Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: Join up in a field

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• 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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About This Week’s Lesson

Join up in a field

By:

EvyG

Date:

2010-May-31 at 05:12AM

Is it reasonable to expect join up in a field? My horse is currently boarded inside with turn out in a dirt paddock. He readily comes to me when I see him - as Monty says this should happen throughout the life of your horse and you. Sometimes, my horse gets leisure time in a small grass pasture. It is at this time that my horse has a hard time coming to me. The grass wins out and my mom says you can't compete against a grass brain. Is this right? Should I chase him around this pasture until he comes to me in join up fashion. It seems that at times he does take steps to me until the next green patch of grass wins him over. He is like a typical guy - his stomach rules:)

Kicki -- Sweden 2010-Jun-03 at 09:07AM

Hi EvyG,

Watch Monty's lesson about Join up without a round pen!

Although I'm not quite sure Join up and catching a horse in the field is quite the same thing.
You can probably get a Join up out of him in the field, but I'm not sure that means he will be that much easier to catch next time around as long as food is a more interesting prospect than you are. ;)
Also, if Join up means being caught every time and taken out of the lovely field, I'm thinking it will become that much harder to get a Join up out of him too. (But I could be wrong there!)
Coming when his name is called maybe is something you might want to practice separately or while doing a Join up in a smaller, more confined place.
Best of luck!

Rudi - Pratteln, Switzerland 2010-Jun-06 at 12:27PM

I agree with Kicki. My personal behaviour is the following. If I see that the attraction of the grass is too strong I simply go to the horse, put a line on the halter and wait a little while to avoid the connection "put a line means stop eating and going away", then take the horse with me.
Rudi

EvyG 2010-Jun-12 at 05:33PM

Thanks guys. This is what I thought and it is good to hear others think the same. I will do what you say Rudi to avoid the connection.

qld_montyblue 2013-Oct-17 at 12:58PM

I have heard that you can train a horse to ignore the grass/food and give you their full attention. I saw this done in a video on youtube. When the horse is eating the grass you walk behind them and cause them to walk away or trot. At first this annoys them (of course) and they may scamper away throwing their head and bucking etc but keep it up and eventually they realise that you want their attention. When they are standing still and facing you, you then walk up and give a rub on the front of the nose, look away,square your shoulders, look to the side and attempt follow up. If they ignore you and again begin to eat the grass, follow the same procedure. It takes time and patience but it can be done. I have just started this method myself on my young gelding and will keep you posted on how it goes.