Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: Advice for the first rider, the perspective from the saddle

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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University Suggestion Box

Advice for the first rider, the perspective from the saddle

By:

Dom von Torda, Spain & Finland

Date:

2021-Nov-24 at 11:13PM

Hi, I’ve been having a very passionate (in a good way) conversation with a friend about the first rider. I’ve been using Monty’s methods for some time now and getting to see the tells of horses in specific situations which in itself a valuable tool to have when handling horses. My friend works at a polo stable and is often faced in the situation that she has to start the horses quite quickly.

I advice people to look into Monty’s methods and getting familiar with Join-Up, especially if they have problems with their horses. I help them (the horses) where I can but eventually it’s up to the rider/owner to understand the techniques and tools I use (which I have learned from using Monty’s teachings). I recommend them to at least sign up for the Monty Roberts Online University and to get familiar how to use a Dually Halter. Most of them follow up on my advice and sign up for Monty’s Online University lessons. I also forward them the information of the nearest Certified Instructors to get hands on experience and lessons of Join-Up etc.

So me and my friend talked about starting young horses, exchanging stories how we approach the situation. We came across a question I didn’t find and answer for in the Online University.

What kind of rider should the first rider be and more importantly, how do you approach the situation when you don’t have the possibility to have someone helping you and you have to start the horse on your own? A video of the rider’s perspective and what to be ready for especially when doing it alone would be much appreciated.

I have been many times in this situation and had to rely on railings or fences where I would sit on and getting the horse to get used to my presence above the horse, then maybe rubbing its back from the fence, later on maybe having one foot over its back with just a bit of pressure on the back and lastly halfway sitting on the horse but keeping a hand on the rail/fence in the event the horse spooks or reacts in some way, so that I can safely pull myself off the horse with ease.

I want to have a safe way of being the first rider and to still do things correctly taking the horses needs into consideration. My first and foremost goal is to meet the horses needs in any situation even if it means not seeing eye to eye with everyone I work with, with still being respectful to people. I want to help the horse and the owners to become better horsemen/-women.

Thank you Monty Roberts for all the contributions you have done in the horse community!

Best Regards,
Dom