Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: Follow up- any suggestions?

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

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My Join-Up® Experience

Follow up- any suggestions?

By:

EllieandMyler

Date:

2011-Jan-03 at 10:57AM

I have owned my new horse for 3 months and have recently decided to try join-up with him as he is quite nervous and I just want him to be happy. I do not have access to a round pen and so I have only been able to join-up with him in a 20m by 40m arena. I keep him on a yard on a very busy farm, and horses are turned out on two sides of the arena- the other two sides are flanked by a house and the farms main road. I have managed to have reasonably successful join-ups the first two times (only having trouble with drawing him into me, but he always comes eventually) but today when I tried to send him away, he only went in a half-hearted trot, and despite showing me all the signs when I invited him to come and join-up with me he continued to walk around the arena before becoming distracted and wandering off. I tried sending him away again. This time he did join-up with me, but half-way through follow up, he became distracted again and walked off to investigate a patch of grass. When I tried to lock eyes on eyes, he took flight but yet again when I had achieved follow-up he became distracted. I definitely did not look him in the eye during follow up but I expect it was my fault, but I'm not sure what I did. The yard was exceptionally busy today because there was a shoot happening later in the day- do you think this could have played a part in my horse's unwillingness to stick with me? Please help, I want the best for my horse.

Debbie Roberts Loucks, USA 2011-Jan-03 at 03:57PM

Congratulations for successfully achieving Join-Up already with your new friend. You have shared with him that you know his language. Monty says it isn't necessary to repeat the dialog too many times once he trusts you. Do you feel that he is more relaxed around you now? It might take a little more time for him to acclimate to the yard yet though. Continue to live by the principles of Join-Up now such as when you catch him up from the paddock or when you enter a stall. Remind him you speak his language :)

EllieandMyler 2011-Jan-03 at 05:11PM

Brilliant thank you, he does seem to be more relaxed in general now so I will leave it at that. Thanks for getting back so promptly!

Miriam (Holland&Germany) 2011-Jan-03 at 06:42PM

What I find very useful is doing a short version of Follow-up, when I come and pick the horse up after work or on the paddock. Just stand in front of him, give him a rub and take off to his right, towards his hindquarters in an arch. Most horses start licking and chewing right away.
Do both directions. This confirms to the horse your leadership and the fact that you speak his language.A good way to end on a positive note at the end of a session,too.

EllieandMyler 2011-Jan-05 at 08:38PM

Thanks for that miriam, I'll try that after I've next worked him!