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
Resources for Training Advice
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
Overcoming Fear: Afraid To Canter
Question: Hi Julie, I have been riding for about 2 years. I’m 53, and although I have been around horses (started my daughter riding @ 4-5 yrs old, own a race horse) have always been
Young Horse Master: Behind The Scenes Of A Horse Master
Question: What’s it like to be on Horse Master? Find out with this story about Lilly Neville’s English to Western story as profiled America’s Horse magazine (on the cover in January 2009). Then sign up
Winter Tips
Question: When is it too cold to wash my horse? Answer: Use a spray on cleaning solution to keep your horse’s coat clean and grease free when it’s too cold to wash him. It’s generally
Winter Horse Care: Snowballs On Feet
Question: Hi Julie, I’m still a novice at horse care and management. Winter has arrived (northern Ohio) and I am trying to figure out the best way to deal with the snow and ice buildup
Why Do We Mount From The Left?
Question: Why do we mount and begin grooming/saddling on the horse’s left side? Answer: There are several answers to your questions…. First, because horses are very one-sided, that is, they only think on one side
When To Geld My Colt
Question: Hi Julie, I am planning on buying a yearling stallion. I do want to geld him at what age is it ok to geld, also is it ok to put a yearling stallion in
What’s A Buck Kneed Horse?
Question: Julie, I have a question. When someone refers to a horse as “Buck Kneed” what does it mean and will it bother it’s performance? PS- my wife just adopted a donkey and now she
Should I Get A Gaited Horse?
Question: Hello Julie, I am looking at buying a Tennessee Walker. With my current horse, I am finding it a challenge to post. I’m 48 years old. I purchased your DVDs and they were helpful,
Rotating Horse Wormers
Question: Could you please give me your opinion on the rotation of wormers to use throughout the year to get the most coverage for my horses? Answer: The purpose of rotating dewormers is to get
Riding The 20+ Year Old Horse
Q: Has Julie written any articles or done any tv shows on riding the 20+ year old horse? I have a mare that is 21 and has been a pasture pet the last couple of
Preparing For A Career With Horses
Question: Dear Julie: I have a 13 year old daughter who has been in 4H since she was eight years old. She has become a great rider and is interested in learning how to become
Horses Low In The Back, Swayback
Question: Hi Julie, I first saw you at the Midwest Horse Fair. I enjoyed your presentation. I have been riding for over 40 years and teaching riding for 30. I take lessons my self periodically
Horses In Confinement
Question: Dear Julie, I just moved to a home on 40 acres (with a live creek) in Missouri. I’ve never owned a horse (of course, always wanted to) and haven’t been around them for a
Horse Has Bad Breath
Question: Dear Julie, My horse has an odor coming from his mouth. There is no evidence of tooth decay or abscess. What could be the problem??? Thanks for taking time to answer my question. Sonia
Horse Buyer’s Guide
Question: Want to know all you should look for when it comes to buying a horse? Click to download the PDF>> buyersguide Copyright ©Julie Goodnight 2000. All Rights Reserved. No part of this website may be
Difference between paint and pinto
Question: There is always controversy about the Pinto…is it a breed or color?…same with the paint. I also always thought the Palomino was a color, but I just recently read it was a breed; can
Bra For Riders
Question: Hi Julie, Do you have any recommendations as to brands, types of sports bras which are most effective for riding (minimizing bounce)? Thanks! AH, Missouri Answer: Hi Althea, Thanks for the question, but I
Are Mules More Difficult Than Horses?
Question: Dear Julie, I was at the Ohio Equine Affaire and was able to sit in on one of your talks. It was the one on ‘herd dynamics.’ Very, very useful information! I have a
Am I Too Heavy For My Horse?
