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
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Blogpost: Cueing with Clarity- Misbehaving or Misunderstanding?
Episode 115
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 • Duration 07:37
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 not at the horse’s attitude, but at the clarity and consistency of the rider’s cues.
Understanding Separation Stress in Horses: Herd Bound, Barn Sour, or Just Social?
Episode 114
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 • Duration 44:38
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 explains the difference between these two forms of separation anxiety, shares an update from the ranch, and tells a story about helping her young colt Rip build independence in small, manageable steps. Then, in What the Hay? Q&A, she answers listener questions about a mare with severe distress when left alone, a newly bonded horse, and the story behind the flags hanging in her indoor arena.
From Conflict to Connection: How Horses Learn to Say Yes
Episode 113
Monday, February 16, 2026 • Duration 46:56
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 ranch, then share a powerful story about a mare named Truth Takes Time, who showed me just how far quiet leadership can go. Finally, we’ll wrap up with listener questions on managing ulcers, working through disagreements with your trainer, and a question about one of the important tenets of Classical Horsemanship.
Goodnight's Principles of Riding #2 Communication & Control -
Why Horses Say No: Reading the Signs Before You React
Episode 112
Thursday, December 18, 2025 • Duration 40:30
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.
For our podcast listeners: Use the promo code TIEDUP10 at checkout to get 10% off all training tools and rope products in our store!
The Need For Speed
Episode 111
Friday, October 17, 2025 • Duration 35:27
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 higher speeds.
And finally, we’ll wrap up with our What the Hay? Q&A segment, where I’ll answer your questions about a mare’s emotional recovery after her rider falls off, how to master the sitting trot,
and how to handle the tough situation of an older horse showing signs of lameness.
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 month we’ll explore the pros, cons, and everything in between, on this topic.
And at the end of the show, I’ll answer some excellent listener questions in our expanded What the Hay? Q&A segment — covering everything from clicker training without hand feeding, to physical fitness for older riders, to herd behavior, trailering challenges, bit selection, and more.
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.
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 Notes:
Do You have a Codependent Relationship with your Horse:
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?
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.
