What’s LOVE Got To Do With It?
If you are reading my blog, chances are good that you LOVE all horses, and your own horse especially. But does your horse LOVE you back? As it turns out, many animal behaviorists believe that
Resources for Consistent Leadership
Proactive Riding—Take the Driver’s Seat
Many of the questions I get start with a sentiment like this: “My horse used to do this well, but now he won’t,” or, “My horse was really responsive when I first got him, and
The Secret Ingredient: Managing the Herd-Bound Horse
At my ranch, we have seven geldings and one mare. When we brought my new foster mare, Truth, in for training the two mares were instantly drawn to each other like magnets. At first, it
Cultivating a Connection with Horses
Duke was a well-trained gelding, successful in the show ring as a youngster, then ridden extensively in the rugged mountains of Colorado. He was a handsome hunk of muscle, very balanced, always a delight to
Secret Powers are Within You!
It should go without saying that training and riding a thousand-pound flight animal is complicated—it’s the only sport I know of that involves inter-species teamwork. Riding is a partnership of two athletes—horse and human—each with
The Making of a Trail Horse, Part 4 (and Other Duties, as Assigned)
I remember my father’s last and best trail horse, Scout. He was a big, bold, grade quarter horse, afraid of nothing, with a motor like a freight train. Aboard Scout, my father climbed all over
The Making of a Trail Horse, Part 2
Manners and Skills There are many ingredients that go into the making of an exceptional trail horse and just like in the kitchen, quality ingredients can make the difference in an average dish or an
Consistency Counts
On one of my many visits to southern California, I was conducting a horsemanship clinic in the town of Norco, renowned for its horse-friendly lifestyle. On any given day in “Horsetown USA,” you’ll see horses
Unspoken Agreements
Is your horse easy to get along with, until you ask him to do something new and different? Or, heaven forbid, something he doesn’t want to do? Perhaps he’s happy to go down the trail
Back to Basics (Part 1)
“It’s time to go back to Square One.” This is a phrase we often throw out when a horse has developed undesirable behaviors, or the handler has lost all authority and control of the horse.
How to Make a Perfect Horse
Before the horsemanship clinic even started, I could see the bad dynamic between the horse and his owner. The big brown gelding was agitated and acting aggressively toward his owner, a middle-aged woman, who was
A Devoted Horse
Horses rise or fall to your level of expectation, no matter how high or low. If you think he’s going to spook at something, he generally will. If you think he is going to throw
Begging for Acceptance
Imagine you’re meeting a blind date at a coffee shop, a setup by your friend who just wouldn’t take no for an answer. Even though you’re not really interested in a relationship right now, you
Slower is Faster with Horses
Let’s face it, we’ve become a society of instant gratification. From fast food, to fake nails, we like immediate results. This quest for instant results carries over to horsemanship, too—from flying lead changes, to
Riding in the Moment
One thing horses are really good at is being present in the moment. People, not so much. We tend to carry baggage from the past and stress about the future, but not stay present with
Does Your Horse Like You?
Recently at one of my clinics, a rider told me that three different trainers told him flat-out that his horse did not like him. He was hoping that the clinic would help him understand if
Three Common Mistakes that Erode Your Horse’s Trust
Horses know good leadership when they see it because their lives depend upon it. We probably all agree that the ultimate relationship with a horse is one in which the horse looks up to you,
Getting Ready for the Riding Season—Top 3 Mistakes Riders Make
For many of us, the winter months are not conducive to riding, due to frozen ground, inclement weather and/or mud. And whether we like it or not, sometimes life gets in the way of our
A Horse’s Sense of Fairness
“Does my horse have a sense of fairness?” Recently, one of my Interactive Academy members asked me this question—a question that no one has ever asked me during my forty years of teaching people to
Becoming The Leader
I love when kids are interested in riding. Most of the time the best horses for learning are the lazy and slow ones. Even if they are usually well-behaved, these horses can learn quickly that
Past Performance is No Guarantee of Future Success
Anyone who has ever invested in the stock market has seen this disclaimer: Past performance is no guarantee of future success. Yet when we invest our resources into a well-trained horse, we expect a guarantee
3 Leadership Activities
By: Heidi Melocco with Julie Goodnight Top trainer/clinician Julie Goodnight gives you three fun activities designed to enhance the bond you have with your horse and solidify your role as herd leader. During cold winter
Trust Is A Two-Way Street
Trust is an elusive thing, both to give and to get. You cannot force or implore someone to trust you, you can only earn it. If you feel as though you have been wronged by
