Ride On with Julie Goodnight

I’m excited to have a special guest in this episode—Dr. Barbara Page, founder of the International Foundation for Equine Podiatry Research. We’re going to talk about hoof health and disease prevention, and her research on feral horses and how we can apply the lessons she learned to domestic horses. This is a fascinating and important topic, and one we all stand to learn a lot from! Click here to see Dr. Page's Hoof Photos Referenced in the Episode Show Notes & Resources: Find out more about Julie's upcoming clinics and expos at JulieGoodnight.com/Events Get information about Julie's riding retreats (Women's Riding & Wholeness Retreat, 2 Ranch Riding Retreats, and the 5-day Horsemanship Immersion) at C Lazy U Ranch at CLazyU.com Ireland Riding Vacation & Retreat: JulieGoodnight.com/Ireland Nov. Horse Report: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/november-2021-horse-report/ CHA International Conference: https://cha.horse/international-conference/ Training Resources: JulieGoodnight.com/Academy Memberships & Short Courses: JulieGoodnight.com/Join Tack, Training Equipment, Grooming, Resources, Gifts & More: Shop.JulieGoodnight.com

Every now and then, we get such a backlog of really great questions from our listeners that we devote an entire episode to answering as many questions as we can. This month, you get a full hour of What the Hay? Q&A, with topics ranging from how to handle displays of aggression, to motivating lazy horses to respond, and controlling the speed of faster horses. Want your question answered in What the Hay? Email [email protected] Resources: Find out what's coming up in Julie's clinic and expo schedule at JulieGoodnight.com/Events Get more information on the Certified Horsemanship Association International Conference coming up in Fort Worth, TX at CHA.horse Resources On the Academy: Round Pen Resources: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/?s=round+pen Interacting with Other Horses: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/?s=interacting+with+other+horses Golden Moments: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/?s=golden+moments About Spurs: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/?s=spurs On Biting:https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/?s=biting Jigging on the Trail:https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/?s=jigging Herd-Bound/Buddy Sour: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/?s=herd+bound

Today’s podcast episode is about “reading the horse,” as it’s commonly referred to by horse folks. It’s about observing and interpreting the horse’s emotional and communicative behaviors so that you have greater insight into its motivations and intentions. Plus, I’ve got some brand-new questions to answer, straight from our listeners, in my "What the Hay?" Q&A segment. Resources from This Episode: Events: The 2021 programs at C Lazy U Ranch are full, but check it out for 2022! Visit JulieGoodnight.com/Events for more info. Nov 9-11: I’ll be in Fort Worth, TX for the Certified Horsemanship Association International Conference. This is an awesome hands-on educational program, open to anyone, and I will be doing clinics and workshops there. Get more info at CHA.horse. I have three horse expos lined up for late winter/early spring of 2022, in Oregon, Idaho and Wisconsin. I can’t wait to see everyone and do live presentations again! Find out more at JulieGoodnight.com/Events. Go to Juliegoodnight.com/Join and check out my online short course on building your confidence with horses, also we offer online training resources, curriculums, and personalized coaching programs. Horse Behavior Resources: Speak the Language: Horse Behavior (Streaming or DVD): https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product-tag/Speak-the-Language-Horse-Behavior Articles from My Training Library: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/?tag=horse-behavior-resources What the Hay? Q&A: Restarting an Older Horse Podcast Episode: “Start Out on the Right Hoof” from September 2018 More resources: JulieGoodnight.com/Restart

Today’s topic is about how to deal with training setbacks with your horse. We've all been there at some point or another in our journey with horses where things don’t go according to plan. The horse that normally walks right into a trailer suddenly refuses to load. Or your horse has one bad experience at a horse show, and that turns into an ongoing problem. Or maybe you had a frightening experience on a normally unflappable horse, or an incident that overwhelmed your horse and broke down his confidence. Horses have wills of their own, and they are predictably unpredictable. They're flight animals, they are sensitive and reactive, and they run the full gamut of emotions—from utter contentment, to fear, anger, and resentment. Sometimes when horses go south on us, it’s because we made a mistake. But sometimes you have a training setback with a horse due to situational circumstances, like getting a bad draw in a cow class or someone else’s horse spooks and runs off on a trail ride, causing your horse to have a meltdown. It’s unreasonable to think that in the long-term training of a horse, which takes place over years and decades, that everything would always go perfectly and you would never encounter a setback. Neither human nor equine are robots and stuff happens. In this podcast, I want to focus on what to do after the setback, how to analyze the situation, dissect what went wrong, and be proactive in developing a plan to get your horse back on track. Plus, I’ve got some brand-new questions to answer, straight from our listeners, in my "What the Hay?" Q&A segment.

