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,...
Category: Training Advice
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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"...
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...
Question Category: Horse Behavior 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...
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...
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...
Question Category: Horse Behavior Question: Hi there Julie, It was so good to see you at the [CHA] conference. I just want to let you know that you are one of the few...
Question Category: Horse Behavior Question: HI, I have really appreciated your calm, common sense approach, so I wondered if I might ask you a horse behavior question, just to hear your thoughts. We...
Question Category: Horse Behavior Question: Hi Julie, First a "thank you" for all the help you have been to me in working on becoming a "natural Horseman". My question is one regarding aggression...
I've been working with horses and riders for almost 30 years now-- teaching people to ride better and have a greater understanding of their horses. Periodically I try to calculate the numbers of...
Is your horse well-trained, and you're ready to add a neck rope to your riding regimen, in preparation to go bridle-less? Clinician Julie Goodnight recommends riding with a neck rope and your bridle...
I asked Julie to tell me a little about why she loves cow work and how it has improved her overall riding. Read on to find out what Julie loves about cow work,...
Cleaning Saddle Pads Here’s a quick tip for keeping your saddle pads clean and comfortable for your horse. Many people prefer to use a very thin “sweat pad” underneath the regular pad, made...
Stop horses from stomping Flies can be a constant source of irritation to your horse in the summer. If your horse is spending most of his time biting, stomping and kicking at flies,...
Bridle path trimming Here’s a quick tip about clipping your horse’s bridle path. Although bridle path length varies in expectations with breed and discipline, in general, less is more. For Quarter Horse and...
If your horses are constantly stomping and kicking at flies, their actions could be causing unnecessary wear and tear on their joints. Flies also carry disease by transporting infectious agents to humans and...
The Right Fit Is your horse’s halter too snug or too loose? Does it hang down around his nose or squeeze his face, rubbing the hair away? Do you fit a rope halter...
Disengagement Disengagement of the hindquarters occurs when your horse crosses his hind legs. Your horse’s “motor” is in his hind end. So, when his hind legs cross, the engine is in neutral; your...
Check Your Bit Fit Most riders either inherit a bit when they purchase a horse or do their best to pick one off the shelf. But how many riders actually check the fit...
Save Your Horse’s Mouth, Stop with Your Seat You probably learned to “kick to go” and “pull to whoa” from the very start of your riding career. While this simplistic view of communicating...
Showing Affection to Horses Before you start smooching on your horse, it may be useful to understand how horses show affection to each other. Mutual grooming (a.k.a. allo-grooming) is the primary affectionate behavior...
Grooming is a great time to get some exercise and develop the bi-lateral coordination and symmetrical strength that you need to become a better rider. Many riders have a strong dominant side—which can...
Fear Not Fear is a normal emotion to have around horses; it’s what keeps you from doing something that could be deadly. There’s nothing wrong with being afraid at times; but fear is...
Disjointed Riders Do you suffer from leg, knee and ankle pain or numbness while riding? As you ride, your legs are spread in an unnatural position, causing pressure on your ankle, knee and...