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My Join-Up® Experience

Refusal to Move Out

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

     My pony did join up perfectly four times, which is a testament to how smart he is, since I'm VERY green. I really wanted to perfect it for myself to be sure I had the hang of it, and to solidify the relationship. So, today I tried to do the join up for the fifth time. 
     My guy refused to move out and didn't seem to understand what I wanted. I tried to get him to go a couple of times, then thought that maybe he just had had enough. I'm trying to understand what happened. Please correct me or give me insight.
     My thought is that I didn't really feel like he needed it again. This may have subconsciously made me hesitant to behave seriously about doing the join up with him again. Monty says that too many times can make your horse crazy. I may have been unknowingly remembering that and he felt it. 
     Should I try again tomorrow or let it go? 
     I've had Jack for two months and have done all the basic ground work with him. He lets me halter him with his head down. He will come to me when he's in the paddock, even when other horse are around, and will let me halter him and lead him away. He leads perfectly, stands, backs up, waits like a gentleman at the mounting block, lets me do his feet and groom him without any trouble. He will go over the tarpoline and even seems to enjoy mouthing it to show me that he's not afraid of it. He will go through the ground rails forward and backward as well. 
     I haven't ridden him yet. That will be this week's lesson.
     Thank you for your insight. I am learning so much on this forum and through all of the great lessons!

Kathy

JoHewittVINTA
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Hi Kathy. I think Jack was telling you "We've done this - I accept you as my leader. So, lead me into something." Have you worked him on long lines? Try figures of 8, adding a couple of ground poles and/or some cones. Work both forwards & backwards. Once you are both confident try reversing around a corner. Place poles on the ground to create a double 'L' shape. Start with them about 4 feet apart so Jack can move easily without touching them. Give him time to work out how to negotiate the turn & remember to be very generous with your praise. You will both enjoy the mental stimulation & your mutual trust will grow enormously. Have fun. Cheers, Jo.
kathymw
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed
Hi Jo, any other ideas of what I can do with him during the winter months when not riding? One thing I'm doing is practicing moving to the mounting block. It's not Jack anymore. He went to the home of an experienced rider. It's Henry, an older quarter horse who knows so much and is a great horse for me, a greenish owner. Thanks for any advice. 
Kathy
JoHewittVINTA
Please upload your photo 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 650 lessons completed
Hi Kathy. What about, not leaving when my rider falls off? By using a dummy - which you can make from stuffed old clothes, you can school the horse to stop when the rider leaves the saddle. To be confident not to kick out when his sides or legs are touched unexpectedly & to stop still with a human form on the ground. Start by being with Henry throughout the process & become removed through long lines over a number of sessions. If it were up to me every horse would learn two extra lessons - be confident & steady at the mounting block & my rider is off but it's not my fault & my duty is to stand still with them. Think about it- whipping a horse because you fell off, well who decided to climb up there? How much more visable is a prone human body with a horse dutifully standing next to it? Cheers, Jo.