Today's podcast topic is about spoiled horses. I'll talk about what that looks like, what causes well-behaved horses to act poorly, and how sometimes the owners are blissfully unaware that other people think their horse is spoiled. Most importantly, I'll talk about how to improve your handling techniques, and turn your little monster into a perfect angel.

This episode is all about the horse that rears. Whether you're on the ground or in the saddle, it's one of the scariest and most dangerous behaviors of horses. We'll talk about: What Causes Rearing How to Avoid It What to Do if it Happens How to Stay Safe Around a Rearing Horse Plus, I've got some brand new questions to answer straight from listeners like you in my What the Hay Q&A segment at the end of this podcast! Want your question answered in What the Hay? Email [email protected]

Has your horse had an emotional meltdown at a show, on a new trail, when he's away from his herd, or other new situations? It's important to understand that horses, as both prey and herd animals, tend to adopt the emotions of the animals around them. Horses have the same basic emotions that humans do, and they reflect the emotions you are feeling when you are with them—nervousness, anxiousness, fear, etc. When a horse becomes overwhelmed by these emotions and reactive, it tends to escalate if we don't take active measures to get the horse out of that downward spiral of emotions. Any horse is susceptible to an emotional meltdown given the wrong situation. So in this episode, we're going to talk about what's happening when your horse's emotions build up to the breaking point, and what you can do to bring him back from the brink.

This episode is about repurposing, retraining or restarting a horse under saddle. We'll talk about what that looks like, and why it might be needed. Then we'll look at it from two different angles: From the Horse's Point of View: Why that horse might need a new career, and how we go about repurposing or rehoming a horse. From the Rider's Point of View: What about changing disciplines? What about my desire to do something different with my horse? I'll show you how to get started by thoroughly assessing the horse. Then I'll give you my tips to get a fresh start with your horse, or head in a new direction with your horse. Finally, I'll share my philosophy and methodology when I set out to repurpose, retrain, or restart a horse under saddle.

This month's episode is about connecting with your horse: how to establish or reestablish a bonded and productive relationship with your horse—one in which the horse: Accepts Your Authority Respects Your Boundaries Is Calm & Focused Seeks Your Acceptance We'll take a look at what the objectives are, and I'll give you some specific step-by-step actions that you can take right now to improve your relationship with your horse. Plus, I've got some brand new questions to answer, straight from listeners like you, in my What the Hay? Q&A segment at the end of the episode! Want your question answered in What the Hay? Email [email protected] Show Notes: Find more information on what Julie talked about in this episode! Learn More About Private Clinics: JulieGoodnight.com/PrivateClinic Upcoming Riding Retreats at the C Lazy U Ranch: JulieGoodnight.com/Events Resources: Find Goodnight Academy Online Memberships & Short Courses: JulieGoodnight.com/Join Establishing Boundaries Videos (Daily Doses): https://youtu.be/7f9g6lNuJY4 Articles About Boundaries: SignIn.JulieGoodnight.com/Boundaries Articles About Leadership: Signin.JulieGoodnight.com/Leadership Speak the Language: Horse Behavior Video: Shop.JulieGoodnight.com/Behavior HandsOn Grooming Gloves: Shop.JulieGoodnight.com/HandsOnGloves Lead Line Leadership Training Video: Shop.JulieGoodnight.com/LLL Ready to Ride Training Video: Shop.JulieGoodnight.com/Ride

