Training Advice | Julie Goodnight Academy

Resources for Training Advice

Building A Better Relationship: My friend Is Making Bad Mistakes With Her Young Horse

Question Category: Building a Better Relationship Question: Dear Julie, I have a really good friend to whom I give horse advice, since she just purchased her first horse. This horse is a nice gelding, young–

Building A Better Relationship: Mare Versus Gelding

Question Category: Building a Better Relationship Question: Hi Julie, I was in attendance at the Murdock’s clinic on Thursday night. I heard just a bit of a statement you made about mares. Something to the

Building A Better Relationship: Horse Testing Rider

Question Category: Building a Better Relationship 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

Building A Better Relationship: Ground Work Techniques

Question Category: Building a Better Relationship Question: Hi Julie, I caught just a minute of your Ground Manners clinic yesterday at Equine Affaire. I have seen this method of twirling the lead (don’t know what

Talk About Tack: Which Bit To Use– The Myler MB33 Or MB36

Question: Dear Julie: I’ve been watching your show for some time now and can’t tell you how much I appreciate you! I’ve learned more from you than from a year of English riding lessons! Sad,

Talk About Tack: Which Bit For Neck Reining On A Finished Horse?

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: Julie, How do I know what bits to try on a horse that is new to me? And can I ride western (neck rein) in a bit without leverage?

Talk About Tack: When Or Should You Start Using Draw Reins?

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: Wow, Julie, what an awesome website you have! At what time in a horse’s training do you start using draw reins? I started my three year old three months

Talk About Tack: What Is The Right Bit?

Question: We purchased a large pony nearly 6 months ago. When we purchased him, he was being ridden in a tom thumb bit and shook his head a lot to avoid it. We changed him

Talk About Tack: What Is The Best Rein To Use?

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: Dear Julie, When starting my colt I was advised to use slobber straps and a rope rein for several reasons. When the horse was further along several people recommended

Talk About Tack: Western Snaffle Bit Rein Hold

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: I have been trying to determine the proper rein hold for showing a western horse two-handed in a snaffle bit. I have been riding with the reins running between

Talk About Tack: Using A Tom Thumb Bit

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: I have a horse that constantly tosses her head and fools with the bit. I use a tom thumb with her. Please give me a short education on bits.

Talk About Tack: Use Of The Spur

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: Dear Julie, My understanding is that spurs are to be used to back up a request if the horse is not responding or to make a cue more clear

Talk About Tack: Understanding Bits– Tom Thumb

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: Ms Goodnight: We always come and see your seminars at Equine affair in Ohio. Last year I really enjoyed your discussion about balance and position I took good notes

Talk About Tack: Understanding Bits– Myler

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: Dear Julie, My question to you is what is your opinion of Myler bits? I came across a book recently that talked about the Myler comfort snaffle. I was

Talk About Tack: Snaffle To Curb

Question: Dear Julie, I am currently schooling and riding in a D-ring snaffle bit. I want to start training for Western Pleasure. What kind of shank bit do you recommend for the transition? Thanks,Kim Answer:

Talk About Tack: Bit Placement: One Wrinkle Or Two?

Question: Hey Julie, I have read everything (I think) on your website about bits, but nothing says where it should be positioned. Some say you should see a wrinkle in the mouth and others don’t.

Talk About Tack: Bit For Runaway Horse

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: I stumbled onto your Dear Julie site while looking for info. Let me explain what I’m trying to do. I recently bought an 8-year-old Standard bred gelding that has

Talk About Tack: Bad Habit: Fighting The Bit

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: Our horse, a 12-year-old quarter horse, has started a bad habit. Recently we had our vet float his teeth and since then he fights taking the bit. He has

Talk About Tack: Saddle Slips

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: Dear Julie, My friends and I have a problem with our saddles rolling over to the side when we get on. My horse in particular has a flat broad

Talk About Tack: Saddle Rigging Explained/ Julie’s Saddle Line With Flex Tree Saddles

Question: I am switching from English to Western and am hoping to get one of your Peak Performance saddles. I am looking at the Monarch Arena/Trail saddle or the Wind River Trail saddle. I really

Talk About Tack: Saddle Fit

Question: Dear Julie, Six months ago I bought a 7 y/o QH gelding and he has turned out to be an awesome trail riding horse and a promising versatility ranch horse prospect. He is dark

Talk About Tack: Rope Halter — Do’s And Dont’s

Question: Dear Julie: I have a silly question…My mare is 15yo and I have NEVER used a rope halter. Do you have a basic do’s and don’ts for me….things I need to know to help

Talk About Tack: My horse Tosses Her Head, What Bit Should I Use?

Question: We purchased a 6 yr old mare approx. 6 mos ago. She was previously bridled with a D Ring Snaffle. We have tried transitioning her with other Snaffles and a Touch Plus. She seems

Talk About Tack: How To Tie A Rope Halter

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: What’s the correct way to tie a rope halter? Answer: Copyright ©Julie Goodnight 2000. All Rights Reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without owner’s express consent.

Talk About Tack: Is A Snaffle Really Comfortable?

Question: Hi Julie, I came across a book recently that talked about the comfort snaffle. I was surprised to learn that snaffles are not exactly what they are supposed to be and some bits that

Talk About Tack: How High Does The Bit Go In The Horse’s Mouth?

