Hi Almira,
Welcome to the Uni and welcome as a student-to-be, you'll find the Intro Course so interesting and life-changing, that you'll forget it's your first trip alone!
Building up your knowledge and skills in the 2 weeks of the course gives you the foundation to be able to start learning from all sorts of different, domesticated horses when you return home. You can deepen your knowledge and apply for the exam, when you study the manual that comes with the course. To be invited for the exam you'll be asked to send in videos of horsework you've done at home. If you plan to go for the exam, realise that there is al lot in the manual, so take your time and be well prepaired. Not all student take the exam, when they do, it takes approx. 1 year to prepare for it.
There is a lot of information on the website "montyroberts.com" about how to live in Solvang or Buellton during your stay, you'll probably meet some nice co-students there, learning together is part of the process and the fun!
Should you find others here on the Uni, that 'll be in your course , you could even try to share costs like car-rental etc.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Miriam

Welcome, Almira!
You have a wonderful experience ahead of you! I've taken several courses in Solvang now, and each has been an incredible learning opportunity. I'm very excited for you! I was like you--no major horse experience, and I can tell you that I learned more in those two weeks than I ever had before that. Maya and her interns will move you along at just the right pace in your intro course, and give you the feedback you need in order to be successful at the basics of J-U and long lining. And you'll have lots of chances to ask questions--take advantage of that. The only bad question is an unvoiced one. Many of the students bring a video camera and ask a waiting student to record their sessions so that they can see for themselves how they did. I highly recommend that. And dress warmly (layers work well, as you will get warmed up working in the round pen), in clothing appropriate for rain, wind and cold. You'll be wearing a helmet when you work but you may want some sort of hat when you aren't. The myth that it doesn't rain in S. California is just that--a myth. Enjoy!
Julie

gee, wish I was going.

Hi all
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Welcome to the Uni Almira :-) I have been a member for about 6 months now and I love it. I am doing my Intro Course in September this year. You will absolutely love the Uni and the Certification Courses if you choose to go to them.
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Don't worry Horse Addict, where there is a will there is a way. You just have to find the way :-)
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See you later,
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Gen

Hi Gen! let me know what it's like when you go! What they advised me was to look for someone to sponsor me, but so far, I really don't know anyone yet that would support me. We'll see what happens. Good luck!

I am very happy to hear that so many of you loved the courses! I saw lists of hotels and rentals on Monty's website, and I have lots of relatives in southern CA which is nice. I am going to be attending both certificate courses. Does anyone know what kind of things I will be having to do for the intro distance learning? I am getting a round pen up, but I don't have an arena or anything, just the pasture. Oh and do you complete the distance learning at your own pace or are tapes due at certain dates or anything? It kinda just sounded like you complete work when you can, but not sure.
Thanks for all the wonderful answers you guys :) gave,

Hi Almira,
After the Intro Course you go home and work with domesticated horses at your own pace, send in videos, all roundpenwork, and receive feedback by e-mail. As your skills grow you'll be invited for the Intro Exam. Some people take longer, others shorter to reach this point, it's your choice how fast you want to go and how much you learn.
A big part of the learning are the theoretical studies you' ll prepare for the written exam.
There is so much to learn and I'm sure you'll love it!
Miriam

Hi again
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Thanks for the information Miriam, I have been wondering the same things as Almira. Hope you are going well with your studies. Its so exciting that the opportunity to learn this way is available.
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Hello again Horse Addict :-) I will definately let you know how my course goes! No worries at all :-)
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Hope you enjoy your course Almira. Its great that you have relatives in the area too.
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See you later,
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Gen

Hi Gen,
So good to know you'll be working with Lynn soon!
I guess that you'll have a lot of advantage from the fact that you own horses and have worked your way through gentling a rescue horse. Some student really start at zero, others like you have a lot of experience, this all adds to the learning curve of everybody.
It's not easy to find untouched horses where I live, so my studies develop into in depth work with other young ones. I find it so rewarding to follow those and their owners through a process of growing and becoming a team more and more.
I do a lot of reading, to deepen my insight. At the moment it's Bill Dorrance " True Horsemanship Through Feel", I really recommend that!
There was a list somewhere here in the forum, recommending books, this one must be on that list.
Keep the good work going!
Miriam