Today I want to talk to you about the trot—with tips both English and Western riders need to know. I'll talk about ways to improve your posting technique. Whether you're just learning this handy skill for the first time, or you're an old pro, there's a lot more to posting the trot than simply going up and down. I'll also cover trotting diagonals—what the heck they are, why you need to know them, and how to feel what diagonal you're on. Plus, I've got some brand new questions to answer, straight from listeners like you, in my What the Hay? Q&A segment at the end of the episode! I've also got some brand new questions to answer, straight from our listeners, in the 'What the Hay? Q&A' segment at the end of this podcast. Check it out—you may hear your own question answered! Want your question answered in the What the Hay? Q&A segment? Email it to [email protected]

Today's podcast is about New Year's resolutions for horse lovers! Recently, I did an interview with Christy Landwehr, the CEO of Certified Horsemanship Association, and the sponsor of "Training Tuesdays" on the popular radio show, Horses in the Morning. We talked about my philosophy on New Year's resolutions (how to make them and keep them), plus I shared some of my personal resolutions. We also discussed popular ideas for New Year's resolutions for horseback riders, riding instructors, horse trainers, and barn managers. I've also got some brand new questions to answer, straight from our listeners, in the 'What the Hay? Q&A' segment at the end of this podcast. Check it out—you may hear your own question answered! Want your question answered in the What the Hay? Q&A segment? Email it to [email protected]

I'll discuss the top 10 challenges riders have at the canter and how to conquer them. Whether you're just starting out and learning to canter for the first time, you've lost your confidence to canter, or you're an experienced rider training a green horse—whatever the case, this podcast is for you. We'll talk about the most common problems that riders have at the canter, and I'll give you some quick fixes and share some horsemanship secrets that you may not know! Want your question answered in the What the Hay? Q&A segment? Email it to [email protected]

Have you ever been frustrated with your riding because you think you should be better by now? Have you succumbed to the temptation to compare yourself with another rider, and wondered why you can't ride like that? What do they have that I don't? Or maybe you had a trainer get on your horse when he was acting like a monster, only to see the horse immediately transform into putty in their hands. It's frustrating—I get it. In today's episode, I'm going to talk about how you can ride your own ride and focus on the journey.

Last time, we talked about the genetic profile of Doc Gunner (who we now call "Doc") regarding his unusual coloration, his deafness, his health conditions, and his behavioral traits. It's fascinating information, and it's invaluable for us in terms of managing his health. In this episode, we're going to discuss Doc's ancestry report—how we can find out more about his real pedigree, find some close relatives of his, and possibly even figure out who his sire and dam are. Plus, we'll talk about how DNA testing works, all of the exciting research being done in this field, and how you might learn more about your horse through DNA testing. Want your question answered in the What the Hay? Q&A segment? Email it to [email protected] Show Notes: Follow Doc Gunner's story at Doc Gunner's Training Journal: https://www.facebook.com/watch/102611707180/575448296741249/ Learn more about Etalon Diagnostics: EtalonDiagnostics.com Become a Goodnight Academy member or start a Horsemanship Short Course: JulieGoodnight.com/Join

Today's episode is about the genetic profile test report for my 4-year-old foster horse, Doc Gunner. We have no history on this horse prior to December of his 3-year-old year. Given that we know nothing about this horse's breeding or history, it was important to me to get as much data as I could so I can more effectively give him the rehab and training he needs to be successful for the rest of his life. I'm really excited to have two expert guests in the field of genetic testing and equine veterinary medicine, Christa Lafayette, founder and CEO of Etalon Diagnostics, and Dr. Ben Buchanan from the Brazos Valley Equine Hospital. Join us as we review the full genetic report on Doc Gunner and his unusual genetic traits. We'll get answers to some medical questions we've had, and how we'll manage this horse going forward. Plus, we'll talk about his unique temperament and character, how that relates to his performance potential, and how that is evident in his genes. Show Notes: Follow Doc Gunner's story at Doc Gunner's Training Journal: https://www.facebook.com/watch/102611707180/575448296741249/ Learn more about Etalon Diagnostics: EtalonDiagnostics.com Become a Goodnight Academy member or start a Horsemanship Short Course: JulieGoodnight.com/Join Read Julie's blog post, The Making of a Trail Horse: JulieGoodnight.com/Blog

