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, PLUS I’ll answer the burning question: why does my horse always roll after I bathe him?

Show Notes:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/horse-goals-or-bust-goal-setting/

See Julie’s Top Level Membership here:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/interactive-membership-benefits/

Julie Goodnight’s Schedule:

https://juliegoodnight.com/events-2/

Sign up for Julie’s Newsletter:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/wishlist-member-3/?reg=1392669509

Ride On with Julie Goodnight Podcast:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/audios/ride-on-podcast/

Email Questions for Julie’s Q&A section of her podcast:

[email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/juliegoodnight

Leave Julie a Google Review:

https://g.page/r/CSISpaMrd33aEBI/review

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:

Julie Goodnight Horsemanship Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/juliegoodnight

Julie Goodnight’s Schedule:

https://juliegoodnight.com/events-2/

Sign up for Julie’s Newsletter:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/wishlist-member-3/?reg=1392669509

Contact Us:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/contact-us/

Submit your question to Julie for answering in the What the Hay Q&A:

[email protected]

Instinctive Behavior:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/horse-behavior-horses-instincts/

No Fraternizing Rule:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/julies-blog/the-making-of-a-trail-horse-part-3/

Raise Your Foal Right:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/julies-blog/raise-your-foal-right/

Focus on Me/Focus on Nothing:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/back-from-the-brink-managing-emotional-meltdowns-in-horses/

Reinforcement or Correction:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/the-dish-on-discipline/

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/julies-blog/guest-blog-my-top-3-lessons-from-the-julie-goodnight-yoga-riding-retreat/

Training & Continuing Education Resources:

https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/lead-line-leadership-full-video/

https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/behavior/

Ground Manners:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7jXrDt6vVg&list=PLlJpbEbtHKYrmKbJMz8AraYSJAu7bDZq

Ground Manners: Leadline Boundaries:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeR43GKXmQI&t=1533s

Ground Manners, Establishing Boundaries:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQjaYTNs6fE&t=73s

Julie Goodnight: Clip from show 719 Norwegian Feud (Fjord Horse with Poor Ground Manners):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlLvPnP6e2Y&t=159s

https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/mb-33-combination-myler-bit/

Myler MB-33-HBT-Short Shank:

https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/mb-33-hbt-myler/

Google Review Link:

https://g.page/r/CSISpaMrd33aEBI/review

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.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/julies-blog/making-time-for-horses/

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/?s=Horse+Goals+or+Bust

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/interactive-membership-benefits/

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/fun-games-and-exercises/

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/april-blog-2025/

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 Manners For The Veterinary Visit

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/issues-from-the-ground-ground-manners-for-the-veterinary-visit/

First Aid Kit:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/first-aid/

Ground Work:

https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/lead-line-leadership-full-video/

Stand Still:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/stand-statue-still/

Training:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/head-down-cue/

How to (and How Not to) Handle Your Horse’s Feet (Video): https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/videos/video-training-tips/how-to-and-how-not-to-handle-your-horses-feet/ Free

How to Get a 5-Star Rating From Your Farrier:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/how-to-get-a-5-star-rating-from-your-farrier/

Desensitizing Lesson with Truth (Video): https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/videos/video-training-tips/desensitizing-lesson-with-truth/

Issues From The Ground: Desensitizing To Touch In Sensitive Areas:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/issues-from-the-ground-desensitizing-to-touch-in-sensitive-areas/

Vaccine:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/safety-concerns-administering-vaccines/

Fecal Egg Count Kits/Info.:

https://horsemenslab.com/faq.html

Silver Honey Wound Spray:

https://absorbine.com/products/silver-honey-combo-pack?variant=39493392990369

Cosequin Equine:

https://www.cosequin.com/horses/julie-goodnight-chooses-cosequin-asu-joint-hoof-pellets/?

utm_source=Cosequin&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Julie_endorsement

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 work best on high withered horses.