Hi again Miriam
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Yes, September is slowly getting closer :-)
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There were a few books on Tom Dorrance on the list you are talking about. I looked him up on the internet and found his official website. You can get his books and DVDs from there.
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When I am able to, I am going to purchase his books. Maybe the DVDs too, just depends on how much money I have at the time... Money (or the lack of it) can put a bit of a damper on things from time to time :-)
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Its good too that the work you are doing can be adapted to suit your situation with regard to not being able to access untouched horses. I am told that it is quite amazing to work with an untouched horse. Not sure how I will go with that, but will see what happens.
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The forum is great for following people's progress. We all benefit from everyone's experiences. Thanks for your encouragement, and I am glad your studies are going well.
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:-)
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See you later,
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Gen

Hi Gen,

The book I mentioned was by Bill Dorrance, one of his brothers, it's called "True Horsemanship Through Feel". The only book I read by Tom Dorrance is "True Unity", which I liked too, but the way it's written is a bit confusing. At the end of it I got the whole picture, but inbetween it got me mixed up.

Sometimes it's possible to buy these books secondhand, at least at Amazon I found some used, and so one can safe some money. It's an expensive "hobby", being interested in horses, I know! Still it's so rewarding and I feel such growth, that for me it's worth it.

Working with untouched horses is something real different, the shute we used at Monty's could give us the protection we needed to take the first steps, still there comes a time you have to let the horse out and start his training on a longline. The space in front of the shute is small/big enough to never let you hit the end of the line. So the horse cannot take off. It takes time to adapt to, but it's great fun!

Take care,

Miriam

Thank you for the book suggestion, I will be sure to check it out. I have learned a lot from reading books, it will give me something to do till November along with the uni.
The closest I have been to working with untouched horses is working with unstarted ones. I can imagine the differences working an untouched horse. I am looking forward to all that I will be able to learn during Monty's courses.

Hi Miriam and Almira
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Sorry, I didn't read the author's name properly - just assumed when I saw the word "Dorrance". Will ad Bill to my list of people to look up :-)
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Sounds like we are in for a great time when we do our courses Almira :-)
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Very exciting!!

Hi Horse Addict

Gen is right, there is always a way to do something you really want to do. I have been working my way through Kelly Marks Courses here in the UK but it costs me quite a bit as I live in Scotland and the courses are down south in Oxfordshire, I have to pay the course, my travel and my accomodation so it works out at quite a bit and I was struggeling pretty hard financially when I started doing them (thankfully things are better now) I have friends and family who are very genrous with gifts on birthdays and christmas so for the past three years I have asked for money towards my courses instead of any gifts, I put this in a special box untill I had enough to book my first course and pay my travel (I stayed on the farm ina tent so cut out the cost of accomodation) I also saved every spare penny I had in my secial box (its amazing how quickly it mounted up!)
I just wanted to give you some hope, there is always a way as gen says - you just have to find it, just beleive its possible, take some brave steps and you will do just that - good luck x

Thanks rowan tree, right now, I'm trying to find a new riding instructor, since I lost my last one. The plan is to educate myself to become a better rider, and try to get a job to save up enough money, which will probably take a while. Perhaps somebody on the future could help pay too.

If you will benefit from taking on an untouched horse for your home studies there are plenty in the US with Fantastic Pedigrees. There are many older couples that got into Breeding and never got past the Breeding Part. There are always Whispers of 30 to 60 horses that need to be dispersed because the owners are to elderly to care for them. Some are Free, But I prefer that some small amount of $$ to acknowledge their effort in a Good Pedigree, Exceptional Confirmation & Good Mind. Problem is they really are untouched so you do have to know how to get them home or know some one that does.

I am trying to plan ahead for my course in Nov. and I am assuming that during the two week course in CA we do not necessarily do any ridding? By the description it sounds like mostly simple ground work and classroom learning? am I right to say that? Its kinda silly but I just wanted to know if I had to buy ridding boots, I have only ever used tenishoes when I have ridden in the past, and I use a bareback pad for my guy so no heal necessary, lol. I just assume that Monty would be safety first if there was any ridding.
Its just that the costs do add up and I am barley scraping up enough money for the classes, and there will be plane tickets, accommodation, etc which I will diffidently need to start booking now :/. So every little bit counts. I also am getting a round pen set up and a whole bunch of other little things. I am fresh out of highschool so getting this all done is gonna be a miracle ;)but when there is a will there is a way... and very helpful family :D

Hi Almira,
Yes, you are right - you only do groundwork and classroom learning on the Intro course, so you will not need to buy riding boots.
You will love the course!
Ruth

Almira - sorry to add to your costs. I am not sure about the requirements of the course but I think riding boots are pretty essential when you are working around horses even if you are not riding them. Nothing worse than been trodden on in runners! (tennis shoes). You do not have to buy the really expensive ones just the short leather boots will do. Better idea send me your address and size and I will post you a cheaper pair from Oz as a special gift for someone so keen. They should get there by November. This discussion here makes me wish I was much younger!!!

