Dashboard
Video Library
Q&A
Forum
Instructors
Testimonials
Signup/Login

Forum

Monty Roberts Equus Online University
Horse Training Video Instruction Program

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

← back

My Join-Up® Experience

Darn that grass!

By:
TLP
Date:
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

I have a new-to-me mare who is a very skittish girl. Her past is quite sketchy, but I'm guessing there was at least some mild abuse. Anyhow, I would like to join-up with her before I start in on training. Where I live, I only have access to grassy areas in which to train. Well, I tried our first join-up on that grass...... She was easy to send away, moved in all 3 gaits very well in both directions, gave me all 4 signs in a textbook manner.... until she lowered her head. The draw to grass was too overwhelming. She immediately blew me off and started grazing. I wasn't sure how to proceed! I tried arcing in front of her to draw her in. She wouldn't have any of it. I may as well have not even been in the pen with her. Would it have been appropriate to send her off again and to repeatedly do so until she responded appropriately by ignoring the grass and joining up? I figured it was better to back off instead of forging ahead and doing something to hinder progress with her in the future. What should I have done?

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

My sympathies tip. You may notice my thread "join up in a small paddock/field of juicy green grass" . I did get join up with the owner but follow up was not very successful due to the grass. It is just too tempting for them especially when they are relatively quiet and laid back. Maybe try mowing it with your lawn mower as short as you can but make sure you collect the grass clippings so that your mare does not eat them. Lawn clippings are really bad in terms of colic. Good luck but I think you are pushing up hill with this one. Is there any chance you can borrow or rent a sand arena or round pen for the attempt?

TLP
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

Thank you, MaggieF. Yes, I did read your thread. I was happy that at least, in your case, join-up was achieved. I'm wondering though, since the join-up process is designed to create a situation in which being teamed up with YOU is the most comfortable and rewarding thing for the horse, if repeatedly sending the mare back out until she chooses ME over the grass is the right thing?

TLP
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

Unfortunately, trailering or renting another facility is not an option for me.

LindaR
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

Would it by any chance be possible for you to make your own sand round pen on top of the grass? I dont know if you would be willing to ruin the patch of grass around which your round pen by covering it in sand though...?

Kicki -- Sweden
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

I think follow up on grass is a very difficult thing to achieve since horses are hungry 21 hrs of the day. ;D
If you can't find a non edible area to practice in, maybe give it a shot when you are sure she isn't hungry at all.
.
I'm not sure at all, but I think that the lead horse seldom stops any flock member from eating unless to chase them away.
My horse drove the other (lead-) mare in the field crazy one day by completely ignoring to follow her, simply because she wanted to eat where she was. The other mare was prancing and jumping around so much the owner went out to see if something was wrong with her. So even horses will have that problem at times. ;)

TLP
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

LindaR: Yes, I guess I could make a sand pen on top of the grass, that would certainly help, but it is an expense I cannot afford right now.

Kicki: Follow up? I can't even get my mare to JOIN up! LOL! Good point about making sure her belly is nice and full before I try. What if she is still drawn to the grass? Do you think I should drive her away again, seeing as how I am working her when she has eaten and shouldn't technically be "famished" any longer?

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

Hi tip - just wondered if you had thought about my suggestion of getting your lawn mower out and mowing it really low and picking up the clippings. This would reduce the amount of sand you needed to add too if you could afford some sand. Otherwise I think you may as well give up with join up and particularly follow up as I doubt that it will be really successful and it will just cause you and your horse needless frustration.

Kicki -- Sweden
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

tip, I won't dare to suggest how to proceed. I haven't done nearly enough Join-ups to advice further in a case like that. Chasing her away again, until she does pay you more attention than the grass seems logical. Then again, if you risk going about it for hours, I wouldn't start down that road.
Better then to eliminate the distraction!
Would love to hear Monty's take on this problem!

Rudi - Pratteln, Switzerland
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

Dear tip
I think the reaction of your horse is normal. I always immagine that there are two forces: one is fixing the horse, the other one is your attraction. In your case the grass will be much more attractive.
I see two solutions. a) start with the double longing immediatly. b) add more attraction with clicker training. I don't like the second solution in this early stage of training.
Rudi
P.S. You could try the Join-Up from the trot and before the sign of lowering the head.

TLP
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

Rudi, do you mean skipping join-up and going to double longing? Trying join-up at the trot may indeed be a good thing to try.

Rudi - Pratteln, Switzerland
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

Dear tip
I think you are missing only the very last part of Join-Up. In your special situation you may have to accept what you are able to do. So I think you could go on to double longing where there are more possibilities to handle the horse.
Rudi

TLP
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

I see what you are saying. You may be right. Hmmm....

pedrobt2007a2010
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

Dear tlp,

I have had the same issue in my farm.

Not only for the Join-Up moment, but I see such distraction as very bad for the your authority (and the overall commitment from your mare' side) in the long term; remember "your has to be the chairman of the meeting". From another perspective you might be allowing you two to work in a place where the number one need of the horse is not the need to join up. She is the one who should be willing to join-up, besides, "from 0 to 10" the most important step of learning is 0". It's a must.

You have to make her want to pay attention to you: in my opinion you must eliminate such kind of distraction.

I am an agronomist, so I suggest you consult one near you and buy a propor herbicide(s) and manage the all the grasses 100% dried (so you might need different types of herbicides to avoid overdosing one only and contaminating the soil and/or groundwater). Way cheaper (and more effective) than sand and more effective, though request maintanance as well.

pedrobt2007a2010
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

... of course, killing the grass only in the area and range you two will work.

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

Good idea Pefrobt. Remember to read the instructions on the weed killer carefully re poison to animals before using the area again for your horse. Most recommend 7-14 days. Hope it works!

Nadine
Hello!

Rototiller. Will help pull up/destroy the grass!
Often my horse will act like I'm not even there if she's eating, so any work with her has to be done in a dirt arena.

Sign Up Now!

Monty and You...

Shop at Monty's Store

Monty Roberts Facebook

Pat Roberts Sculpture