Hi & welcome to the forum. Horses are natural athletes & foals learn to use their bodies to help keep their balance. However, when the stress of a rider is added & the horse tenses up it stiffens all over, meaning it cannot move as efficiently (wooden). Each horse needs to learn how to adapt to having weight on its back. Humans experience the same problem & learn how to approach carrying weights - how often have you seen a small child struggle to carry something. In 1 hand & the body is really off balance, in 2 hands in front of the body is hard & carrying it lower impedes the legs whereas an equal load in each hand or up on the shoulder is easier. 
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Monty uses Join up to create trust & relaxation so the horse is able to naturally adapt to new situations, whether it be carrying a rider or facing some other nemesis of life. The ability to 'read' the individual horse ( meet its needs ) allows the trainer to work within the horses own understanding limits. Instinct causes flight animals to run ( bolt ) or fight ( rear, buck, kick, bite ) when they perceive danger & suffer stress. By creating enough trust for the horse to override its natural instinct to react, to ' give the trainer a chance ' allows horse & human to bond into a partnership, vastly reducing the likelihood of mishap or injury to either one of them. When horses progress into more advanced training, the ability to relax & bend its body greatly enhances performance & lessens the incidence of injury by eliminating unnatural physical strain on the body ( imbalance in single line lunging ). 
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My horse Apollo was a teenager when I got him. He'd had a lower back injury ( vertebrae fused together ). He was a most willing partner & threw himself enthusiastically into many activities despite being ' cold backed '. Whenever I mounted for the first time I needed to stay standing in the stirrups, keeping my weight over his withers & let him walk off otherwise he ' dipped down - presumably in pain. I always mounted the first time from a raised level ( mounting block, gate, Landrover bumper, fallen tree trunk ). He always willingly stood, in the knowledge that I would put my weight on his shoulders & let him work his back up to the task - walking maybe 30 metres. Thereafter I could mount from the ground, if necessary, without causing him any problem. However, he cornered like a motorbike, adapting to his disability wonderfully well - but no use for dressage! AND THERE WE HAVE THE KEY!!!   The human adapting to the situation presented so the horse is allowed to understand the task & then participate according to their natural abilities. 
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There are many trainers who do not employ violence but some use more coercion & therefore less understanding. Perhaps some have not yet acknowledged that, like humans, all horses are individuals & so there can be no ' one fits all ' method/timescale. Monty puts emphasis on the horse understanding & accepting, using gentle pressure to guide each horse, AT ITS OWN PACE, to the training goal. I guess it all comes down to whether you LOVE horses & the incredible power they share with us or you just want the power the horses have. Perhaps this is a suitable subject for Montys Challenge? Cheers, Jo.

Oh My Jo, you just hit all; really only one of those topics. out of the park  HOME RUN GIRL, AND NICELY SAID.  To be able to SEE this topic from a horse`s point of view and also to demonstrate that sensitivity in your follow-up with them, and then be able to express yourself so eloquently;  I find myself at a loss for words, and that rarely happens as you all know me.  I only hope that everyone on this forum will read what you have written and take a moment or two to think this subject through.  Then, ask themselves the question; CAN I APPROACH MY HORSE IN THE SAME MANNER????  Your horses are very lucky to have you as their leader..

Thank you Jo

Bud

very beautifully explained Jo, and really good food-for-thought to help all of us guide ourselves in our training approach as we examine our own motivations.
Thank you!
Bella

Hi All. Thank you Bud & Bella for your kind comments. On Thursday night we had a situation, in the dark by torchlight. Kirk, now 5, got his near fore leg through the gate - right up between his knee & elbow. I turned back to the gate to see almost his entire leg hanging down on my side. It's a tubular steel, stock safe gate. I was less than 10 feet away. These things happen so fast. The family were at the gate so Humphrey is on Kirks left & Miss Moley is on his right. No one panicked! I moved quietly to the gate & stroked Kirks face. Then I took his hoof in one hand, rubbing his knee with the other & gently but with some effort managed to work his leg back through. There was no snatching, no fuss just relaxation & cooperation, total mutual trust. Horses have suffered terrible, even fatal injuries in just this sort of situation & people have been seriously hurt, even killed, too. A thrashing, panicking horse - the natural reaction of a trapped flight animal, is not a good place! Kirk had NOT ONE DAMAGED HAIR. We all celebrated with a mint each. When I said trust can prevent harm to both horses & humans I hadn't intended to provide an actual example. Cheers, Jo.

oh my goodness Jo! when I started reading your msg I feared the worst.
So relieved and happy for you and your horse-partners that it turned out all safe and good.
The trust bond is true and strong between you all. A pleasure to read how you calmly handled the frightening situation. I celebrate with you.
All the best, Bella