In this episode, we'll talk about professional training for you and your horse. I’ll cover why you might need a trainer and how you should expect to benefit from it. Then, I’ll get deep into the weeds of how to find the right trainer for your horse, what type of trainer you should look for, how to know if you’ve found the right match, and how much in time and money this is going to cost you. Finally, I’ll share some caveats about horse training for so-called “problem” horses and how training mig...
Dec 01, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 78
In this episode of my podcast, you’ll meet my dear friend "T" Cody. We’ve worked together off and on for the last 25 years since we first met at a horsemanship clinic at The Home Ranch in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. We’ll talk about our fabulous trip to Ireland for two weeks of clinics and riding the Wild Atlantic Coast—the horses we rode, where we rode, what we did, and what we learned about the amazing people and horses in Ireland. Then I’ll talk with T about her return to horse ownership...
Nov 04, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 77
In this episode, I’ll talk about raising baby horses to be solid, reliable adults, discuss some do’s and don’ts, and the most common mistakes people make with young horses. I'll also go into what you should and should not do when it comes to training weanlings, foals and yearlings—and why. Finally, I'll share how you can create the ideal environment for young horses, and give them the enrichment they need to start life out on the right hoof. Plus, in the What the Hay? Q&A segment at the end ...
Sep 20, 2022•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 76
In this episode, I’ll discuss what we mean by saying a rider has "good hands." I'll talk about hand position, feel, common mistakes, what horses hate that riders do, and what riders can do to improve their communication with their horse. Plus, in the What the Hay? Q&A segment at the end of this show, I’ll answer questions from listeners about how to teach a horse to neck rein and dealing with emotional horses. Want your question answered in What the Hay? Email podcast@juliegoodnight.com...
Aug 27, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 75
In this episode of my podcast, I’ll talk about tricks of the trade I’ve learned throughout my career, about horse grooming and how to get a “bloom” on your horse. I’ll specifically—and separately—address the mane & tail, haircoat, face, and legs. We’ll talk about best practices for keeping your horse comfortable in the hot summer months and glowing with health year-round. Plus, in the What the Hay? Q&A segment at the end of this show, I’ll answer questions from listeners about a horse th...
Jul 30, 2022•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 74
Whether it’s the main goal or a stepping stone on the way, a clinic of any kind is a big investment of time, money and energy. In this episode, I’ll talk about different types of clinics, how to know if you are ready to attend a clinic, and how to find the right clinic or clinician for you and your horse. I’ll cover how to get ready for the big event, what to expect when you get there, and how to keep a positive mindset throughout the clinic. Plus, in the What the Hay? Q&A segment, I’ll answ...
Jun 29, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 73
A horse is always learning—for better or for worse. The more you understand how horses learn and how this shapes their behavior, the more effective training is, the more responsive the horse is, and the more cohesive the horse-human relationship is. Plus, in the popular “What the Hay?” segment at the end of the episode, I’ll answer questions from listeners about a young horse with bad trailer loading experiences, a mustang with trouble focusing, and finally, a dominant off-track Standardbred. Wa...
Jun 01, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 72
If you are just getting to know a new horse, working with a horse with an unknown training history, going back to basics with a training project, or simply developing a new training plan—start with a thorough evaluation. In this episode, I’ll talk about how to find the holes in a horse’s training, determine what problems need solving, what new skills must be taught, what experiences are needed, and how long it might take to achieve your training goals. I’ll share some of the actual evaluation to...
Apr 27, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 71
Today’s topic is all about trailering horses. Whether you take small hops down the road to take a lesson, take weekend adventures to horse events, or drive for days to camp and trail ride with your horses, when you put your horses in a trailer to transport them, there’s a LOT to know! In this episode of my podcast, I’ll talk about horse trailer selection, onboard equipment you might want, and trailer maintenance. I’ll address preparing your horse and your trailer for the trip and how to make sur...
Mar 25, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 70
Today’s topic is about the importance of establishing boundaries—in our personal lives, our family lives, and yes, even with our horses. I’ll talk about why establishing boundaries with horses is important for your own safety and the safety of those around your horse, and how clear and consistent boundaries lead to developing a strong bond of trust with your horse. Want your question answered in What the Hay? Email podcast@juliegoodnight.com...
Feb 26, 2022•54 min•Ep. 69
This episode is about how to help your "cinchy" horse. This is a horse that's become emotionally reactive to the tightening of the cinch or girth when saddling, and who may act out with dramatic behaviors anywhere from biting to kicking or worse. I'll discuss what "cinchy" behavior is, what causes it and how to find solutions for a happier horse. Want your question answered in What the Hay? Email podcast@juliegoodnight.com Episode Notes Julie's Clinic & Expo Schedule: JulieGoodnight.com/even...
Jan 27, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 68
This episode's topic came straight from one of our listeners! Horses are truly individuals—each with their own tendencies, quirks and idiosyncrasies (just like people). Still, there are certain characteristics that some horses share, there are types of horses which is important to understand, and there are behavioral tendencies that can be genetic or learned. Want your question answered in What the Hay? Email podcast@juliegoodnight.com
Dec 24, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 67
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 ...
Nov 25, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 66
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 podcast@juliegoodnight.com Resources: Find out what's coming up in Julie's clinic an...
Oct 29, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 65
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 JulieGoo...
Oct 01, 2021•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 64
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 con...
Aug 26, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 63
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.
Jul 30, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 62
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 podcast@juliegoodnight.c...
Jun 29, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 61
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...
May 20, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 60
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 ass...
Apr 30, 2021•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 59
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 lis...
Mar 31, 2021•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 58
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 ...
Feb 23, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 57
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 t...
Jan 26, 2021•57 min•Ep. 56
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 th...
Dec 21, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 55
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 a...
Nov 21, 2020•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 54
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...
Oct 20, 2020•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 53
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 veter...
Sep 17, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 52
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 podcast@juliegoodnight.com Show Notes: Doc Gunner's Training Journal ...
Aug 17, 2020•55 min•Ep. 51
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?...
Jul 17, 2020•59 min•Ep. 50
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!...
Jun 17, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 49
