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To Shoe Or Not To Shoe?

To me, this is not a simple yes-or-no, black-or-white answer. Just as there are many good reasons not to shoe your horse, there are many reasons why you might want to shoe. There are few

Barn Rules, Cleanliness & Respect At Feeding Time

Like most horse trainers, when it comes to my barn, I run a tight ship and I like things very orderly and very systematic. Even though my barn is totally private—no outside horses for training,

Safety Concerns: Wounded Warrier Looking For Best Therapy Horse

Question Category: Safety Concerns Question: 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

Safety Concerns: Stirrup Bar Safety Latches

Question Category: Safety Concerns Question: I have heard different opinions on whether or not to leave stirrup bar safety latches open on English saddles? What do you think? Answer: CHA advocates always leaving stirrup bar

Safety Concerns: Should Toddlers Be Riding?

Question Category: Safety Concerns Question: My niece is 4 years old, and small for her age, but loves horses and riding. We would sit her on a horse from the time she was able to

Safety Concerns: Rearing Causes Death Of Rider

Question Category: Safety Concerns Question: Dear Julie My cousin, who hadn’t been around horses much, bought a used 20yr. old Tennessee Walker, supposedly a calm, old gelding. My other cousin, who’s been around horses and

Safety Concerns: Looking For A Horse… Is My Trainer Helping?

Question Category: Safety Concerns Question: Hi, Julie: My trainer (of 6 months) agreed to help me find an Arab or Arab Cross. She is a dressage instructor with no real fondness for the breed. Her

Safety Concerns: Introducing To New Herd, New Feed

Question Category: Safety Concerns Question: Hi Julie, I am going to be moving my quarter horse mare (4 yr old) from a stall barn to a 3 acre pasture with 2 other mares who are

Safety Concerns: Broken Bones, Concussion, Whiplash… Should I Buy This Horse?

Question Category: Safety Concerns Question: Dear Julie, I recently picked up riding after a lifelong LOVE of horses and have been taking lessons twice weekly for about two and a half months with the intention

Safety Concerns: Bicycle Helmets For Riding Horses–Is It OK?

Question Category: Safety Concerns Question: Are bicycle helmets as safe as riding helmets? I saw a news program that said they are safer than riding helmets, is that true? Some parents don’t want to purchase

Safety Concerns: Advice For Parent Looking For Instructor

Question Category: Safety Concerns Question: I am the parent of an 11-year-old girl who is serious about horses. She’s been riding for 5 years in California, and we just moved to Michigan. For two months

Safety Concerns: Administering Vaccines

Question Category: Safety Concerns Question: Is it okay to give our own vaccines? Answer: This is a good question, which brings up some legal and ethical questions. First of all, most vaccines are “over-the counter,”

Safety Concerns: Accident Frequency At Lesson Barns

Question Category: Safety Concerns Question: I work for a large lesson/boarding facility – we have about 50 school horses, 50 boarder horses, and a couple hundred students come through each week. I am concerned because

Riding Skills: Western Rein Hold

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Which hand should you hold the reins in when riding Western? And what should you do with your free hand? Answer: Traditionally, the left hand is used for the reins,

Riding Skills: Using Your Upper Body Properly

Question Category: Riding Skills 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

Riding Skills: Training Advanced Maneuvers For Cowhorse

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Hello, I have a 5 year old Paint. I’ve kept everything easy, slow and clear. He has turned out to be a great cow working horse. Now how do I

Riding Skills: Time Length & Help To Open Pelvis

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Hello Julie, 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

Riding Skills: Sitting Trot

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: I ride an Arabian who has a very bouncy trot that I just can’t sit to. I ride in an event saddle that has a somewhat deep seat, but when

Riding Skills: Side Reins And Longeing, Is This Abuse?

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Hi Julie, I have a question for you. I have a young horse and am working with a professional trainer who has been giving me lessons but I don’t feel

Riding Skills: Setting trot poles

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: When trotting over a series of (say five) ground poles, what is the measured distance the poles should be apart? What about a canter? I have a Thoroughbred mare, 16.2H,

Riding Skills: Riding With Direct Contact

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Dear Julie, I have ridden western for the last 20 years, and have trained my horses based on the resistance free method or Natural Horsemanship as it is most commonly

Riding Skills: Refine Your Posting Skills

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Julie, Could you elaborate more on what you mean regarding the difference between posting “from the stirrup” and posting from the thigh? I’ve only started riding English this year (western

Riding Skills: Posting On The Correct Diagonal

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

Riding Skills: One-Rein Stop

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Julie, first off, I have to say I spend many hours reading through your website. You are a gifted and inspirational woman, and thanks for all you share. I recently

Riding Skills: Lead Changes

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Julie, Hope all is going well for you. I’m continuing to enjoy teaching kids riding lessons. My question this time: What’s the best way to teach advance kids how to

Riding Skills: Judging Stirrup Length

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: How can I make sure I ride with my stirrups at the correct length? Answer: Appropriate stirrup length is critical for all levels and disciplines of riders. It is important

Riding Skills: Is Contact Required For Collection?

