JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Dominated Horse

…point in the direction you want your horse to turn, not pulling back on the reins, but to the side and up with the inside hand. (see articles on equitation and rein aids in my Training Library). Your hands would be applying the leading rein (inside) and the neck rein

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Loose Reins VS Slight Contact

rein as his head lowers. But too much of a good think is a bad thing and if the horse spooked on a really loose rein, you would be off balance trying to pick the reins up in time and in the critical time you lost gathering up the reins…

Julie riding her horse, Dually.

Riding in the Moment

…and fall. The emergency stopping rein (a/k/a the “pulley” rein) is an important skill that all riders should learn.

The pulley rein is like a one-rein stop, except the outside rein is fixed and locked on the crest of the neck, so it will not cause a turn. When…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Riding Right With Julie Goodnight

…to use your seat to stop the horse. Learn to use the pulley rein if you need an emergency stop.

When he starts rooting on the reins, you should immediately stiffen and lock one hand on the rein so that he hits himself on one side of his…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Disengagement

The one-rein stop is an example of how you might disengage a horse from the saddle. Horses actually stop better off one rein than two, because when you pull on two reins to stop, the horse braces his neck, leans into the bit and may even run through the

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Talk About Tack: Is A Snaffle Really Comfortable?

rein and are being ridden one-handed are usually more comfortable in a mild curb bit.

A leverage bit (commonly called a curb bit) has shanks (bars running along side the horse’s mouth) and a curb strap (or curb chain), like the Tom Thumb; the reins are attached below the…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Issues From The Saddle: Gate Sour

…some good personal instruction too.

You need to learn to correct the horse with one rein, not two and by lifting up or sideways with the rein, not back. Pulling back on the rein, whether it is one rein or two, always opposes a horse’s forward motion and makes…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Issues From The Saddle: Horse Pulls To Arena Gate

…you’ll probably need some good personal instruction too.

You need to learn to correct the horse with one rein, not two and by lifting up or sideways with the rein, not back. Pulling back on the rein, whether it is one rein or two, always opposes a horse’s forward…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Gate Sour Behavior

…not two and by lifting up or sideways with the rein, not back. Pulling back on the rein, whether it is one rein or two, always opposes a horse’s forward motion and makes him want to stop (which is what he would prefer to do at the gate). Lifting your…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

My Horse Is Tossing And Shaking His Head

…Does he root down on the reins, jerking you out of the saddle? Does he shake his head, grind his teeth and snarl his lips whenever you pick up the reins? Or worse, does he take off with you when you ask him to stop, running through the bridle no…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Why One Rein Is Better Than Two

…Allow me to explain.

First of all, most riders are stuck pulling BACKWARD on the reins any time they ask the horse to do anything (and sometimes even when they aren’t doing anything). ANY backward pull on the reins is known as a “rein of opposition” and interferes with…

Step Into Sidepassing

…hip, block his shoulder a little by closing with your right rein.

To do so, bring your hand back toward his neck (don’t pull back), and bring your left hand back and up toward your belly button in an “indirect rein.” At the same time, reach back more with…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Pulling On The Rein

…pull on a shorter rein (which he will because this has become engrained learned behavior), I lock my hand on the rein, or even lock my hand against the pommel, so that he roots into a very fixed rein and hits himself in the mouth. If he does not get…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Teach Your Horse To Lower His Head

…or move in the right direction. First your horse must learn that when you pick up a rein it means to lower her head (acquisition). Once she makes this connection, hold the rein a little longer until the head comes lower, then release. Gradually increase the amount of time you…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Overcoming Fear: How To Be In Control And Feel Safe

…then they know they can do anything they want.

When turning right, first slide your hand down the right rein, then slowly pick up on the rein toward your chest, releasing with the opposite rein. The slower you move your hands, the softer the horse will become. The…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

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

…for short periods of time and gradually increase. If you have trouble controlling him out in the open with a snaffle, you need to work on the one-rein stop and the pulley rein.

