Three Common Mistakes that Erode Your Horse’s Trust
Horses know good leadership when they see it because their lives depend upon it. We probably all agree that the ultimate relationship with a horse is one in which the horse looks up to you,
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Trust Your Intuition to Avoid Injury
“Try That One More Time.” When it comes to horses, these words are often looked back on with regret. They’re often the words muttered right before something goes terribly wrong. Words matter. Sometimes we need
Getting Ready for the Riding Season—Top 3 Mistakes Riders Make
For many of us, the winter months are not conducive to riding, due to frozen ground, inclement weather and/or mud. And whether we like it or not, sometimes life gets in the way of our
Feeding Transitions in the Spring
My horses claim about 10 of our 15 acres of land, which you’d think would be plenty for half a dozen horses. Our house, barns, arenas, offices, and a warehouse are squeezed into a corner
Avoiding Feed-time Frenzy
If you keep your horses at home, you’ve probably already developed a routine that makes your job efficient and keeps the horses happy. But if you are new to this, or are looking for helpful
A Horse’s Sense of Fairness
“Does my horse have a sense of fairness?” Recently, one of my Interactive Academy members asked me this question—a question that no one has ever asked me during my forty years of teaching people to
Top 3 Saddle-Fit Pains
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
Making Time for Horses
When I was a kid, horses and ballet lessons were the only non-school activities I did. I went to the barn every single day to ride my horse. Life was uncomplicated then and time was
Resistance to Canter
What do you do when your calm and cool horse doesn’t want to move out at the trot or canter? Resist the urge to peddle and make sure your horse will listen to your cues.
Mastering the Canter
Everywhere I go—whether it’s to clinics, expos, conferences or just riding with friends—there are riders working on mastering the canter. Whether it is a novice rider just figuring out how to cue the horse and
Savvy Feeder Contest
[gravityform id=”8″ title=”false” description=”true”] *Julie Goodnight is not associated with this contest or prize, but is glad to advertise the opportunity on behalf of The Savvy Feeder. By entering this contest, you agree
The Big Comeback
Confidence is tough to regain after a fall. It’s much easier to work through your fears when you trust the horse you ride when your fears are still actively surfacing. Make sure that the horse
October 2016, Newsletter Contest of the Month
Here’s your chance to win a bit and a consult with Dale Myler! English or Western [gravityform id=”7″ title=”false” description=”true” tabindex=”0″]
Horses are Survivors
By Julie Goodnight Have you worked with a rescued horse or a horse with abuse in his past? The lessons learned from working with these troubled-but-not-disposable horses are priceless. If you let them, these horses
Extended Trot Instead Of Canter Cue
Julie Goodnight Q&A Q: How do I get my horse to move out at the trot without breaking into a lope? He’s a western horse learning dressage and the extended trot is part of the
Senior equine care protocol
By Jeannie Willems, LVT, RVT, BS Horses are living longer, more productive lives. This is partly due to the willingness of the horse owner to take better care of their investment, whether it’s a
Explosive Canter Departures: Learning to let go and allow the horse to move forward
I’ve learned to recognize the signs of the horse who’s afraid of the canter departure. I’ve seen it many times throughout my career: A “forward” horse (with too much go) works just fine with the
Dr. Getty’s Tip: Colostrum – An Exceptional Superfood!
By Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. Colostrum – you know it as the mare’s first milk. It is a complex fluid, rich in nutrients and immune-regulating compounds, all designed to give the newborn foal the immune
Becoming The Leader
I love when kids are interested in riding. Most of the time the best horses for learning are the lazy and slow ones. Even if they are usually well-behaved, these horses can learn quickly that
Past Performance is No Guarantee of Future Success
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
My Horse Consistently Breaks Gait From A Lope To A Jog On The Right Lead. Q & A
Q: My horse consistently breaks gait from a lope to a jog on the right lead. What may be causing this? –Haley White A: This is an interesting question—and I wish I had a few
Feed-Time Aggression Q & A
Question: Why do some horses feel threatened when it comes to their food, and in return behave in an aggressive way at meal times? What can I do to prevent food-time aggression and stay safe
Trust Is A Two-Way Street
Trust is an elusive thing, both to give and to get. You cannot force or implore someone to trust you, you can only earn it. If you feel as though you have been wronged by
De-Spooking Shadow/ Update on Episode 909
The Key to De-Spooking Shadow Desensitizing had failed. Could a new approach help this gelding—on camera, no less? By Annette Nole Hall Our beautiful, kid-broke Tennessee Walking Horse is a spook. His name is Shadow and
Do You Know What You Don’t Know?
Identify holes in your horsemanship training and continually seek new information An assignment from my first riding instructor—assembling a bridle from scratch—at first seemed like an easy task. But what seemed easy turned out to
Dr. Getty’s Tip: Reduce Risk Of Infection When Traveling
www.GettyEquineNutrition.com March 22, 2016 For many horses, this is the season for traveling to horse shows and events. Considering periodic outbreaks of equine herpes virus (EHV-1) and other infectious diseases, it is critical that your
Add Serving Of Caution To The Tender Spring Grass
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 17, 2016 www.GettyEquineNutrition.com By Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. Spring is almost upon us in most of the country, so it’s time to revisit that critical topic: spring grazing. Transitioning a
5 Pound Challenge Monthly Post
February My husband reminded me that we are going on a beach vacation soon— Yikes! The double whammy! Vacation calories plus skimpy clothing and bathing suits. If that doesn’t motivate me to lose weight,
Sharing Your Passion For Horses With Kids
There is much about life to learn from horses and the lessons learned are too important not to share with as many youngsters as we can—be it your children, grandchildren or the neighborhood kids. If
What Is Vegetable Oil?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE www.GettyEquineNutrition.com February 23, 2016 What is “Vegetable” Oil? by Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. The ingredient list is your most important source of information when evaluating a feed or supplement for your horse.
