hurt my horse and I want to make sure he never becomes cinchy. –Pam Friend, via e-mail A: How tight the cinch needs to be depends on the shape of the horse, the type of riding you plan to do, and the skill and size of the rider. The cinch and girth are interchangeable … [Read more...]
Confidence From The Core
As we age, our balance, core-strength and posture can be negatively affected and all of these things have an impact on your confidence. If you think of the image of an elderly person tottering down the street, the posture is hunched forward, with rounded shoulders, looking down and a shuffling gait. Now picture Superman’s posture. Posture and confidence are closely related, as … [Read more...]
Episode 805 – Pleasure Perfect
Julie Goodnight and Dale Myler talk about collection and bits for advanced Western shows. … [Read more...]
Saddle Trees Fit And Riggings
Saddle Trees Fit and Riggings I'm often asked about saddle fit and tack— what's the best type of saddle tree for my horse? How do I know if my saddle fits? And how should I rig the saddle so that my horse is comfortable? The variety of trees and saddles on the market can be overwhelming. It’s a big job to find out what will fit your horse well. Once you purchase a saddle, … [Read more...]
Keeping Saddle On
Dear Julie, My friends and I have a problem with our saddles rolling over to the side when we get on. My horse in particular has a flat broad back with wide withers. Any suggestions? I know we are cinching our western saddles up tight enough. Roly Poly Dear Roly, A round, mutton-withered horse is difficult to keep a saddle on, but there are a few things that may … [Read more...]
Reconditioning Program
Question: Hello Julie, My horse has been off all summer due to an injury and I would like suggestions as to how I can get him in shape for spring. I will work with him all winter and need help with a plan. Can you help us? Thank you, Karen Boise, Idaho Answer: Karen, When a horse has been laid off for a year or a season due to an injury, you’ll want to start slowly in his … [Read more...]
Saddle Advice
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...]
Saddle Fit Issues
Ask Julie Goodnight: Is My Saddle Causing My Horse’s Issues? Question: Dear Julie, Six months ago I bought a seven-year-old Quarter Horse gelding and he has turned out to be an awesome trail riding horse and a promising versatility ranch horse prospect. He is dark brown and very cute but over the past couple months he has developed spots of white hairs just below his … [Read more...]
How Do Rope Halters Work?
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...]
My Horse Bucks When I Ask Him To Canter
Common Complaints My horse bucks when I ask him to canter. When you ask your horse to canter, does he pin his ears and hump his back—making it feel like he just swallowed a watermelon? Does he sometimes refuse to pick up the faster gait and then put his head down between his knees and kick out when he does begin to canter? Does he swish his tail and crow-hop or just … [Read more...]
Talk About Tack: How To Fit A Saddle
Question: How should my saddle fit? Answer: Here's a PDF from Circle Y with tons of fitting tips! http://www.juliegoodnight.com/images/saddlefit.pdf Copyright ©Julie Goodnight 2000. All Rights Reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without owner's express consent. … [Read more...]
Annual Check-Up: Saddle Fit
Annual Check-up: Saddle Fit Each year, about this time, I make it a point to look with fresh eyes at each of my horses to see if any saddle adjustments are necessary. Horses that I have had for years (riding in the same tack) can suddenly outgrow or change enough to need a new saddle or pad. Time Will Tell A horse’s body shape changes drastically throughout his life each year … [Read more...]
My Good Saddle
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...]
The C Lazy U Experience
Greetings! It’s been a while since I wrote—I think a week. And it’s been a fun-packed, busy-every-minute, wild-ride of a week. With 9 horses and about 12 people loaded into three rigs, we made the 3 ½ hour drive up to Granby last Friday for our weekend of fun and excitement at one of Colorado’s premier guest ranches, C Lazy U, HYPERLINK "http://www.clazyu.com" www.clazyu.com. … [Read more...]