There are several Q&As on my website that relate to bits, bitting problems and solutions and…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Riding Skills: Cue For Rein Back; Using A Flank/ Rear Cinch

…backs at all. In the ideal rein-back, the horse brings his hindquarters up underneath him, rounds his back and lifts his shoulders moving freely on a light rein and with impulsion. Some horses are cued for the rein-back with alternating legs aids (right-left-right-left) while others will respond to both legs…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Issues From The Saddle: Help A Green Horse Become Balanced And Collected?

…the horse and is known as ‘prideful’ behavior. Collection is natural for the horse (although difficult); headset is something that is artificially imposed by the rider. There are several Q&As on my website that address these issues, including collection, headset for shows, side reins and bitting devices. I just filmed…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Building A Better Relationship: Horse Testing Rider

…and then they know they can do anything they want.

When turning right, first slide your hand down the right rein, then slowly pick up on the rein toward your chest, releasing with the opposite rein. The slower you move your hands, the softer the horse will become. The…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Horse Behavior: Xenophon: The Art Of Horsemanship

…With a horse entirely ignorant of leaping, the best way is to take him by the leading rein, which hangs loose, and to get across the trench yourself first, and then to pull tight on the leading-rein, to induce him to leap across. If he refuses, some one with a…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Teaching Green Horse Collection

…his mouth, drop the rein down on his neck immediately and praise him; then ask again. Work on one side repeatedly, and then work on the other. When your horse softly flexes to the side every time you pick up the rein (slowly and gently so that he has the…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Bitting System

…Two, the elbow-pull creates a rhythmic alternating pull, rather than a static pull on both reins (like side reins), and it is far more effective to use one rein at a time rather than two (a horse stiffens his neck and leans into it when you pull on both reins…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Riding Skills: Creative Images For Using The Aids

…to move sideways in a side-pass to the right, I need to close the doors on the left, close the door in front and open the doors to the right. So, I will bring my left rein against the horse’s neck (neck rein or indirect rein in front of the…

Reined Cow Horse

…this was a “starter” show to encourage people just starting on cow work, riders had the choice to ride in a reining-only class, a rein and box only class and then the “jackpot” class had the whole thing—rein, box, fence and circle.

Diana rode Renegade in the reining-only and…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Issues From The Saddle: My Horse Pulls On The Bit As I Ride

…is a fruitless behavior). When he does root or pull on a shorter rein (which he will because this has become engrained learned behavior), I lock my hand on the rein, or even lock my hand against the pommel, so that he roots into a very fixed rein and hits…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Issues From The Saddle: Headset For Shows

…fraction of an inch, release the rein and rub him on the neck, then ask again. You must reward any effort on the part of the horse to do the right thing or move in the right direction. First the horse must learn that when you pick up a rein

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Sit The Spook

…to look at the scary bushes, wildlife, etc., bump his nose back to center with light rein pressure.

Avoid gripping the reins tightly. Keep the reins loose, so your horse doesn’t feel your anxiety and think he should be worried. But don’t allow too much rein slack. You’ll need…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

My Horse Goes Where He Wants To Go

…with your inside rein, using the ‘indirect rein in front of the withers.’ To apply this rein aid, you’ll turn your inside hand, like you’re turning a key in the door, so that your pinkie comes in and up, thus creating an upward diagonal pull on the rein. Open your…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

On The Trail Survival Guide

…the bit and your bit to the reins. Goodnight says losing one rein isn’t as traumatic as losing your entire bridle. Still, if your horse isn’t properly trained, you may have trouble stopping without pulling the bit through his mouth. Plus, stopping for repairs during a ride is never a…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Issues From The Saddle: Horse Won’t Give His Head

…to stop him because that would be asking him two things at once). Watch his muzzle and the rein very closely and the instant there is the slightest give, causing slight slack in the rein, release completely and make a big fuss of him. As with all of horse training,…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Issues From The Saddle: Barrels To English