In this episode, I'll talk about the counter canter. I'll discuss what it is, when it's the right time to incorporate counter cantering into your training regimen, why you need it, how you and your horse benefit, and most importantly, how to do it. Plus, I've got some brand new questions to answer straight from our listeners in What the Hay? Q&A. Want your question answered in the What the Hay? Q&A segment? Email it to [email protected] Show Notes: Doc Gunner's Training Journal on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/102611707180/575448296741249 Julie's Building Confidence Short Courses & Memberships: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/goodnight-academy/ Counter Canter Video & Behind-the-Scenes Bonus Footage (available to Library and Interactive Members): https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/?s=%22counter+canter%22

Today's topic is about how to stay safe with horses. I'll give you some practical guidance and some sage advice. We'll talk about danger zones around horses, how to prevent accidents and we're going to talk about your personal safety habits. Being safety conscious around horses will help you will help build your confidence and help you enjoy the ride even more. Plus, I've got some brand new questions to answer in the What the Hay? Q&A segment! Want your question answered in the What the Hay? Q&A segment? Email it to [email protected] Show Notes: Doc Gunner's Training Journal on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/102611707180/575448296741249 Julie's Building Confidence Short Courses & Memberships: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/goodnight-academy/ Helmets Julie talked about in the episode: Troxel Helmets (https://www.troxelhelmets.com/) Certified Horsemanship Association: http://cha.horse/

Often, the history of the horse does not follow him throughout his life—maybe you bought a horse at an auction, maybe you rescued an abandoned horse, or were given a horse—but, for whatever reason, you end up with this horse, and zero history on him. So what do you do now? How do you move forward from there? Is he trained or untrained? What's he like to handle? I'll discuss these questions and more in this month's episode. Plus, as always, we have some new questions for What the Hay? Q&A!

Trail riding season is fast approaching, and whether you go out for a few hours or a few days at a time, and whether you're going to take 1 or 2 trail adventures this year or 1 or 2 every week, I want to share some of my tips that I've learned through the years. Want your question answered in the What the Hay? Q&A segment? Email it to [email protected]

Today's topic is about dealing with horses that rip and run. I'll talk about this dangerous behavior, what it looks like, how it develops, and situations where it's likely to happen. We'll look at what this behavior means—why the horse does it, and how he benefits. Fortunately, most horses never learn how to overpower people and get away, but once it's been learned, it can't really be unlearned, and it makes the horse particularly difficult to handle. Whether or not you have a horse with this problem, you're going to want to listen to find out how to mitigate the issue, and prevent it before it becomes a problem. Plus, I've got some brand new questions to answer in the What the Hay? Q&A segment! Show Notes: Short Courses & Academy Memberships: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/goodnight-academy/ FREE Daily Doses of Horsemanship Homework: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/daily-dose-of-horsemanship-homework/ Episodes About Horses That Rip & Run (watch with your Library or Interactive Membership): Episode 213: The Great Escape http://signin.juliegoodnight.com/videos/horse-master-shows/episode-213-the-great-escape/ Episode 412: Break on Through http://signin.juliegoodnight.com/videos/horse-master-shows/episode-412-break-on-through/ Don't have a membership yet? Get yours here: https://juliegoodnight.com/join

This topic is often asked about, and was also inspired by my first few rides out this spring on my young horse, Pepperoni. We're going to take a look at the behavioral aspects of spooking, how to train the horse to face what he's afraid of, and most importantly, how to execute the emergency stop when all else fails. Want your question answered in the What the Hay? Q&A segment? Email it to [email protected]

In this episode, let's talk about cantering with confidence! I'll go over the mechanics of the gait, how to cue, how to ride it, how to set your horse up for the correct lead. We'll even talk about controlling and refining the canter, and I'll address the issue all of you advanced riders want to hear about: the flying lead change. As always, we've got some brand new questions to answer straight from our listeners in the What the Hay Q&A segment!

