Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: Conformation (the triangle)

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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.
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“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
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The Listening Lounge

Conformation (the triangle)

By:

EquiAbi (UK)

Date:

2013-Aug-09 at 11:52AM

Hi all,
I was recently watching a video about conformation and Monty mentioned the triangle. He said that the wider the base of the triangle, the more athletic the horse can be. But how do you know when to end the triangle at the bottom? Surely the longer you carry on the two angles of the scapula and the pelvis/femur downwards, the wider the base of the triangle gets. So where are you supposed to stop the two mirrored angles with the horizontal line at the bottom of the triangle? :)
I hope that made sense! :S
Thanks,
Abi

ChristenaAnderson 2013-Aug-09 at 06:23PM

From what I understand it stops at the knees. So the bottom line would go accross the knees to connect the two sides.

Miriam (Holland&Germany) 2013-Aug-10 at 11:05AM

Hi Abi,
You can find the triangle in Monty's book "From my hands to yours" on page 220.
The base of the triangle is parallel to the ground at carpal/tarsal hight.
The scapula and the hip form the short sides of the triangle, the top should be where the rider ideally would have his centre, over the back of the horse.
The easiest way to understand this describtion is to have a photograph of a well balanced horse and draw these imaginary lines.
Now it's me to hope this makes sense to you!
Miriam