Helping horses, one human at a time. Each month, horse trainer, clinician, and host, Julie Goodnight, breaks down the topics riders want to hear about most—whether you’re new to horses or refining your upper-level skills—from building confidence and setting goals to ground-manners, canter departures and more! Listen anytime, while you ride or when you drive to the barn. To submit your question for ”What the Hay? Q&A,” email podcast@juliegoodnight.com
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…
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…
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:…
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…
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:…
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…