…and using your inside leg at the girth will help the horse bend. Using the indirect rein in front of the withers (lifting up and in on the inside rein in an upward diagonal pull- no backward pull) will help move the horse’s withers out and create a better bend…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Forehand Turn

…leg pressure just behind the cinch/girth. At the same time, lift up, in, and back with your left rein while keeping your right rein close to your horse’s neck. Your leg and rein aids tell him that the only open door is to the right, not forward, back, or to…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Riding Bridleless (Without a Bridle or Bit)

…in his tracks. If he doesn’t, I pick up the reins abruptly and back him up harshly in reinforcement of the voice cue. Go right back to trot and after a moment, ask again with the voice; repeat with the reins as necessary. If the reins always come last, and…

Reward, Reinforcement and Punishment

…is the reinforcement and because I gave the cue first, then reinforced with the rein contact, it increases the likelihood of the response. The reins are reinforcement, not the cue. In very short order, through reinforcement, I have a horse that turns without rein pressure (a beautiful thing for both…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Canter Cue

Does Your Horse Fear the Canter Cue? At my clinics and during the TV show shoots, I often see horses that are fearful of the canter cue. Many riders are a little intimidated by the canter, so they tend to clench up on the reins at the moment the

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Cantering Help: Fast And Rough Canter Departures

…able to work your horse on a loose rein in an extended frame or on a short rein in a collected frame at the walk and trot, and have him maintain a steady speed, rhythm and frame.

You’ll need to have the ability to sit the trot and canter…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Canter Malfunctions

rein to keep the horse from diving in, then the actual cue to canter comes when I curl my hips in the canter motion (which is a move like pushing a swing.) I also like to use a kissing sound. It’s all about the sequence—outside leg, inside rein, push with…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Riding Skills: Collection

…elbow-pull creates a rhythmic alternating pull, rather than a static pull on both reins (like side reins) and it is far more effective to use one rein at a time rather than two (a horse stiffens his neck and leans into it when you pull on both reins at the…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Issues From The Saddle: Nervous To Go On Trail

…Then pick up the rein again until the horse makes the connection that lowering his head makes the rein pressure go away. Soon he should be happy to go to “the closet” and stay there when you pick up one rein. Remember, you’ll have to release the reins to let…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Issues From The Saddle: How To Deal With A Spooky Horse

…front of his chest. If it moves to either side, I will correct it with a gentle and slow bump of one rein (if he is turning his nose to the right, use the left rein and visa versa). Again, it is not a pull or a jerk, but a…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Canter Control

…make sure you know how to effectively use the one-rein stop. If you pull on two reins to stop the horse, the pressure on his mouth is so great that the horse will tend to lean into the pressure and brace against it—your horse may even run off to escape…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Fix A Grass Grabber

Use one rein. When you correct your gelding for eating grass while riding, jerk up harshly and quickly on one rein. Any time you pull on both reins, you start a tug-of-war with him and you’ll never win that contest. But with one rein, you have control.

Ask

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Ponying With Confidence

…are leading standing on the right side of your pony horse, mount up while holding the lead rope and your reins in your left hand. As soon as you’re in the saddle, you’ll take the reins with your left hand and hold the ponied horse’s rope in your right. Always…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Talk About Tack: Full-Cheek Snaffles

…contact, that may help steady the bit in his mouth and give him something to balance on.

On the other hand, the loose ring snaffle, which allows the mouthpiece to spin around the ring, is a useful bit for horses that are ridden on a loose rein. He can…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Fearful Trail Horse

…pick up (not back) on ONE rein (not two) and repeat the steps above, releasing as soon as your horse even thinks about dropping his head. Then pick up the rein again until your horse makes the connection that lowering his head makes the rein pressure go away. Soon he…

JulieGoodnight.com Logo

Riding Skills: Feeling Canter Leads

…your hips when cantering. I heard I’m supposed to go counter-clockwise on both the left and right-rein, and clockwise on the counter-canters. Is this true? Does it even matter?

Thanks, Alissa

Answer: Alissa,

Feeling canters leads is not hard, either is feeling posting diagonals. But to do…