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: Dear Julie, How do you know when a bit is properly sitting in the horse’s mouth? We have always heard that you look at the “wrinkles”. However, this can

Talk About Tack: Full-Cheek Snaffles

Question: Dear Julie: I have seen quite a few western horses lately wearing full cheek snaffle bits without cavessons/nose bands or bit keepers. When I ask the rider about their bit, they reply, “To avoid

Talk About Tack: Fitting Curb Chains To Curb Bits

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: How do you fit curb chains to horses for curb bits and kimberwicke bits? How do you properly test the pressure of the curb chain? Answer: There is information

Talk About Tack: Elbow-Pull Bitting Device, Goodnight Bitting System

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: Hi Julie, You had mentioned in one of your Q & A’s a product called, a self-correcting bitting device. What is it and where can you purchase it? ThanksKimberly

Talk About Tack: Difference Between Tie Down And Martingale

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: Julie, Please explain the difference between a tie down and martingale. Answer: A tie down and a standing martingale are very similar in that they both attach from the

Talk About Tack: Child’s Saddle Size

Question Category: Talk about Tack Question: My daughter is almost 9 and she stands 4′ 7″. My question is when riding a full grown quarter horse is it best to use an adult saddle? I

Building A Better Relationship: Ground Manners For Showmanship

Question Category: Building a Better Relationship Question: Hi Julie, The following is from my daughter Anna. (she’s 11) Dear Julie Goodnight, This year was very exciting for me. It was my first year showing at

Building A Better Relationship: Goodnight Training Works!

Question Category: Building a Better Relationship Question: Dear Julie, Some months ago I wrote you about my horse being herd bound and becoming quite fractious on the trail.Your advice was basically that he was not

Building A Better Relationship: Does My Horse Respect Me?

Question Category: Building a Better Relationship Question: Dear Julie, I have a 5 year old Tennessee Walker that I have had for almost a year. I am not sure if some of the things that

Building A Better Relationship: Do All Breeds Respond To Groundwork?

Question Category: Building a Better Relationship Question: Good Morning, I need your input! I bought a Rocky Mountain Horse two days ago. He is eleven years old. I also have a quarter horse mare that

Building A Better Relationship: Correcting Aggressive Behavior

Question Category: Building a Better Relationship 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

Issues From The Saddle: Horse Won’t Turn When I Ask Him To

Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Hi Julie, I just have a quick question. I have a 4.5 year old Warmblood that stands at a massive 17.2. He is very well behaved on the

Horse Behavior: Understanding Horse Behavior

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 move in the first place. Being a

Horse Behavior: Trailering problems

Question Category: Horse Behavior Question: I am writing this letter to you from Natal, South Africa. We’ve got a horse that has a new problem, which just suddenly occurred. He never had traveling problems, and

Horse Behavior: The meaning behind audible expressions

Question Category: Horse Behavior Question: Dear Julie Goodnight, Several times this spring my mare has made a sound that sounds like a Donkey; she did it on the 28th of May when I put her

Horse Behavior: Territorial, Hormonal Mare

Question Category: Horse Behavior Question: Dear Julie, I am a first time horse owner with a 4-year-old paint mare. The woman I bought her from is training her and I can ride her but she

Horse Behavior: Snaking Or Herding Behavior

Question Category: Horse Behavior Question: My Thoroughbred mare who is 14 years old, tends to do something “dumb” with her head [when she is in the pen with the other horses]. She kind of bobs

Horse Behavior: Snaking Behavior

Question Category: Horse Behavior Question: Thanks for responding to my first email. Now, the deal is that the mare is neighing, which she has NEVER done in the year and half that I have had

Horse Behavior: Showing A Lactating Mare

Question Category: Horse Behavior Question: I have a mare due to foal Feb 28 that I show in 2 local circuits from May-September. Shows are twice/month. What is the best way to be able to

Horse Behavior: Self Mutilation

Question Category: Horse Behavior Question: Dear Julie, What do you know about Self Mutilation… and what can we do to stop our 11 year old gelding from mutilating himself? he was a stallion until last

Horse Behavior: Seasoning A Horse For Shows

Question Category: Horse Behavior Question: I am writing from Pretoria South Africa. My daughter recently attended her first show-jumping event. Her horse boxed (trailered) without major problems and also traveled well. At the event this

Horse Behavior: Putting A Young Stallion In With a Herd Of Geldings

Question Category: Horse Behavior Question: I have a 10-month-old Welsh stallion pony that is very well mannered with a sweet disposition. I also have three other geldings; one is new to the “herd” but getting

Horse Behavior: Nipping Colt

Question Category: Horse Behavior Question: Hi Julie, Here is my problem. My yearling colt, Scout, bites. It’s now become a game to him. He didn’t bite the first 3-4 months when I first brought him

Julie grooming Abner with Handson Gloves

Horse Behavior: Horses Identify By Scent

Question Category: Horse Behavior Question: I have noticed that when I have been doing house cleaning and I visit the horses with the chemical smells on my hands that the horses seem put off by

Speak the Language: Horse Behavior video

Horse Behavior: Horse’s Instincts

Question Category: Horse Behavior Question: Hi Julie, Can you tell what specifically are the horse’s instincts and how can we use these to our advantage in training? Yours gratefully, Emma Answer: Emma, The horse’s instincts