Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: Stubborn pony joins up

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

← back

My Join-Up® Experience

Stubborn pony joins up

By:

Lizziedeuchar

Date:

2014-Apr-09 at 09:58PM

Omg I attempted join up with my 4 yr old this morning and after a few goes and I finally got all the signs but not the final link up so tried again this afternoon and kept him moving for longer this time took the pressure off and waited a few seconds and omg he walked over nudged me and I nearly cried. Wonderful experience. What I'm not sure of is how often to do join up with him to really cement the bond?

Mel - Ramsgate UK 2014-Apr-09 at 11:04PM

Well done Lizzie.
Monty recommends only joining up with a horse about 5 times, but it really does depend on your horse.
When I train horses I do an initial 2 join ups over 2 training days, this usually gives enough bond to start to work on the horses (people) problems. As I introduce more things to their training, if they panic or spook at it, I then go back and join up again just to help settle them and let them know they can trust me.
It sounds like you have a bond already with your horse, which might be why he did not join up with you initially, if he already trusts you, then you might not have to join up again. Continue to work through Monty's lessons, you'll get all the answers you need and be able to progress more with your boy. What's his name?
We're all here if you're not sure, so don't hesitate to ask.
Mel
x

Amberpony - California, USA 2014-Apr-10 at 06:37AM

Lizzie glad to hear you have felt that Wonderful Join Up feeling.

cool_n_collected 2014-May-24 at 09:57PM

I have found that with ponies, they need some time to think about the join up... Every one I know had been handled extremely inconsistently the first years of their life, and it was almost always for their feet or to get gelded. Long story short, they were handled roughly and there was a lot of fighting. Practically no communication.
Usually I will get all four signs and then leave them in the pen for about fifteen minutes by them selves. When I come back in, I send them off again and wait for the four signs a second time before asking for join up. It is pretty cool!

Mel - Ramsgate UK 2014-May-26 at 09:57PM

hi cool_n_collected. Can you explain a bit more why you walk away when you are doing join up. from what your wrote you see the 4 signs, but then leave the pen? It's at this point the horse is ready to work with you and at that point is submitting to your leadership, walking away from them at that point would be confusing for them.