Riding A Spooky Horse
Ask Julie Goodnight: How Do I Handle Riding A Spooky Horse? Question: Dear Julie, I usually ride some type of warmblooded horse (not exactly sure of the exact type) during riding classes. He’s often very
Resources for Articles
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
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
Emergency Dismount?
I had an interesting question recently from one of my Facebook friends: “If you want to stay on, at what moment does the rider decide to execute an “emergency dismount?” This is a good question
Acting Up On The Trail
Why does my horse act up on the trail? Questions about how your horse should act on the trail –and why he doesn’t do what you want when you’re out in the open—are some of
Keeping Focused
Ask Julie Goodnight: What can I do to keep my horse focused when we’re on the trail? Question: Dear Julie, My 6-year-old-AQHA gelding is very focused in the arena, on or off cattle, keeping his
To Spur Or Not To Spur
Ask Julie Goodnight: When and how should I use spurs to prompt my lazy horse? Question: Dear Julie, I’ve seen your show on RFD-TV about how to lower your horse’s head. In the episode you
Learn To Ride At Julie’s Clinic’s
The Questions You Ask Most This Issue: Will I be too afraid to learn at a clinic? I’m afraid of being judged… Ride and Learn Horsemanship clinics are a way of life for me. I’ve
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
Riding English
Ask Julie Goodnight: What’s the difference in Western and English riding? Especially when it comes to “contact?”… Question: Dear Julie, I have ridden Western for the last 20 years, and have trained my horses based
Buying A Gaited Horse
Ask Julie Goodnight: What to look for in 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
Conquering Fear
Ask Julie Goodnight: Question: Ms. Goodnight, I recently read your article regarding fear of horses. I have a unique problem related to fear and hope you can help. I was in the round pen and
Bitting System
Using The Goodnight Bitting System The self-correcting bitting system I use is often called an elbow pull and it is a long harness leather cord with snaps on each end. To use the bitting tool,
Teaching Young Horse Collection
Ask Julie Goodnight: How do I teach my young horse to collect? Dear Julie, Firstly, let me tell you that I appreciate very much your website and information! Thank you! My question is: I have
Stand Statue Still
Stand Statue Still Lots of people “do” ground work but like with any type of training, it can be done well or not. Groundwork done poorly is training the horse the wrong thing and I
Head Down Cue
Check Your Horse’s Mouth and the Bit When you are having problems with a horse raising his head, the first thing to check is his mouth. Have your veterinarian examine his mouth to make sure
The Cross Canter
The Cross-Canter “Cross-canter” is the proper term for what is commonly called “cross-firing” or “disunited” cantering. As opposed to picking up the correct lead, with both front and hind inside legs leading the way, the
Does The Lead Horse Participate In Mutual Grooming?
Ask Julie Goodnight: Does the Lead Horse Participate in Mutual Grooming? Dear Julie, First of all, I would like to thank you for your website and the information you share on it. Your Training Library
Why Should You Post At All?
