Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: alternatives to using a twitch

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Watch Monty's horse training videos to learn how he demonstrates communication through horse training techniques that the amateur and professional alike consider to be the trainable skills of a horse whisperer yet Monty calls it horse gentling.
Monty's horse training techniques are non violent with intelligent natural horsemanship. In addition to video instructions, Monty has written many books related to natural horsemanship. Monty trains safe horses for nervous riders called Willing Partners. Monty trains world class race horses for sale.
“I am very proud to be a part of Her Majesty’s horse training and her passion for their welfare. I believe she is the leading monarch for the advocacy of horses in the world. She is a thought leader in this field. Her Majesty's horses are trained using the Dually Halter, making a difference in the training of sensitive animals by giving the horse the choice to partner in the training.” ~ Monty
“I communicate with a horse in what I call the Language of Equus; a silent language of gestures that is discernible, predictable and effective. Now you can learn from my videos, audio and notes to help you understand the horse as I do. This language is really quite simple, but simplicity becomes its greatest strength.” ~ Monty
Monty Roberts is a renowned horse trainer known as the man who listens to horses and the original horse whisperer. Monty's horse training instructions are accepted worldwide.
Monty has helped thousands of people globally through his Monty Roberts Online Videos to learn how to Join-Up with horses, training young horses, spooky horses, horses that bite. His mustang , Shy Boy , is his most famous horse.
Join-Up methods help horse and trainer to establish a bond of communication and trust. “You must somehow understand that we as horsemen can do very little to teach the horse. What we can do is to create an environment in which he can learn.” ~ Monty
Monty says, “We hear that ‘actions speak louder than words,’ but generally we do not live by it too successfully.” Now Monty has taught thousands of people worldwide how to build trust in animals through our actions and body language.
Monty’s principles really amount to common sense and immense patience. He believes that children and horses have the same behavioral patterns. They are both naturally “flight” animals. "If you frighten them and resort to confrontation, you’ll lose their trust." ~ Monty
"Simple one-on-one reassurances and praise reap long term dividends that can all be undone with the quick slamming of a book on a desk or shouting back." ~ Monty Roberts
"No one of us was born with the right to say 'You must or I'll hurt you' to any other living thing, animal or human". ~ Monty Roberts
"My life's goal is to leave the world a better place than I found it, for horses and for people too". ~ Monty Roberts

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University Suggestion Box

alternatives to using a twitch

By:

Dennis

Date:

2011-May-21 at 02:30AM

Would be great to have an alternative to a twitch when having an emergency that you must control your horse so no one is injured in the treatment by the vet

Miriam (Holland&Germany) 2011-May-21 at 10:05AM

Hi Dennis,
In my opinion the Dually halter is the greatest alternative to the twitch, start your training on a day where no emergency calls for it, so the horse knows how to release himself of the pressure. Monty has a DVD called "Fix-up" where he describes and shows all the advantages of the Dually, in different situations, like vets, teeth, farrier etc.
Miriam

Dennis 2011-May-21 at 04:38PM

Miriam
I agree 100% with you. The situation I was referring to was an emergency where he would not allow the vet to inoculate him so she could take care of him.

Normally he does not mind shots if my trainer gives them to him, but he hates this vet and she was the only one available at the time. Her partner has no problem with my horse, just her. Go figure!

Cheers

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia 2011-May-21 at 09:13PM

Personality clash? This vet must either remind your horse of someone who has been cruel to him in the past or has had what he perceives as a bad experience with this vet. It doesn't seem to take much. Once when I was attending an in-hand session at our Riding Clud the instructor took over my young mare and proceeded to try to get her to respond to a pool noodle. This freaked my mare out as although she was used to a wand all over her and lunging ropes being tossed at her she had never been introduced to a pool noodle wangled at her. She is not an aggressive horse but ever since when she sees that instructor she lays her ears back. She is not aggressive with anyone else but very gentle and enjoys strangers going up and patting her. So it doesn't take much and they seem to never forget!! Her mother Pie responded positively to me while moments earlier she was ready to kill her previous owner - same story! Horses do not forgive or forget scary times or cruelness readily.