SALIDA, Colorado, April 27, 2022—Nearly every horse has some inevitable gaps in their training—steps skipped along the way—and many training issues that pop up later on are rooted in these holes. Julie Goodnight shares her insight on how to find the holes in a horse’s training, and where to go from there in the latest episode of Ride On with Julie Goodnight. (JulieGoodnight.com/Podcast)
“Maybe you have a new horse that you’re getting to know, or you’re going ‘back to basics’ and don’t know where to start,” says Goodnight. “It’s pretty common for people to acquire horses through a rescue, by auction or online, and they may not know much about the horse’s training history. That’s when evaluation is critical.”
An all-too-common tale, Goodnight shares how a good friend purchased a well-trained, 6-year-old gelding—represented as gentle and reliable—from a reputable dealer for a premium price. Everything went well at first, Goodnight says, but their relationship deteriorated within a few months.
How does this happen?
“Horses being prepped for sale are often being handled by very strict, expert hands, and ridden hard every day prior to the sale,” says Goodnight. “After the horse is sold, the new owner is often less skilled, more lenient, and exercising the horse far less. That’s when the horse’s training can unravel fast.”
Goodnight shares the checklist she developed for her Goodnight Academy students to find the holes in their horses’ training, how to determine what problems need solving, what new skills must be taught, what experiences are needed, and how long it might take to achieve new training goals.
“Because I meet each horse and rider that enrolls in the program wherever they are on their journey on the day they join, I need tools to help me see the whole picture to know how I can best help them,” says Goodnight. “I’ve used these evaluation tools in my online coaching program for almost a decade now, and they’ve served me and my students really well!”
Listen and subscribe to Ride On with Julie Goodnight at JulieGoodnight.com/Podcast, or any podcast app.
RELATED: Listen While You Ride with Julie Goodnight’s Private Audio Lessons
The Colorado Horse Source is an independently owned and operated print and online magazine for horse owners and enthusiasts of all breeds and disciplines in Colorado and surrounding areas. Our contemporary editorial columns are predominantly written by experts in the region, covering the care, training, keeping and enjoyment of horses, with an eye to the specific concerns in our region.