Ask Julie Goodnight: Why Should You Post at All? Question: Last month I asked about whether all riders should know how to post on the correct diagonal. Now it seems the question has changed to
Canter Leads
Rule Out the Physical If you’re having trouble with your horse’s canter leads, make sure to rule out physical problems first. Whenever a horse only takes one lead at the canter, you always have to
Post The Trot
Ask Julie Goodnight: Do Western Riders Need to Post the Trot? Question: Try to settle this discussion – please! Is posting on the correct “diagonal” only important in English riding? I always thought it was
Gate Sour Behavior
Avoid Gate Sour Behavior… Is your horse gate sour? Does he want to stop at the gate and think he’s headed back to the barn? All horses have this tendency instinctively, and if not handled
Teaching Babies Not To Bite
Babies, Don’t Bite! Babies like to have their mouths on everything. But the behavior that helps them learn to nurse and get nourishment can become annoying and even dangerous if allowed to continue past the
Improving My Horse’s Stop
Question: I enjoy your presentations and I have a question that I hope you can help me with my horse, Rocky. During groundwork he does not respond to the verbal command “Whoa.” What would you
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,
Kicks At The Canter
Ask Julie Goodnight: Help, my horse kicks at the canter! Question: I have 3 horses, all of which do the same thing. They walk and trot quietly, but when you cue for lope, they will
Canter Cue
Does Your Horse Fear the Canter Cue? At my clinics and during the TV show shoots, I often see horses that are fearful of the canter cue. Many riders are a little intimidated by the
Balanced Riding Position
Ask Julie Goodnight: Question: How should my upper body be as I ride? Answer: Much focus is given to the rider’s seat and leg position, as it should be, for these are critical areas that
Buying A Horse
In “Shop ‘Til You Drop,” the Horse Master episode taped at my ranch in Colorado, I helped my friend Sddita Fradette begin the horse shopping process. She’s a skilled rider and NARHA riding instructor but
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
Bridling And Un-Bridling
Horse Master How To “Heads Up” Teaching a horse to lower his head and accept the bit and bridle By Julie Goodnight In the Horse Master episode we named “Heads Up,” I help a horse
Avoid Training Burnout
Ask Julie Goodnight Question: I really enjoy your lectures you are so much easier to listen to than many of the other presenters! I was wondering about the appropriate length of time that a training
The Different Types Of Bits
Horse Master How To “Get it 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
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
Reason’s For Rearing
Ask Julie Goodnight Question: 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 have a 6 Yr. old
Future Clinician?
Ask Julie Goodnight Dear Julie: I have a 13-year-old daughter who has been in 4H since she was eight years old. She has become a great rider and is interested in learning how to become
Changing The Speed
Changing Direction/Changing Speed Many “forward” horses come to trainers because they are challenging to train. Here, I’ll share some of the techniques that I use to get the horses slowed down a little and to
Wrong Therapy Horse
Dear Miss Julie Goodnight, I am a Wounded Warrior at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, and have sustained spinal injuries in Iraq. I have had surgeries and now am left using a cane due to nerve
Starting Over With A Fractious Horse
In the episode of Horse Master that we aptly called “Starting Over,” we worked with Clare and her horse “Lux” at a farm outside of Portland, Oregon. Our shoot site, Tanz-Pferde Dressage Farms (www.tanz-pferde.com, the
Pulling On The Rein
Question: I have been riding for eight months at a stable and am taking classes once-twice a week as well as clinics. I bought a horse from the stables I go to, he is a
Fearing The Transition
In Devon Danvers’ “Lost in Transition” episode of Horse Master, I helped a teenager who was ready to stop showing—and riding—because his horse exploded into the canter and just wasn’t fun to ride. The episode
Attacks In Round Pen
Dear Julie, My friend’s paint gelding has started a very unsavory habit. When asked to move out in a round pen at liberty he will do it for a moment, then pins his ears and
Trailering Issues
During the episode of Horse Master that we nicknamed, “Loaded Up,” I helped Laura Barnhart of Tuscon, Arizona teach her horse to walk onto the trailer instead of throwing a fit, rearing and bolting when
Why Are Horses So Spooky?
Question: Why are horses so spooky? Answer: Before we can ever hope to understand, let alone control the movement of a horse, it is important to know the various behaviors that motivate a horse to
Dominance Rehabilitation
Question: I have a very dominant 9-year-old Tennessee walker. He is very proud, and was abused and starved. I’ve had him for 3 years. I am having problems with him on the ground and in
Teaching Green Horse Collection
Question: I have a green horse that frequently trips with hind feet as he does not have proper headset or collection. How do you go about helping a green horse become balanced and collected with
Split Rein Hold
Split rein hold Split reins are commonly used by western riders and there are several ways to hold them– the two-handed trainer’s hold (with the reins bridged and both reins in both hands), one-handed trainer’s
Establishing Dominance
Question: I tend to be a big softy when it comes to dealing with my horse. Now I have created a horse that knows this and takes advantage of me, especially when doing groundwork. He
No Biting Allowed
In the Horse Master episode, “Raising Her Right,” I worked with Elaine Shabazian, a longtime horsewoman and Friesian breeder with a farm on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. Elaine was recovering from knee surgery and wanted
Hierarchy At Feeding Time
Hierarchy at Feeding Time Here’s a question from a reader: I have a question about hierarchy. I still treat my oldest horse (17) like he is alpha because I love him the most. I also