In this episode, let's talk about collection—what it is, and more importantly, what it's not. I'll share with you how to prepare for this skill, how to cue your horse for collection, and how to feel it when you get it right. Plus, we've got some brand new questions to answer straight from our listeners in the What the Hay Q&A segment! Episode Resources: Refinement & Collection Video: https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product-tag/refinement-and-collection/ Goodnight's Principles of Riding 1-5: https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product-tag/goodnights-principles-of-riding/ Goodnight Bitting System: https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product-tag/bitting-system/ Bit Information: http://juliegoodnight.com/bits

In this episode, I'll talk about having reasonable expectations for your horse, considering the horse's point of view in the discipline you are training, and providing the physical and emotional support your horse needs. Plus, how to avoid training burnout and plateaus in your training. In other words, how do I keep my horse moving forward in his training, progressing, and still staying fresh and enjoying his job? Episode Resources: Perfect Practice Training Video & Booklet: https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/?s=Perfect+Practice Balance & Rhythm Training Video: https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product-tag/balance-rhythm/ Julie's Clinics & Events Schedule: https://juliegoodnight.com/events/

How to manage your horse's needs in winter, plus some of the secrets I've learned from living in the high mountains of Colorado for the last 30+ years when it comes to staying warm while you ride, when you feed, or while you do your horse chores in winter. Finally, we'll talk about how to stay fit as a rider—even if you can't ride as much over the winter as you usually do. I'll share some of my favorite workout routines, and some exercises you can do in your living room to keep fit for riding all winter long.

Megan and I sifted through the backlog of questions we've been getting from you, because this time I'm dedicating the entire episode to answering as many as I can! Enjoy this special hour-long episode of What the Hay? Q&A! Do you want your question answered in the What the Hay? Q&A segment? Email it to [email protected]

"What bit should I start my horse in?" "When should I change bits?" "Are snaffles the mildest bits?" "Does my horse even need a bit?" There are so many bits out there (not to mention old wives tales—or misinformation), and every horse has different needs. In this episode, I'm talking about bits, sharing my knowledge to help you understand them better, and answering call-in questions in What the Hay? Q&A. Show Notes: Upcoming Appearances (Clinics, Expos, and other events) More Bit & Bitting Resources (Note: some of these articles/videos are available with a free membership, and some are only available to Library or Interactive members.) Myler's Bit Assistant

In my blog earlier this month, I wrote about what it takes to win an Equine Good Citizen Award. So for this episode, I get more in-depth about the top 10 skills that I think every horse should have. Find out if your horse passes the test—or if you have some new goals to work toward! Plus, my advice to boost your confidence & what to do about a "cinchy" horse in an all-new What the Hay? Q&A!

I just got back from another trip to C Lazy U Ranch, this time for my Women's Wholeness & Riding Retreat with my good friend and fellow trainer, Barbra Schulte. So for this month's episode, I'm giving you an exclusive listen to a couple of the chats we had with the group about leadership, horse behavior, training, and what happens when our emotions get in the way. Plus, a few guided exercises to help improve your equitation.

Can't wait for winter to give way to warmer riding weather? In this episode of Ride On, I'll talk about some things you can do to prepare for this riding season—from re-establishing a good foundation, to setting realistic goals and planning a training schedule. Resources: Get everything you need to get back on track with your horse with my Spring Training Bundle—now 20% OFF for the entire month of June! You'll get the best equipment, plus a step-by-step video to help you develop a productive relationship with your horse. Includes: Premium Rope Halter 12' Premium Training Lead Goodnight Training Flag Lead Line Leadership DVD Get yours in my shop today!

In part two of this episode, I share my favorite stories over the years from Horse Master—what I remember most about the horses, and what I've learned from them over the last 11 years. Plus, a very special What the Hay? Q&A with questions and favorite memories from listeners.

In part one of this 2-part episode, I talk about my choice to end my long-running show, Horse Master, where I'm going from here, and share stories from some of my favorite episodes—what I remember most about the horses, and what I've learned from them over the last 11 years. Thanks to SmoothStride Riding Jeans for making it possible to get this podcast to you for free.

This was your favorite topic of 2018! In this "Ride On Rewind" episode, I'll talk with you about horse behavior, communication, positive vs. negative reinforcement, and more. Plus, you'll find out how all of this impacts how you communicate with and train your horse so you can both get on the same page. As always, thanks to Smooth Stride Riding Jeans for making it possible to get this podcast to you for free. Show Notes: Horse Behavior Resources Behavior Articles Video Tips & Full Episodes About Training and Behavior Training Resources in my Shop Speak the Language: Horse Behavior Training Videos On Demand Downloadable Audio Lessons (*Please Note: While some articles and video tips are available for free, some training articles and all full episodes are available to Library and Interactive members. Not a member yet? Check out all of the membership options here.)

