Ride On with Julie Goodnight

Trail riding may look like the most relaxing thing we do with our horses, but it can also be one of the greatest tests of their training. In this episode of Ride On! with Julie Goodnight, Julie explains what it really means to have a trail-ready horse. From ground manners and emotional fitness to trail etiquette and rider judgment, she shares the skills every horse should master before heading bey...

In this episode of Ride On! with Julie Goodnight, Julie shares spring updates from the ranch, including recent expos, clinics, travel, and the latest training progress with Rip, Scotch, Tomcat, and the senior horses. Then, in Long Story Short, Julie reflects on Rip’s slow, thoughtful education and how short, positive, well-timed lessons can build a stronger foundation than rushing or drilling. The...

When a horse does not respond to a cue the way the rider hoped, there is a natural tendency to put the blame on the horse. “My horse won’t canter.” “My horse refuses to turn.” “My horse isn’t listening.” “My horse is being difficult.” But in reality, the horse is simply responding to the stimulus given, in the only way he knows how. If the response is not what we wanted, the first place to look is...

In this episode of Ride On with Julie Goodnight, Julie takes a thoughtful look at one of the most common—and misunderstood—behavior challenges horse owners face: separation stress. Why can some horses quietly leave the herd while others panic, call, rush back, or completely shut down? And why is it sometimes the horse left behind—not the horse being ridden away—that has the biggest reaction? Julie...

Rethinking Traditional Horsemanship and Finding a Kinder Way Forward Description In this episode of Ride On with Julie Goodnight, we take a deep dive into what non-confrontational handling looks like with horses. I’ll share how guidance differs from micromanagement, and how trust, consistency, and clarity create willing partners—not resentful ones. I’ll start with some seasonal updates from the ra...

Have you ever asked your horse to do something—and got a big, resounding “NO”? Maybe they planted their feet, balked at the trailer, or just shut down. It’s frustrating, even scary at times. In this month’s episode of Ride On with Julie Goodnight, we’re tackling one of the most misunderstood behaviors in horses: refusal—and what it really means. Show Notes: Julie Goodnight’s Blog Archives: https:/...

In this episode, we’ll kick things off with a crisp fall update from the ranch, then I’ll share a story from my days galloping racehorses—an experience that taught me a lot about how to handle speed in the saddle.  Our main topic this month is adapted from one of my live presentations called The Need for Speed—all about helping riders advance their skills so they can ride safely and confidently at...

In this episode, we’ll kick things off with an update from my ranch, I’ll share a story about one of the best horses I’ve ever owned — and the unexpected lesson I learned through her — and then we’ll dive deep into a crucial horsemanship topic: deciding whether or not to let someone else ride your horse. It’s a common question, and *spoiler alert* There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but this mont...

In this episode of Ride on with Julie Goodnight, she shares her secrets for teaching a horse to stand tied patiently, with consideration for the horse's perspective.  SHOW NOTES: Julie Goodnight’s Blog Archives:   https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/julie-blog/   See Julie’s Top Level Membership here: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/interactive-membership-benefits/   Julie’s Shop: https://shop.jul...

Today’s podcast is on a subject that many riders ask about, "How to get started in Dressage." I decided to use "entry-level dressage," for both English and Western riders, as the first long-term goal and set of lesson plans in my new training app. This big goal can be broken down into almost an infinite number of small steps, lessons, or skills to master, which I'll share in this podcast!   Show N...

In this episode of RideOn, I’ll talk about building your confidence with horses. It’s a huge subject that affects equestrians of all ages and ability levels, and I know you’ll find some helpful tips. And in “What the Hay? Q&A” at the end of this episode, we have questions from listeners about a hard-to-catch horse, ground manners for a young filly, how to correct a mare that pins her ears, PLU...

Horses are social animals with a strong herd instinct, and different rules apply when humans are involved. I teach what I call the “no fraternizing” rule at the beginning of all my clinics and here it is: When in the presence of humans, when being handled, led, tied, or ridden, a horse should not interact with, fraternize with, or make any displays of herd behavior toward another horse. Show Notes...