Question: Dear Julie: I bet you have never had this question. Last week we bought a really great black & white 51 inch 4 year old pony. He was gelded 5 weeks ago so we
Advice For Getting Into Training
Question: I’m a high school student who would like to pursue a career in the equine field, particularly riding instruction. What would things could you suggest that would help me be better prepared for that
A Hydrated Horse Is A Healthy Horse
Question: Getting a horse to drink enough water has been a challenge for a long time. So long, in fact, that “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink” is
Issues From The Saddle: Works Well Outside And Poorly Inside
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: I am an intermediate rider at best who purchased a 10 y/o paint gelding a couple months ago. He is from the south and I honestly think is
Issues From The Saddle: Why One Rein Is Better Than Two
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: My riding instructor and I have a question regarding using one rein while riding. I’ve seen it mentioned in several different articles and books. John Lyons discusses using
Issues From The Saddle: When To Start A Colt Under Saddle
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: My granddaughter and I started our yearling colt this year. He was schooled in halter. We’ve had a saddle pad and surcingle on him. He is used to
Issues From The Saddle: What To Do With A Horse That Bolts, Runs Off With Rider
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Julie, I enjoyed watching you present at Equine Affaire in MA this past November. I have been riding a good 15-20 years but most intensively the last 5-6….I
Issues From The Saddle: Understanding Pressure
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: How do you know how much pressure a horse needs to respond to your cues and directions? Answer: From observing any given riding session, on any given day,
Issues From The Saddle: Tossing Head And Bucking
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Dear Julie, We have just begun working on a property that conducts trail rides and have a horse here that we discovered to have the problem of bucking.
Issues From The Saddle: Tongue Over Bit
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Dear Julie, The question I have is for the Mountain Pleasure horse I bought about six months ago. He is a big sweetie, I love him dearly he
Issues From The Saddle: Teaching Horse to Keep Head Down
Question: I watched a show several weeks ago with Julie helping a rider work with a horse that lifted his head up to get away from the bit. I thought she taught the rider to
Issues From The Saddle: Starting A Horse Under Saddle
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Julie Goodnight, Thank you for answering my request. My colt is 3 years, he was born in my arms, he is an Arabian. I have been working with
Issues From The Saddle: Spooky Horse
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Hi Julie! I usually ride some type of warmblooded horse (not exactly sure of the exact type) during riding classes. He’s often very nervous about a certain corner
Issues From The Saddle: Speeding Up A Slow Horse
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Julie, I was at the Equine Expo in Massachusetts last week and enjoyed your clinics immensely. Quick synopsis of my quarter horse…I got him a year and a
Issues From The Saddle: Slowing Down A Fast Horse
Question: Hello, Just wondering if you could give me some advice. My horse, a six year old mustang had been trained for about ten months. He stops, turns fine, but I cannot get him to
Issues From The Saddle: Refusing To Trot
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Hi! first of all, I wanted to say that I saw your clinics at last year’s Equine Affaire in Massachusetts, and you’ve stuck with me as one of
Issues From The Saddle: Reconditioning A Horse After Extended Layoff
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Hello Julie, My horse has been off all summer due to an injury and I would like suggestions as to how I can get him in shape for
Issues From The Saddle: Rearing Horse
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Dear Julie Goodnight I am writing to you in regards to my horse’s problem with rearing, as someone that is experienced in horse behaviour I can not find
Issues From The Saddle: Pulley Rein
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Julie, I’m sure you deal with loads of emails, I hope you get this one. I’ve been taking riding lessons every week for a few months (I used
Issues From The Saddle: Parrot-Mouthed Bucker
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Hello Julie, I have a horse with a few problems. He is a six yr old that was professionally trained at 3 (ya right) then put out to
Issues From The Saddle: Paces Instead Of Fox Trots
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Dear Julie, I just got back into horses a year and a half ago at age 47; I’ll be 49 this year. I am building my confidence in
Issues From The Saddle: Over-Reactive To Leg Pressure
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: I have a 4-year-old bay breeding stock paint gelding. He is broke for western pleasure and does really well. His only problem is that he completely goes crazy
Issues From The Saddle: Not Wanting To Go Forward
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Julie, I have seen you several times at the Equine Affaire in Columbus over the past few years and respect your training skills. I have a particular problem
Issues From The Saddle: Nervous To Go On Trail
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Dear Julie, I have an 8-year-old gelding that is very easy to work with on the ground and in the arena. He tends to become uptight, and nervous