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]

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-less-riding/

Consistency Counts

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

Horse Behavior: The meaning behind audible expressions

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/horse-behavior-the-meaning-behind-audible-expressions/

October 2024 Blog

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

Artificial Aids: Training Tool or Crutch?

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

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 difference in curb and snaffle bits, about switching bits, about the different types of bitless bridles and hackamores, and when it’s safe to ride without a bit.

Show Notes:

Long Story Short-How Rip Got His Name

How Horses Learn

“Kindergarten for Horses”- https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/?s=Kindergarten+

Advance & Retreat- https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/?s=Advance+and+Retreat

Advance and Retreat-https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/advance-and-retreat/

Focus on me, focus on nothing- https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/cultivating-a-connection-with-horses/

Investigative behavior- https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/3-leadership-activities/

De-spooking-https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/managing-fearful-behavior-in-horses/

Online Resources

Link to Join Now- https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/join-now/

Raised with Manners- https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/horse-master-raised-with-manners/

Ready to Ride-https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/membership-product-for-ftgu-4-ready-to-ride-colt-starting-full-video/

Speak the Language (Horse Behavior)- https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/horse-behavior-dvd/

Equipment

Rope Halter

How to fit a rope halter-https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/videos/video-training-tips/how-a-rope-halter-should-fit/

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/julie-goodnight-tip-of-the-month-for-may/

Tie a rope halter- https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/halter-instructions/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQjaYTNs6fE

Myler Bits from Julie’s Store:

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

MB-33 Eggbutt w. hooks https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/mb-33-eggbutt-with-hooks-myler-bit/

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

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

What The Hay Q & A

Bits-Curbs vs Snaffle

Bitless & Hackamores

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 ride your horse back into control.

Show Notes:

Julie’s upcoming events: Juliegoodnight.com/events

Online coaching, memberships, and short courses: JulieGoodnight.com/join 

Go to Juliegoodnight.com/news to sign up for Julie’s newsletter

HOW MUCH DOES A YOUNG HORSE REALLY KNOW

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/how-much-does-a-young-horse-really-know/ 

CHRONIC PAIN/SHUTDOWN

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/julies-blog/when-horses-shut-down/

ULCERS

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/dr-getty-urges-dont-let-your-horse-develop-an-ulcer/

WHAT CAUSES A HORSE TO SPOOK

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/managing-fearful-behavior-in-horses/

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/sit-the-spook/

PHYSICAL PAIN

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/rearing-to-go/

SADDLE FIT

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/saddle-fit-guide/

SADDLE PLACEMENT

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/top-3-saddle-fit-pains/

APPROPRIATE BIT

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/talk-about-tack-is-a-snaffle-really-comfortable/

BEHAVIOR

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

HORSE & RIDER SUITABILITY

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/to-buy-or-not-to-buy/

SPOOK, SPIN, & BOLT

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/riding-skills-how-do-i-get-a-secure-seat-to-ride-out-spooks/

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/issues-from-the-saddle-how-to-deal-with-a-spooky-horse/

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/issues-from-the-saddle-what-to-do-with-a-horse-that-bolts-runs-off-with-rider/

BALK or REFUSE

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/free-articles/confidence-on-the-trail/

RIDE THROUGH DIFFICULTIES

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/think-forward-ride-yourself-out-of-rough-spots/

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

Change Direction:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/fresh-start/

Deep Seat/Anchored heels: https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/goodnights-principles-of-riding-series-streaming-video-set/

Open Pelvis:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/riding-skills-time-length-help-to-open-pelvis/

Ride Proactively:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/proactive-riding-take-the-drivers-seat/

One Rein Stop:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/stop-in-an-emergency/

Disengagement:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/julie-goodnight-tip-of-the-month-for-march-2/

Pulley Rein:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/the-pully-rein-stop/

Emergency Dismount:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/articles/training-advice/stop-in-an-emergency/

Resources  Online:

https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/

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 mustangs, as well as its limitations. She explains the unique challenges associated with gentling mustangs, as well as the importance of understanding horse behavior and motivation.

In Long Story Short, I'll tell you about a surprising experience I had while training a 5-year-old greenbroke mustang that was adopted from the BLM. And in What the Hay? Q&A, I’ll answer listener questions about a horse that panics when he’s out alone on the trail, a Paint that’s easily distracted⁠, and a mare that just trots faster and faster when asked to canter.

Show Notes:

UltraShield® Green Natural Fly Repellent: https://absorbine.com/collections/fly-control/products/ultrashield-green-fly-repellent

Sarah Matlock contact: [email protected]

Julie’s upcoming events: Juliegoodnight.com/events

Online coaching, memberships, and short courses: JulieGoodnight.com/join 

Go to Juliegoodnight.com/news to sign up for Julie’s newsletter

From What the Hay? Q&A

Resources on Calming Your Horse: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/tag/calm-your-horse 

Canter with Confidence Training Video: https://shop.juliegoodnight.com/product/canter-with-confidence

Resources for Cantering Confidently: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/tag/cantering-confidently

Julie's New Course on Everything Your Need to Know About Riding the Canter with Dr. Kate Fenner: https://www.kandooequine.com/canter

Resources for Focusing: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/tag/focusing

Resources for Distracted Horses: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/tag/distracted-horses

Resources on High-Headed Horses: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/tag/high-headed-horses 

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 reinforcement through clicker training on wild mustangs. She explains the concept of "gentling" mustangs and the challenges associated with it, as well as the importance of understanding horse behavior and motivation.

In my new segment, Long Story Short, I'll tell you about an important lesson I learned from my dad when it comes to recognizing horse behavior, and the importance of people taking responsibility for their actions—instead of blaming their horse. And in What the Hay? Q&A, I’ll answer listener questions about how to keep weeds in the arena at bay, and using tie-downs on trail rides.

Show Notes:

Sarah Matlock: [email protected]

Julie’s upcoming events: Juliegoodnight.com/events

Online coaching, memberships, and short courses: JulieGoodnight.com/join 

Go to Juliegoodnight.com/news to sign up for Julie’s newsletter

From What the Hay? Q&A

Resources on Tie-Downs/Martingales: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/tag/tie-downs-martingales

Resources on High-Headed Horses: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/tag/high-headed-horses 

This is part two of last month’s episode about the new era of horsemanship. (If you haven’t already, be sure to listen to part one from last month!) In this month’s episode, we’ll continue our conversation about science-based, non-forceful training methods, busting old mythology, and changing narratives around the way we talk about horses. I’ll leave you with the 10 principles of horse training, as stated by equine behaviorists, that give us important guidelines to follow when we’re working with horses.

In my new segment. Long Story Short, I'll tell you about taking my son on his very first trail ride—and the terrifying moment I had in the middle of it. And in What the Hay? Q&A at the end of the episode, I’ll answer questions from listeners about a Standardbred with an out-of-character behavior in his stall, and a mom who is unsure about letting her daughter join her school’s equestrian team after witnessing training methods that troubled her.

Want your question answered in What the Hay? Email [email protected]

Show Notes & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

“A Horse by Nature: Managing Emotional and Mental Stress in Horses for Improved Welfare” by Mary Ann Simonds: https://maryannsimonds.com

Equine Science Society: https://www.equinescience.org 

Troxel Helmets for Kids: https://www.troxelhelmets.com/collections/kids (Use code GOODNIGHT at checkout to get 15% Off!)

Julie’s upcoming events: Juliegoodnight.com/events

Online coaching, memberships, and short courses: JulieGoodnight.com/join

Go to Juliegoodnight.com/news to sign up for Julie’s newsletter