For years, I’ve been sharing my insights on horsemanship, helping riders like you build better relationships with your horses and reach your full potential in the saddle. And one of the most powerful tools I’ve found in this journey is the simple yet profound act of setting goals.  Show Notes: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/horse-goals-or-bust-goal-setting/ https://signin.juliegoodnigh...

We do our annual vet exams, vaccinations, and dental care every Spring. Just as we prioritize annual check-ups for ourselves, a yearly wellness exam by an equine veterinarian is paramount for maintaining your horse's health.   Annual Horse Health Maintenance Checklist: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/annual-horse-health-maintenance-checklist/ Issues From The Ground: Ground...

Description: In this episode of Ride On, I’ll focus on how you know if your horse needs a new bit, how we evaluate a horse for the right bit, and understanding the impact of a well-chosen bit.  And in “What the Hay? Q&A” at the end of this episode, we have questions from listeners about ground manners for senior horses, tips for riding the trot for riders with tight hips, and what saddle pads...

Rip, Annie’s colt, is nine months old, but technically a yearling. He’s basically a learning machine with the whole world at his hooves. He loves the indoor arena, and he seems to enjoy our short training sessions too... Desensitizing- touch all over, brush, handle face, ears, belly Horse Report: Getting The Band Back Together https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/horse-report-gettin-the-band...

Bit selection considerably impacts horse training, comfort, and performance across all disciplines   Show Notes for February Blog Post 2025: Bit Overview   Talk About Tack: Fitting Curb Chains to Curb Bits: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/talk-about-tack-fitting-curb-chains-to-curb-bits/ Talk About Tack: Snaffle to Curb: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/trainin...

In this newest episode of my podcast, I discuss different saddles, how they are constructed, and the pros and cons of rigid trees, flexible trees, treeless, and riding bareback. I'd like you to join me as we embark on this discovery.   January 2025 Podcast Show Notes Illusive Concepts that Affect Saddle Fit Is Saddle Fit More Important to the Horse or the Rider https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/ar...

Analyzing traffic to our website and the direct questions we get from you, the end-user, we see significant interest in tack and equipment and its appropriate use and adjustment. I love this because it tells me that you are looking out for your horse’s best interests and are committed to being the best partner your horse could have. Show Notes for Perfecting Saddle Fit Skills   Julie Goodnight’s O...

Podcast Show notes for Ride On with Julie Goodnight: Riding without reins   To post a Google Review for Julie Goodnight: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3474122?hl=en&visit_id=638691238344864984-3495844838&p=search_more_reviews&rd=1#best_practice   Sign up for Julie’s newsletter & podcast: http://juliegoodnight.com/NEWS   Real help to horsemanship dilemmas https://signin...

Riding Without Reins: It’s not as hard as you think! Most riders can’t imagine having full control of a horse without holding the reins, let alone without a bridle. But it’s not as challenging as you might think. There’s nothing hard about riding without the reins except stopping, turning, and backing! ­­­­­­­Julie Goodnight Neck Rope https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/neck-rope-for-bridle-le...

n this newest episode of my podcast, we’ll dig into the weeds about how horses learn, how we shape behavior, and the important intangible skills horses should learn early on. As an example, I’ll explain the secrets to teaching untrained horses to stand quietly and patiently while tied.   And in the “What the Hay? Q&A” segment at the end of this episode, I’ll answer your questions about the dif...

Today’s podcast topic is an extension of my blog about the emergency dismount. I’ll talk about how to stay safe in emergency situations. We’ll start by looking at what constitutes an emergency with a horse, what “over the threshold” behavior looks like and what its causes are, and most importantly, what you can do as a rider or horse handler to keep yourself safe in sticky situations and how to ri...

Last month, I talked to Dr. Sarah Matlock, a professor of Equine Behavior at Colorado State University, about her fascinating research into using positive reinforcement to gentle mustangs, the challenges associated with it, and the importance of understanding horse behavior and motivation.   This month, we continue our conversation about the impact of positive reinforcement on training wild mustan...

In this episode, I’m talking to Dr. Sarah Matlock, a professor of Equine Behavior at Colorado State University, about her fascinating research into using positive reinforcement to gentle mustangs. We’ll talk about Dr. Matlock's personal journey with horses, and how that led her to a career in equine sciences. Then we’ll delve into Dr. Matlock's exciting work studying the impact of positive reinfor...