Ooops! Sorry Almira that was not a very smart suggestion of mine as it is probably NOT wise to place personal details on this Forum site. Not sure how we should go about this but perhaps you could get my e-mail address from the Monty Uni and send me an e-mail.

Maggie
What a generous offer! That is what I call supporting your fellow students. I personally don't mind listing my email address but I certainly understand the reluctance considering the state of the internet. You might want to setup a free email address on google or yahoo and just us it for exchanging the address information then delete that account.

cheers

Hi Almira and maggie!
Real good things are going on here on this Uni! I did exchange e-mail addresses over a post some months ago, but can see you want to be more than carefull.
Wearing solid and safe shoes when working with horses is important, their price isn't!
About age, maggie: I know you're a grandmother, but feeling good around horses is the only requisite it needs to do the Introductory Course! I did mine at 56, my Exam and Advanced Course at 57, no problem! With your life-experience you add a very important aspect to any group of horse-loving people. In my Intro-class we were three women, between 47 and 63, me in the middle. Your turn!
Miriam

I agree maggie, having your foot trod on by the horses is not pleasant especially with the wrong shoes. I have even been unfortunate enough to get trodden on when barefoot. I don't usually go barefoot, but that time the paddock got supper muddy and my mud boots were ... out of order. Thankfully my horses move away from pressure well and I didn't even get a bruise, but I still learned from that.
I really really really appreciate the offer maggie, your generosity really touched me. I would just feel extremely guilty (for lack of a better word). For now my work/mud boots do the job well enough, and in the winter I have to wear big fluffy extreme weather boots anyway. Just to be able to discuss the course and get advice about horses from everyone here is already a enormous help to me, more than everyone might think. I have really been on my own learning since I finally got the opportunity to have my 3 wonderful horses. It is just really nice to finally be able to discuss with like minded people such as yourselves. Horses have been my passion literally for as long as I can remember, I have horse pictures a drew before i was even in school. And now that I am making decisions for my future I am going full speed ahead with this, nothing would make me happier than making the world better for horses, and thats exactly what I intend to help do. haha I'll just keep it at that before I end up writing a book for you all. Again Thank you.

That is so sweet of you Miriam. I have always maintained that you are only as old as you feel etc. but sometimes we get a reality check. Mine came just over 4 weeks ago when I took a buster and found I didn't bounce all that well these days. So frustrating but I am gradually improving and will soon be back on my horses. Desperate to ride Tricka again! I would love to do an Introductory Course but it would be wasted on me and I have huge commitments with my many animals and grandchildren. I will have to leave it up to the Almira's of this world! Your enthusiasm is infectious Almira and I am sure that you will achieve your goals. Seeming I can't do it myself remember my offer is there to help out in a small way if I can and you shouldn't feel guilty about it. I am sure you could access my e-mail address from the Uni. or at least get them to contact me on your behalf. Good luck with finishing your round yard - sounds like you do need it!

I just arrived in Solvang, CA a few minutes ago!! I will start classes at Flag is up farms in the morning! Its all very exiting and I will let you all know how it goes. Now I am gonna try and get some sleep, kinda hard since the farm is 2 miles down the road ;D

Hi Almira,
I know how you feel, and also know what a great experience is waiting for you!
Enjoy every minute of it and if you find the time, share some of your thoughts with us.....
My regards to Maya,
Miriam

Hi Almira,

I am attending the Intro. Course today. Hope your trip by yourself was good, and I look forward to meeting you at Flag Is Up.

Best Wishes

Zeb

Hi Almira and Zeb,
Congratulations- I did Intro Course in February You are in for a grart treat. Enjoy yourselbes! This experience changed my life.

My heart is with you at Flag is uP!!

richandi