Training Advice | Julie Goodnight Academy

Resources for Training Advice

Building A Better Relationship: Training And Learning Natural Horsemanship

Question Category: Building a Better Relationship Question: Julie, I own a green horse, she is a quarter horse. She has had ground work and has been ridden. But she doesn’t seem to respond well to

Building A Better Relationship: Should I Sell My Horse?

Question Category: Building a Better Relationship Question: Hi Julie, I met you at the 4 day clinic at the Winding River Resort in June 2004. I have the sorrel with a wide blaze and 3

Building A Better Relationship: Pawing

Question Category: Building a Better Relationship Question: Hi Julie, Awesome newsletter as always, my name is Tina and I have a question about pawing. I am a new horse person I have had my Arabian/

Building A Better Relationship: New Horse Has Become Herd Bound

Question Category: Building a Better Relationship Question: I got my first horse last October and things started out great but through the winter he started to become very buddy sour and now it is starting

Building A Better Relationship: My New Horse Is Challenging Me

Question Category: Building a Better Relationship Question: Dear Julie, I just purchased my first horse, Toby, three weeks ago as an adult beginner. He is an 8 year old paint gelding and I moved him

Building A Better Relationship: My Horse Takes Advantage Of Me, But Not My Husband

Copyright ©Julie Goodnight 2000. All Rights Reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without owner’s express consent. Backlinks are allowed. Question Category: Building a Better Relationship Question: Hi Julie – I tend to

Building A Better Relationship: My horse Takes Advantage Of Me

Question Category: Building a Better Relationship Question: I was hoping you could give me some advice on a training problem I am having. I have a 3-year-old Quarter Horse gelding that I just want to

Building A Better Relationship: My horse Is Distracted By Other Horses

Question Category: Building a Better Relationship Question: Hi! I was at your clinics last year at the Equine Affair Massachusetts. I tell you, you were the only great trainer there! Anyway, I was wondering if

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

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 Standardbred gelding that has been

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: Download Julie’s free poster with photos and directions about how to tie her rope halters: http://juliegoodnight.com/pdf/halterinstructions.pdf Download Julie’s halter-tying