For No Apparent Reason: Learning to understand why horses behave the way they do
When folks tell me about problem behaviors, I hear one phrase often. I admit I’ve even said it myself when I was a young trainer. “For no apparent reason, my horse….” You can fill in
My Horse Goes Where He Wants To Go
Does your horse always cut the corners in the arena? Does he veer around little obstacles—such as puddles—even though you told him to go straight through? Do your circles become smaller and smaller as you
Horse Guilt: Focus On Your Personal Riding Goals And Ditch Any Guilt About Not Riding Enough
My friend Nancy is a life-long rider in her 60s and a pretty good hand with a horse. One day while practicing her reining patterns in the arena, her horse spooked ‘out of the blue’
My Horse Takes Advantage Of Me
Teaching leadership to horse owner’s http://bayequest.info/static/my-horse-takes-advantage-of-me.htm
Keeping Focused
Ask Julie Goodnight: What can I do to keep my horse focused when we’re on the trail? Question: Dear Julie, My 6-year-old-AQHA gelding is very focused in the arena, on or off cattle, keeping his
Starting Over With A Fractious Horse
In the episode of Horse Master that we aptly called “Starting Over,” we worked with Clare and her horse “Lux” at a farm outside of Portland, Oregon. Our shoot site, Tanz-Pferde Dressage Farms (www.tanz-pferde.com, the
Establishing Dominance
Question: I tend to be a big softy when it comes to dealing with my horse. Now I have created a horse that knows this and takes advantage of me, especially when doing groundwork. He
Horse Turns Toward Gate And Stops Working
Common Complaints My horse heads for the gate and stops while we’re working. Follow Julie Goodnight’s advice to teach your horse ignore the gate and work steadily. If your horse thinks turning toward the gate
My Horse Is Herd-Bound And Barn Sour
My horse is herd-bound and barn-sour–calling to others constantly Would your horse rather stay with his buddies? Is he letting his voice be known? Follow Julie Goodnight’s behavior and training advice to help your horse
My Horse Drags Me, Circles Me And Bumps Into Me When Leading
Are you dragged, stepped on and rammed each time you lead your horse? Is your horse anxious and eager to get wherever you’re going? Does he circle you, causing you to constantly pull back to
Catching Your Horse From Pen Or Pasture
Common Complaints Help! I Can’t Catch My Horse! Want to catch your horse easily when retrieving him from pen or pasture? Follow Julie Goodnight’s behavior and training advice to help your horse be respectful and
Nurturing The Try In Your Horse
I have lived with and worked with horses for more than half a century. And the older I get, the more appreciation I have for horses and their willingness, generosity and ability to forgive. It
Episode 712 – Can I Get A ‘Yes Ma’am’? – Behind The Scenes
Julie Goodnight teaches groundwork techniques to instill obedience and leadership.
Episode 712 – Can I Get A ‘Yes Ma’am’?
Julie Goodnight teaches groundwork techniques to instill obedience and leadership.
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
Issues From The Ground: Why Won’t My Horse Listen To Me?
Question Category: Issues from the Ground Question: Hi Julie, Training concern: Horse won’t stand still to be groomed. I have a 16 hand QH gelding that I have had since October. I am a new
Issues from the Ground: Lead line leadership
Question Category: Issues from the Ground Question: I know I need to teach my horse to respect me while I’m leading him at halter. He’s pushy and pulls me. How do I get started? How
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
Issues From The Saddle: Horse Won’t Turn When I Ask Him To
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 on the
Horse Behavior: Understanding Horse Behavior
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. Being a
Horse Behavior: Horse’s Instincts
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 horse’s instincts
Leadership And Authority
Horses crave it and thrive on it; they worship the ground the herd leader walks on. Horses can recognize leadership traits in both horses and people and they cannot be fooled– either you act like
Good Horse Gone Bad
If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times. “My new horse has turned out to be a nightmare. The seller misrepresented him as a well-trained horse. I think he was drugged when
Preventing Herd-Bound Behavior
Horses are instinctively herd-bound. It’s one of seven categories of instinctive behavior in horses and it is known as gregarious behavior. A desire to be with others. BTW, the other categories of instinctive behavior in
In Command And Control
I am in the midst of clinic season—a clinic almost most every weekend through the end of June. It’s the most popular season for clinics as people gear-up for the summer riding season and look
When To Ask For More From Your Horse
What are your expectations of your horse? Do you expect him to be lazy and have to be cued repeatedly until spanked every time you ask him to trot? Do you expect him to stand
A Horse With A Human Problem
Good Day! It’s great to be home again, even if only for a day. By the time I have unpacked, it’s time to start repacking again. But I am excited to be headed to Lexington