Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: Confused

Learn all about Equus • Dually Halter • Shy Boy Mustang • Jumping Horses
• Story of a Horse Whisperer • Riding Horsemanship • Dressage Horses • Willing Partners
• Horse Training • Round Pen Lessons • Performance Horses • Join-Up

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

← back

About This Week’s Lesson

Confused

By:

LindaR

Date:

2012-Apr-26 at 07:41PM

I'm a bit confused, because when desensitizing a horse, when they relax, you take the (e.g.) plastic bag away, however in Florian's video when training the horse to yeild to pressure, he specifically said that you SHOULDN'T take you hand away, but only the pressure.
Could someone explain to me the different between the two situations exactly, and why you do one thing in one situation, and another in a different situation?
Thanks so much!

Kleinne - Utah, U.S.A. 2012-Apr-26 at 08:31PM

When you're desensitizing a horse to scary things we remove the pressure only when they stand still this teaches them not only to not be afraid of whatever we're desensitizing them to, but to stand still when they're scared rather than run. However, Florian explained that when teaching a horse to move off of pressure, by leaving your hand on the horse it teaches the horse only to move when pressure is applied not when you're just touching the horse. He also explained that if you teach the horse to move every time you touch them, then the horse learns to never let you touch them. Every time you just wanted to pet your horse he would be moving away from your hand and that's not what you want. So by leaving your hand on them he learns that being touched is ok, but pressure to his side means move over.

LindaR 2012-Apr-26 at 08:41PM

Ohhhh right! That makes more sense! Thanks so much for your explanation :)
I know that he explained it in the video, but I didn't understand it exactly.. this makes a lot more sense to me now though :)

Maisy 2012-Apr-27 at 04:04PM

I know it's already been explained but... Basically it depends how you want to teach, like Monty, or like Florian. Personally I follow Monty since I have already done many successful cases using Montys methods

Kleinne - Utah, U.S.A. 2012-Apr-27 at 04:44PM

I actually love Florians idea to help teach a horse to move off of pressure because I've been trying to teach my horse this concept using Monty's method however, I don't have a proper high fence corner to use and I find my horse sticking his head over the fence and catching his bridle on the fence as he try's to move forward instead of sideways, so it's not been super successful for me, but Florian's idea allows me to teach him from the ground without the need for the high fence and seems so much simpler to implement. I'm really excited to try this new technique. I think I can teach him in a matter of minutes versus not being really successful with the other method.

star 2012-Apr-27 at 07:41PM

I too like Florians way of working with horses.
His method has changed very much since working with Monty.
I have found that by doing it Florians' way, apply pressure/hold Star is standing still for me.
I did training with Star for two years at liberty and that is why she moves when I bring an object near her such as her saddle.
She was taught to yeild when I looked at her backend/sides/shoulders. Yeilding all the time.
Not a good way at all.
I have been doing it Florians's way for only a few days, holding until she stands still and what a difference.
I have been gradually working my way up to the foot placement area, wow!!!! She is so relaxed now.
Monty says any new thing that works!!!!
I too am very excited about this...
I'll keep you posted as I hope you all will let me know how this is working for you too.
Have a great day,
Ronda