This month's podcast episode was recorded live from my retreat at C Lazy U Ranch! I had a nice fireside Q&A session with riders who attended the clinic about horse behavior, safety on the trail and more. Listen in on the discussion and see if your questions were answered! As always, thanks to SmoothStride Riding Jeans for making it possible to get this podcast to you for free. Show Notes: Myler 3-ring Combo Bit (mentioned in emergency stop explanation): https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product-tag/combination Go to JulieGoodnight.com/Academy and search “pulley rein” or “emergency stop” Certified Horsemanship Association: http://cha-ahse.org CHA YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjESVpa2tM3OVvn7xAuvVbYjF6BKwdS4h To find out more about Julie's retreats at C Lazy U Ranch, go to JulieGoodnight.com/clazyu/ or visit CLazyU.com

In this month's podcast episode I'm talking colt-starting and bits—when to start using them, why, and how to know it's time to move up to the next step in training. Joining me is a very special guest: a precocious young lady named Morgan who reached out to me to educate herself about the whole process. Everyone has something to learn from this episode whether you're bringing up a 2-year-old like Pepperoni or working with a mature 10-year-old. As always, thanks to SmoothStride Riding Jeans for making it possible to get this podcast to you for free.

In this episode, I'll explain what "problem behavior" means in this context, and the difference between replacement training and punishment to extinguish problematic behaviors. This particular kind of training can often get better results than punishment—if your timing is good. Listen now to find out how it works, and how to apply it in three common scenarios. As always, thanks to Smooth Stride Riding Jeans for making it possible to get this podcast to you for free.

You asked, so I'm answering! This week, I'm dedicating the whole episode to questions I got from listeners—from an owner who's fed up with his horse's buddy sour behavior to safety in the trailer. Plus, the answer to one question everyone seems to want to know about me is revealed. Enjoy!

In the last episode, I answered the question, "Did I get the wrong horse for me?" (If you missed it, go back and listen!) So you've decided your horse—whether he's too much horse, not enough horse, or is just downright dangerous—is not the right horse for you. Now what? Let's talk about where to go from here. Then, listener Q&A on what to do if your horse refuses to keep cantering—without escalating to a blow-up. As always, thanks to SmoothStride Riding Jeans for making it possible to get this podcast to you for free. Show Notes: Find out more about The Right Horse Initiative at TheRightHorse.org

This time, podcast listener, Judy, wrote in asking the difficult question, "At what point should you give up on a particular horse? Or rather, did I get the wrong horse for me?" I'll touch on the things you should think about when you find yourself in this often heart-wrenching situation. As always, thanks to SmoothStride Riding Jeans for making it possible to get this podcast to you, the listeners, for free.

This time I'll talk about how to start getting your horse into shape for your riding goals this season, whether that's climbing mountain trails or ready for competition. Plus, you asked, and I answered! In my new segment, "What the Hay? Q&A" I answer some of the questions you asked about legging your horse up for spring riding. As always, thanks to Smooth Stride Riding Jeans for making it possible to get this podcast to you for free.

Timing is everything! Well, not everything, exactly. This episode is another podcast subscriber exclusive, presented by Smooth Stride Riding Jeans, from one of my expo demonstrations. I talk about cueing, reinforcement and correctly using your aids. Plus, the skills you need that make the difference between training your horse to do the right thing, or the wrong thing. But wait, there's more! 😉 I'm also including never-before-seen video from this demo to thank you for subscribing and listening each month. Enjoy the ride! Watch Here: https://youtu.be/uAxVPrKrurA

Do you want to communicate better with your horse? If you ever wonder why your horse just doesn't "get it" when you cue him to do something, take a step back. In this special podcast—one of my never-before-aired presentations—I talk about horse behavior, communication, positive vs. negative reinforcement, and more. Plus, you'll find out how this all impacts how you communicate with and train your horse so you're both on the same page.