Julie's dad on his palomino trail horse, Scout.

The Making of a Trail Horse, Part 4 (and Other Duties, as Assigned)

…a horse to follow another horse down a trail. That’s completely natural, and they would probably do it on their own if you turned them loose. Horses naturally stay with the herd and follow the leader.

Horses are instinctively drawn to other horses because they are prey animals, and…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Jealous Little Girl

…and jealousy. Horses are emotional animals with feelings more simplistic, but similar to humans’. Horses can certainly be jealous. Some of the behaviors you describe indicate that this horse is jealous of the attention you pay to your older horse. Horses can become very possessive over another horse and will…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Issues From The Saddle: Must Be In Front On Trail

…my website about these behaviors. Young horses should be taught at an early age that they may not act impulsively and interaction with other horses is not acceptable when being handled and ridden. They can act however they want when out in the herd, but once a human has haltered…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Senior equine care protocol

…helping the horse owner provide a good quality of life for older, senior horses.

 

Senior horse care begins in the horse’s younger years; how a horse is managed early on can have a direct bearing on the length and quality of life later on.

 

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Winter Workouts – Ride Right With Julie Goodnight

…herd instead of part of your horse-and-human herd of two? Goodnight says that as horses approach middle age, they may become more herd-bound, but individual horses react differently with more or less time away from work.

Groundwork done well all year long can help you keep your horse looking…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Ground-Work Exercises

…time you’re near him.”

How long does it take a horse to be turned out and become part of the big herd instead of part of your horse-and-human herd of two?

Goodnight says that as horses approach middle age, they may become more herd-bound, but individual horses react…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Horse Behavior: Snaking Behavior

…is always a sign of aggression and dominance. The sound you are describing is probably a squeal; which is what horses do when they are very irritated and about to become aggressive. This is a dominant behavior and your mare is trying to get control of her herd. The stallion…