Relationship Fix Series By Julie Goodnight with Heidi Melocco Top trainer Julie Goodnight discusses how horses gain a sense of calm and necessary interaction with the herd—and how their time with other horses
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
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
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
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
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
TTR JULY/AUGUST 2015 ~ FEATURE Master Each Gait What can you do to speed up a slow-walking horse and slow down a horse that’s too fast at the trot? And should you ever canter on
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
Relationship Rescue with Julie Goodnight Stupid Human Tricks: Unsafe Mistakes We Make Around Horses If you get too comfortable around a horse (even one that you have a great relationship with), you may put yourself
RIDE RIGHT WITH Julie Goodnight Saddle Up By Heidi Melocco with Julie Goodnight — Photos by Heidi Melocco When did you last check your horse’s saddle fit? Many horses change body shape and therefore
Trail Tips: When to water, lead across obstacles, don’t allow your horse to eat with a bit Take Water Breaks Horses should have access to clean water at least twice a day. Normally, a horse
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 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
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
What do you do if you have ridden successfully in the past but a scary incident or injury replaced fun with fear? I hear from many riders who were once confident and after an accident
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
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
Question: The camp where I work mainly serves kids which have never ridden before, and some of our horses will have 15 different riders in a week between campers and horse lessons. Some of our
Riding lessons are all about imparting information and developing rider skill, but sometimes students are over-loaded with information. It’s helpful to plan practice time in each lesson– either at the end of the lesson for
For many horses, particularly in the winter when the hair coat is very thick, pulling the bridle over the ears is a tight fit and can cause a lot of momentary discomfort in the horse’s
The frog of the hoof grows continuously and is an important structure of the foot. Traditionally, farriers would trim the frog back, keeping it very neat and trim, but increasingly farriers are leaving the frog
Question: Help! What do I do, my horses are crowding me when I go into their pen to feed them and it’s just scary to have them so close and on top of me. Plus,
As I write my articles for November’s newsletter, Equine Affaire is quickly approaching! Hard to believe, one of my favorite expos is so close. Equine Affaire is November 12-15, 2015 http://www.equineaffaire.com/massachusetts/ and I will be
Thanks for your interest in the challenge! Find out more and take the challenge pledge here>> Visit and join our Facebook group here>> How to take the challenge: Find a friend (or friends) willing
Dear friends, We’ve just returned from an incredible 4-day ranch-riding clinic at the C Lazy U Ranch and soon I am headed to Spanaway, Washington, for my last 2-day horsemanship clinic of the year, then
When folks tell me about problem behaviors, I hear one phrase often. I admit I’ve even said it myself when I was a young trainer. “For no apparent reason, my horse….” You can fill in
What defines a senior horse? While there is no consensus among experts about what constitutes a “senior” horse, most agree that it is not based on chronological age but on physiological age. Some horses may
Find Julie’s tips from the AQHA publication. Tips about riding a rough trot, dealing with a head shy horse, links to safety videos, cantering tips, manners at feed time and more. Videos and articles await>>
Clear, consistent communication is the key to smooth transitions with your horse. AQHA Professional Horsewoman Julie Goodnight explains that your horse comes to understand how you’re moving with how he’s moving and that you can
Getting your horse to drop his head gives him a serene, quiet place to be. It’s a great horse-training technique. From AQHA Professional Horsewoman and Certified Horsemanship Association instructor Julie Goodnight. Your horse’s head is
Why would you use a rawhide nose band to achieve results with a lighter touch? Why not just do the training to have the horse understand the lighter pressure with a softer nose band? Rawhide
In a perfect world, horses would never bite, kick or misbehave. You know you need to correct your horse, but how do you know what is appropriate or too much “in the moment?” Here, top
Does Your Horse Have A Fear Of Bugs? Check out this Q and A with Julie Goodnight. Question: My horse has a fear of bugs, over the last year it has steadily gotten worse to
Tips for Making Your Horse-Keeping Life Easier This Winter Here in the high mountains of Colorado, where my horses and I live, winter comes early and hard. Our preparations begin before the summer is technically
To Buy or Not to Buy? Do you have your eye on a stock-horse breed for your next surefooted trail horse? Follow top trainer/clinician Julie Goodnight’s seven expert horse-evaluation steps to help ensure a successful
Finding a Kid’s Horse Older is Better—You want a horse that is set in his ways, experienced and unflappable. The Rule of 20 says that the age of the horse plus the age of the
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE www.GettyEquineNutrition.com July 30, 2015 The Secret? Keep It Simple! By Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. We know they’re out there. Horses who are enjoying life. Horses who are brimming with health – strong
Relationship Fix Series Bonding Dos and Don’ts By Julie Goodnight with Heidi Melocco Top trainer Julie Goodnight discusses how to show your horse affection without deteriorating your leadership in your herd of
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
First Aid Sometimes it seems like a horse could hurt himself even if you locked him in a padded stall. Running and playing with other horses keeps your horse happy but may mean he
With a high-quality forage, horses may not need concentrates or supplements at all, but all my horses get supplements because I want them to look and feel their best. For the most part, my horses
Cheating the Circle During Round Pen Work; Following the Herd Hierarchy at Feed Time Q: How can I get my horse to longe or round pen in a complete circle? He keeps cutting in to
Have you ever had trouble loading your horse into the trailer — even when he’s loaded successfully in his past? There’s a chance you may unknowingly be contributing to his trailering issues. It’s easy to
Feeding Tips from Dr. Juliet Getty Horses That Graze All Day on Pasture Eat More Slowly If you let your horse out to graze on pasture for only a few hours each day, and provide
Strength Leads to Confidence By Julie Goodnight “That which does not kill you makes you stronger.” By and large, these are good words to consider when it comes to horses. Confidence is such a prevalent
It’s easy to lose confidence on the trail if your well-trained horse has defied you or refused to go forward. A threat to bolt or rear can make a confident rider worry and, in turn,
The planning and shopping process to build a barn on Heidi Melocco’s 2-acre place…. Installment 1: Do you keep your horses at home or are they boarded? Do tell! Hey all, it’s Julie’s TV show producer,
Imagine a Career with Horses Not once in my childhood, in high school nor college, did it ever occur to me that I might have a career in the horse industry. Certainly, in my wildest