Six Points To Consider Before Using A Calming Supplement
by Juliet M. Getty Ph.D. | Apr 29, 2015 | Travel and competition season is upon us, and “show nerves” are common, even in horses. Agitated, nervous horses that are normally well behaved may benefit
How To Feed A Severely Neglected Rescue Horse
by Juliet M. Getty Ph.D. | Apr 22, 2015 | When we can offer a safe, caring home to a severely neglected horse, everyone in the horse world cheers. If you have recently adopted a
Guess Who’s Coming To Harrisburg?
by Pennsylvania National Horse Show | Apr 16, 2015 | A few hints…. Emmy Winning Television Star…..Celebrity Stylist….. Author……Fashion Designer… While his previous experience at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show was as a competitor, his
Dr. Getty’s Tip: Too Much Iron Can Be Detrimental To The Insulin Resistant Horse
by Juliet M. Getty Ph.D. | Mar 26, 2015 | Are you adding a supplement to your horse’s diet that contains iron? You may want to consider changing it if your horse is overweight, diagnosed
Equine Author Announces 2015 Book Tour
by Sharon Miner | Mar 24, 2015 | Sharon Miner, the author of the Beloved Horses series, will be traveling from her home in Tampa to the Mid-Atlantic region in early May for her 2015
Obesity. The Real Cause. The Real Fix.
by Juliet M. Getty Ph.D. | Mar 20, 2015 | Obesity is an epidemic problem with domesticated horses. Although we most easily attribute the problem to overfeeding concentrates combined with too little exercise, the underlying
Dr. Getty’s Tip: Calculating With PPM In Two Easy Steps
by Juliet M. Getty Ph.D. | Feb 27, 2015 | The trace mineral content of most feeds and supplements is provided in terms of parts per million (ppm). A ppm is the same as mg/kg
Do You Need To Analyze Your Hay?
by Juliet M. Getty Ph.D. | Feb 24, 2015 | Many horses rely entirely on hay for their forage needs. Is hay nutritious? Not very. Hay is dead grass; it no longer contains many of
Dr. Getty Urges: “Don’t Let Your Horse Develop An Ulcer!”
by Juliet M. Getty Ph.D. | Jan 22, 2015 | Dr. Juliet Getty never stops urging horse owners to “feed your horse like a horse,” for the simple reason that a horse, fed according to
Hemp Seeds Rival Soybeans In Protein Quality
by Juliet M. Getty Ph.D. | Jan 16, 2015 | Soybean meal is the most commonly added protein source in horse feeds. However, increasing numbers of horse owners are shying away from feeding it, most
Your Mare’s Pregnancy: Nutrition For The Final 3 Months
by Juliet M. Getty Ph.D. | Dec 18, 2015 | During the first 8 months of pregnancy, your mare may be fed like any other horse, with a balanced, quality diet. But things are changing
Added Fat Improves Behavior
February 11, 2016 www.gettyequinenutrition.com Added Fat Improves Behavior by Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. Diet affects behavior. This makes sense. A well-fed horse is healthy. And a healthy horse feels good. Conversely, a poorly-nourished horse is
2016 February Blog – It’s About Time
It’s About Time Most things in life that are important, take an investment of time—an education, a career, a relationship. Mastering a skill or a sport, starting a new business, overcoming setbacks; none of this
Eddie’s New Saddle – How Saddle Fit Changes Over Time
I bought Eddie in the spring of his 3 year old year; he was a handsome and sensible youngster with a great pedigree. A very ‘typey’ stock horse, he stood 14.2 hands and weighed in
First Aid For Horses
I’ve been taking care of horses for half a century and during that time I’ve seen hundreds of injured horses, from mild scratches to cuts that need stitches to deep-tissue lacerations, punctures and impalements. As
On The Rail: Teaching Horse Behavior To Youth Q And A
On the Rail: Teaching Horse Behavior to Youth By Julie Goodnight Q: Dear Julie, I am a big believer in natural horsemanship and how effective it is to handle horses with an understanding
Tricks Of The Trade
Lingo – Ventral Edema A horse showing signs of ventral edema may have compromised health. Swelling is typically seen on the ventral midline of the horse’s belly and is characterized by puffiness, bumps or fluid
Surviving First Canter Lessons
Teaching Techniques Surviving First Canter Lessons By Julie Goodnight Canter: Sometimes, the mere mention of the word is enough to send riding students into panic and cause high blood pressure in the instructor. And it
On The Rail: Q And A
Question: I work as a therapeutic riding instructor at a facility that has about 20+ horses. We have all types of horse behavior issues that creep up before we know it. I’ve seen a gelding