Whether your young horse is ready for saddle training, or your adult horse needs to be restarted, has developed undesirable behaviors, or is ready for a higher level of training, there may come a time when you consider sending them to a professional trainer. There’s a huge investment in time and money when a horse […]
Horses are amazingly adaptable creatures, and over thousands of years they have partnered with us and found ways to make themselves invaluable to human society. Since before horses were even ridden, humans have attempted to find effective ways to train them to perform an array of different jobs. Horses are lightning-fast learners, and they can […]
Here we are at the peak of riding season and I’m happy to report that our horses are all healthy and sound, even our foster horse, Doc Gunner. For the last 90 days, Gunner has more or less been the center of attention around here. He likes it that way. Gunner is a kind and […]
All the excitement around my barn in the last month was about Doc Gunner, my new “foster horse.” He arrived at our place on June 18th after a long haul from Oklahoma City. Doc Gunner is a 4-year-old Paint gelding (no papers) who was rescued from a kill pen in December. He is completely deaf, […]
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 side-passing, to collection. These are skills that riders everywhere hope to master, yet aren’t willing to “do the time.” Horses […]
Everywhere I go—whether it’s to clinics, expos, conferences or just riding with friends—there are riders working on mastering the canter. Whether it is a novice rider just figuring out how to cue the horse and keep it going, a rider trying to slow down the gait and smooth out a wild ride or an advanced […]
Dear friends, We’ve just returned from an incredible 4-day ranch-riding clinic at the C Lazy U Ranch and soon I am headed to Spanaway, Washington, for my last 2-day horsemanship clinic of the year, then I get to go back to C Lazy U for the riding and yoga retreat (treat is the operative word!). […]
It’s crucial to teach your horse to stand still when you first mount, according to trainer/clinician Julie Goodnight. The lesson will help your horse know you’re always in charge. http://trailridermag.com/article/teach-stand-still
Expert advice to quell a kicking horse’s bad habits. http://americashorsedaily.com/horses-that-kick/#.VGaGnU10xet
Knowing how horses operate can help your training efforts. http://americashorsedaily.com/left-brain-right-brain/#.VGaFhk10xet
Clinician Julie Goodnight tells you how to use pre-signals and breathing techniques to improve your horse’s transitions between gaits. Are your horse’s transitions between gaits as smooth as glass? Or do you hold your breath and hope for the best as your horse hops on his forehand to slow down and lurches forward when asked […]
Become a Professional Riding Instructor If you’re looking for a riding instructor, you’d want to work with someone who has lots of horsemanship knowledge and experience. http://www.equisearch.com/article/horse-professional-get-certified
Horse Tip Daily #59 – Julie Goodnight on the Hard to Catch Horse http://horsetipdaily.horseradionetwork.com/horse-tip-daily-59-julie-goodnight-on-the-hard-to-catch-horse/
Western Shopping with Julie Goodnight http://www.pinterest.com/pin/506232814334548497/
Dear Julie, I’ve been thinking a lot about this problem, since I didn’t find that our instructor found the right thing to do. Instead of finding an answer, he did what a program told him to do. I have a friend whose horse is a 16-year-old QH gelding and a former roping horse. He still […]
Dear Julie, I have a two-year-old mare that’s an eager learner and wants to spend time with me. She readily approaches me and wants to be in on the action when I work with other horses. It’s been snowy and icy here so I have not had the opportunity to do the groundwork I usually […]
Question: I am buying a 3 month old colt that I would like to remain/turn into a stallion. I would like to teach him to be well mannered and to give specific commands for breeding, so he does not associate breeding with every mare he comes into contact with. He may anyway, but if there […]
Ask Julie Goodnight: What to Know About Rope Halters Question: I have what’s probably a silly question…. My mare is 15 years old and I’ve never used a rope halter with her. What do I need to know to help me better understand how a rope halter works? Answer: I wish more people would ask […]
Horse Master How To “Get it Straight” Helping a frustrated rider find the right bit and cue her horse to move straight ahead By Julie Goodnight In the Horse Master episode we named “Get it Straight,” master bit maker, Dale Myler, joined me to help a horse and her frustrated rider move ahead with relaxation—and […]
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. After investigating this behavior, we also noticed that he hates any kind of contact on the reins and will begin […]
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 the cause that is triggering the behaviour, it’s like one minute is his normal self which a good natured, relaxed […]
Question Category: Issues from the Saddle Question: I ran across your website while searching for an answer for a behavior problem with my daughter’s 7 year old quarter horse mare. We have owned this mare about 2 1/2 years. The mare is very sweet and was well behaved when we first got her and would […]
Question Category: Building a Better Relationship Question: Dear Julie, I have a really good friend to whom I give horse advice, since she just purchased her first horse. This horse is a nice gelding, young– only going on three, and I see potential dangers in how he reacts to her training approaches with him. Keep […]
Question: Dear Julie: I have a silly question…My mare is 15yo and I have NEVER used a rope halter. Do you have a basic do’s and don’ts for me….things I need to know to help me better understand how it works? Answer: I wish more people would ask simple questions like this– it’s not silly […]
U Turn: Teaching rollbacks