Comments from Students

The following comments are from students who have worked with Julie. They may give you a sense for the atmosphere of her instruction and clinics, the types of problems she deals with, and how she approaches them.

The 'dead broke' Quarterhorse that I thought I bought would take off at a dead run when I got on him at home. Until Julie, I wasn't able to ride him safely. I am so relieved that Julie has given me the understanding and the tools to help Trouble stay quiet and relaxed. I still have a lot to learn, but I am very happy to be able to feel safe riding my horse. - Karla

The difference in my horse has been unbelievable. She couldn't stand still and was always as stiff as a board before we came to Julie. After our first day of our first clinic, Big Girl was much calmer and willing to listen to me. - Tom

Julie is the most positive and supportive trainer I have ever worked with. That is in over 30 years of owning and riding horses. I try to ride with her for tune ups as often as I can.

- Kathy

I have seen such a difference since attending a clinic with Julie! My horse is more responsive to my seat, more willing to give me his effort, happier to go out and he seems more settled and relaxed in everything we do together.

And I have changed. It has given me more confidence so I am clearer in my intent and actions. It has given me tools to work with to build a stronger, safer and sensitive partnership with my horse. I am looking forward to continuing to learn with Julie and I can't wait until she returns next year. - Jennifer

I am really happy with the positive changes in both of our horses since we started working with Julie this Summer. And the safe and healing atmosphere that Julie creates for both horses and riders makes MMR a wonderful place to ride and learn. - Joy

I learned more about communicating with and riding my horse in one week with Julie than I did in all my previous 14 years of owning horses. This makes so much sense! - Rich

What makes Julie such a great trainer is her ability to train the person as well as the horse. I have never seen a trainer who is as patient and kind to the both halves of the equation. She understands that riders can have as much (or more) fear as the horse. For both horse and rider, she encourages without pushing; she critiques without being condescending or making people feel bad. Lots of trainers can train horses. But nobody is as good with people as Julie.

- Niki

I have trained and done clinics under another John Lyon’s trainer previously to riding with Julie. Her explanations on how to do things - and even doing them a bit differently - really helped me connect the dots on various exercises I had learned before (especially on moving the hindquarters!) I got a better understanding of why I was doing exercises, and why they got the desired results. - Meg

Did you ever have the feeling that you had found something so wonderful, that if you could tell the whole world about it, it would fix everything? That’s how I feel about Julie. If everyone brought their horses to Julie first, there would not be any confused, abused or misunderstood horses.

I found Julie by accident, and I am sure thankful that I did. If you read the remarks written by Julie’s students, the words used consistently are: understanding, patient, kind, encouraging, etc. I can't agree more; and that is for both the horse and the owner. - Deb

Julie’s 3-Week Clinics are where magic happens! I know this first hand. I have witnessed amazing transformations of both horses and riders. I am one of those riders who 2.5 years ago, after 2 bad wrecks, was looking for help with my horse. (He needed the help of course, not me). My friend suggested I check out a trainer in Jackson who was having a Three-Week Clinic. With a last minute cancellation and a supportive family, I started an unexpected journey of the heart, mind and spirit. My horses and I are in such a different great spot now. I never would have found it without Julie. - Leslie