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Julie, I saw your clinic at the horse Expo in Illinois a couple of years ago and am completely impressed with both the your clinic and the down to earth

Riding Skills: Improving Rider Position Using Gravity

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: What’s the best way to improve my riding position? Answer: We have talked in previous articles about the importance of a balanced position with ear-shoulder-hip-heel alignment and open and relaxed

Riding Skills: How To Learn To Ride Patterns

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Julie, I have a horse that I’m helping my daughter train for some rodeo queen contests. She is a beginner to horses and riding. On one of the patterns, she

Riding Skills: How Do I Get A Secure Seat To Ride Out Spooks?

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Dear Julie, Last night I watched your TV show on introducing the horse to the surf. It was very informative but the thing that impressed me the most was how

Riding Skills: How Do I Find My Seat?

Question: Dear Julie, First I wanted to let you know that I truly enjoy your website and reading your training library section. I have picked-up many good points which I have been able to put

Riding Skills: Gears Of The Seat

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Hi Julie, I got to watch one of your clinics at the Midwest Horse Fair last weekend. (I had a booth there in the exhibit hall and so I only

Riding Skills: Feeling Canter Leads

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Hi Julie, I have trouble feeling my canter leads, and I know the worst thing I can do is look down. What is the best way to feel the lead?

Riding Skills: Emergency Stopping Rein

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Dear Julie, My husband and myself went to your clinic on fear of horses at the Horse Expo in Denver and I cant thank you enough!! I thought we would

Riding Skills: Cue For Rein Back; Using A Flank/ Rear Cinch

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Hi Julie, Would you please explain the correct way to teach a horse to back up in both English and Western? I have seen so many variations of this that

Riding Skills: Creative Images For Using The Aids

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: How can I remember how to use natural aids properly? Do you have images you use to help students remember the correct positions, etc.? Answer: From the very first time

Riding Skills: Connecting And Coordinating The Natural Aids

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: How do you teach riders to use all the natural aids together–leg and rein aids? Answer: The natural aids are the best tools the rider has to communicate with the

Riding Skills: Collection

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: Julie: I’ve been riding horses approximately 40 years and yet find myself doubting my riding abilities. I do, however, still trust my instincts. I currently am riding a wonderful 10yr

Riding Skills: Bending

Question Category: Riding Skills Question: I rode the “easy going, chubby” dun in your clinic at Double K Stables in Somerset PA in August. I came away with so much good information that was so

Overcoming Fear: When To Buy A horse And What To Look For

Question: Hi Julie, I have been reading your articles and I have gained a lot of insight into horses and horseback riding. Thanks so much for such wealth of knowledge. My husband and I have

Overcoming Fear: What Can I Do To Help Overcome My Fear Of Riding?

Question: Hello, My daughter has a 5 year old Thoroughbred/Percheron mare that when she was riding last winter in the indoor. The snow slid off the roof and the horse bolted; she fell off and

Overcoming Fear: Uncontrollable Fears Of Falling Off

Question: Hi Julie, I just purchased your audio CD, Building Confidence with Horses, and listened to it while driving to work. Your principles make perfect sense, I now need to work though them and practice

Overcoming Fear: Too Old To Ride?

Question: Dear Julie, I’m a petite grandmother, have not ridden in nearly 50 years. In my teens I rode daily. Do you think I could actually get into real riding again? I’m in excellent health

Overcoming Fear: My Horse Doesn’t Respect Me & I’m Scared To Correct Him

Question: Hello, I just found your website and think it’s great. I have a 15-year old gelding – appaloosa/Clydesdale cross, Copper. My problem is that I am not confident enough to follow through with things

Overcoming Fear: Instilling Confidence In Young Riders

Question: I need advice for my daughter and her horse. My daughter is 10 years old and very interested in riding, however she lacks confidence in riding. Her horse has come to figure this out.

Overcoming Fear: How To Be In Control And Feel Safe

Question: Hi Julie, I am a beginning rider, and have been taking lessons twice a week for about three months now. I have wanted to learn to ride since I was a little girl so

Overcoming Fear: Fear Of Being Thrown

Question: Ms. Goodnight, I recently read your article regarding fear of horses. I have a unique problem: Recently I was involved in tryouts for a Horse Patrol position in my sector. I work on the

Overcoming Fear: Fear Management

Question: Hi Julie, I learned about you from a friend in the barrel racing community. I am a 42-year-old woman, a dyed in the wool horse lover and owner, someone who will never again feel

Overcoming Fear: Coping With The Fear After Accidents

Question: I’ve had a couple horse accidents and now have some fear issues I’ve never had to overcome before. How do you help people through their fear of horses and riding? Answer: Some level of

Overcoming Fear: Coping With Fear Of Horses

Question: Julie, I know you are soooo busy. Just drop me two words of encouragement. I need you! I have a 16.2 hand TB that after having the greatest relationship with for 2 years I