Ride Right With Julie Goodnight: Confidence on the Trail
It’s easy to lose confidence on the trail if your well-trained horse has defied you or refused to go forward. A threat to bolt or rear can make a confident rider worry and, in turn,
Resources for behavior
Off To A Good Start
Off To A Good Start Are you raising a foal or young horse? Make sure you’re setting up a good relationship with respect from the start. To start your young relationship off on the right
Work Ethic: How Your Determination (And Your Horse’s Consistent Work) Leads To Dreams Fulfilled
A strong work ethic ensures an individual’s success—for both horses and humans. Whether you are bussing dishes or doing brain surgery, a good work ethic will make a difference in the rewards you reap and
Fix A Grass Grabber
Top trainer/clinician Julie Goodnight tells you how to stop your horse from grabbing mouthfuls of grass during trail rides. Q. My young Quarter Horse gelding is always grabbing a “snack” while I’m riding through tall
Avoid An On-Trail Spook
Your horse sees objects far away much better than those nearby. As a prey animal, he’s programmed to scan the horizon, searching for predators. His brain is also trained to react to quick movements, such
Rolling Horse
Dear Julie, I have known Joe to roll for years and always warn riders if he puts his nose down and smells the ground get the nose up and move him or he will roll.
Stallion-Like Behavior
Hi Julie – This is an unusual question that I haven’t seen addressed thus far. My friends recently bought an 8 y/o paint gelding from a ranch in Okla. Both their trainer and veterinarian observed
Self Inflicted Pain
Dear Julie, My 11-year-old horse recently started biting at his sides—digging deep and mutilating his skin and hair coat. Before I bought him last year, he was gelded and was away from other horses during
Settling In
It can take weeks for new horses to settle into an established herd—be prepared to see aggressive behavior during the initial introduction. Adding a male to a female brood can extend the time and add
Rehabilitation Behaviour Issues
Question: Hi I have just started to care for a 5 year old Irish Draught x TB – he has a tendon/tendon sheath injury and was about to be put to sleep by his previous
Does The Lead Horse Participate In Mutual Grooming?
Ask Julie Goodnight: Does the Lead Horse Participate in Mutual Grooming? Dear Julie, First of all, I would like to thank you for your website and the information you share on it. Your Training Library
Attacks In Round Pen
Dear Julie, My friend’s paint gelding has started a very unsavory habit. When asked to move out in a round pen at liberty he will do it for a moment, then pins his ears and
Why Are Horses So Spooky?
Question: Why are horses so spooky? Answer: 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
Leg-Sensitive Horse
Leg-sensitive Horse Issues from the Saddle Question: Dear Julie, I have been given a 12 year old gelding that I am very much attached to and enjoy riding. The problem is that he has had
Why Does My Horse Rear?
A rearing horse is dangerous—when you’re on the ground or when you’re riding. Riding Right with Julie Goodnight Why does my horse rear? Dear Julie, I have a 12-year-old quarter horse gelding that hops up
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: Distracted Herd-Bound Horse
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: Dear Julie, I was at your clinics last year at the Equine Affair Massachusetts. I tell you, you were the greatest trainer there! My horse, Rufus (an 8