Rip’s First Trailer Ride Video posted on Julie Goodnight Horsemanship FB Page:

https://www.facebook.com/juliegoodnight

Julie Goodnight’s Schedule:

https://juliegoodnight.com/events-2/

Sign up for Julie’s Newsletter:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/wishlist-member-3/?reg=1392669509

Myler Three Ring Combination Bit:

https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/mb-04-combination-with-rawhide-noseband-myler-bit/

Myler Bits Julie likes in her shop:

https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product-category/tack-room/bits-bridles-reins/bits/

Dale Myler teaches at Julie’s barn:

https://juliegoodnight.com/myler-bits/

Myler 36 Mouthpiece:

https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/mb-36-flat-shank-myler-copy/

https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/mb-36-combination-myler-bit/

https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/mb-36-eggbutt-with-hooks-myler-bit/

https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/mb-36-hbt-myler-bit/

Myler 04 Mouthpiece:

https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/mb-04-hbt-myler-bit/

https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/mb-04-eggbutt-with-hooks-myler-bit/

Ride On with Julie Goodnight Podcast:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/audios/ride-on-podcast/

February 2025 Blog on Bits:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/julies-blog/goodnight-news-bit-overview/

Evidence-based Horsemanship, Dr. Stephen Peters & Martin Black, Wasteland Press, 2018

Signs a horse needs a new bit:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/my-horse-is-tossing-and-shaking-his-head/

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/tongue-trouble/

Tongue Relief:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/issues-from-the-saddle-tongue-over-bit/?_rt=MnwxfHRvbmd1ZSByZWxpZWZ8MTc0MTI5MTk1OA&_rt_nonce=e768fd55ec

Bit Wizzard:

http://www.mylerbits.com/bitting_assistant.php

Rider Skill Assessment:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/julies-blog/rider-skill-assessment-training-plan/

Email Questions for Julie’s Q&A section of her podcast:

[email protected]

Leave Julie a Google Review:

https://g.page/r/CSISpaMrd33aEBI/review

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-back-together/

Issues From The Ground: Desensitizing To Touch in Sensitive Areas

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/issues-from-the-ground-desensitizing-to-touch-in-sensitive-areas/

Tantrums and emotional meltdowns in Horses

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/back-from-the-brink-managing-emotional-meltdowns-in-horses/

Leading—come with me, rate speed, can’t run away.

Lead Line Leadership Course

Issues From The Ground: Rearing When Leading

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/issues-from-the-ground-rearing-when-leading/

How to Get a 5-Star Rating from your Farrier

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/how-to-get-a-5-star-rating-from-your-farrier/

September 2021 Horse Report

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/september-2021-horse-report/

Lipping, Nipping, Biting:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/julies-blog/off-to-a-good-start/

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/training-advice/talk-about-tack-snaffle-to-curb/

Julie Goodnight Q & A Bit Tips:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/horse-illustrated-julie-goodnight-qas-bit-tips/

My Horse is Tossing and Shaking His Head:       

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/my-horse-is-tossing-and-shaking-his-head/

What Bit Should I Use:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/what-bit-should-i-use-2/

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

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 Online Academy:

online horsemanship library

Annual Saddle Fit Assessment Article:

annual saddle fit assessment

Julie Goodnight’s Podcast:

Ride On with Julie Goodnight

Julie Goodnight’s Peak Performance Saddles:

Saddles

Thirty Second Tack Check Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYNPVAtwukk

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.juliegoodnight.com/goodnight-academy/

December 2024 Blog:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/december-blog-2024/

Audio Version of December Blog-”Blogpost Riding without the reins:

Ride On with Julie Goodnight – Julie Goodnight Academy

Free Video: Turning w/o the Reins

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/julies-blog/december-blog-2024/

Sequencing the aids:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/artificial-aids-training-tool-or-crutch/

Sequencing Cues:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/winter-workouts-ride-right-with-julie-goodnight/

Reinforce Cues:

https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/communication-and-control-full-video/

Consistency Counts

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/julies-blog/consistency-counts/

Ground Work:

https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/lead-line-leadership-full-video/

2025 Events:

https://juliegoodnight.com/events-2/

Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube @juliegoodnight.

Monarch-https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/monarch-performance-trail-1752/

Wind River-https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/wind-river-trail-saddle-1750/

Teton-https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/teton-trail-saddle-1760/

­­­­­­­Julie Goodnight Neck Rope-https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/neck-rope-for-bridle-less-riding/

Lead Line Leadership

https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/lead-line-leadership-full-video/

Foal Handling

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/?s=Foal+Handling

Submit Questions for What the Hay Q&A:

[email protected]