Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: From Dragger to Dreamer

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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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My Join-Up® Experience

From Dragger to Dreamer

By:

Kip

Date:

2015-Jun-03 at 02:05AM

I just bought a new horse, Dreamer, last week. I knew she was going to be a handful, but there was something about her that caught my eye. I like a horse with spirit, and she had that in spades! The video on the sale site showed her rearing and leaping, with the rider sawing on her mouth trying to control her. When I went to see her, I rode her just enough to make sure I could handle her, and sure enough she reared straight up. But...something about her told me she was the right one. Today I caught her (45 minutes and finally resorted to feed) and attempted to brush her. She moved around so much I felt like a cigarette being stubbed out. So to the round pen we went, her leading me most of the way.

Once in the round pen, the took off like a shot. It seemed like a very,(VERY) long time before she gave me any of the four signs that she was ready for join up. Finally, I decided to give it a try and braced myself for failure. She hesitated, but sure enough, she followed me. Success!!! When we left the pen and walked back to the barn, she walked beside me like a well-trained show horse.

What a change from earlier! I'll work with her again tomorrow and see where we need to start. Maybe I'll ride her (maybe I'll die).

JoHewittVINTA 2015-Jun-03 at 08:39AM

Hi Kip. What a great experience. Well done you for finding a way to reach your new horse. A word of caution. Slow is fast. You in hospital gains no one, especially Dreamer. Be fair, be progressive but be incremental not mental! It always takes more time to build than to pull down, to create than destroy. You have a unique opportunity with this horse so make the most of that. Use your brain, be the one who makes considered moves. Study the Uni lessons - they will give you the tools you need. Take Monty's challenge after each one so you gain accreditations & apply your knowledge. Dreamer will thank you for it. Good luck. Cheers, Jo.

Kip 2015-Jun-03 at 08:13PM

Hey Jo, Oh, I agree with you on going slow. I was being more tongue in cheek about that than anything else. I don't think Dreamer is dangerous though, not at all. She's very sensitive, which is why I believe she was rearing and carrying on in the video. I think the way he was pulling on her mouth was hurting her. I'm going to have the vet check her teeth, as well as have her get used to her new surroundings and me. She reminds me so much of my Blitz when I first got him many years ago. My family used to joke that he was going to kill me, and I said that was the way I wanted to go. Really, he was the sweetest horse ever. He just LOOKED like he was crazy. He recently died. It's bittersweet.

vicci - UK (North Wales) 2015-Jun-04 at 08:22PM

I'm sorry to put a downer on this but Dreamer IS dangerous by the very fact that she rears under saddle! Please don't think I'm knocking your skills or knowledge and it is wonderful that you are able to see past this and see the beautiful soul insider her, and you are clearly analysing what is causing her behaviour and working through it. However there is a difference between "spirit" and dangerous behaviour and yours has both :-) So the trick is to harness the former and eliminate the latter!!!!!! As Monty says "There are bold heroes and there are old heroes but there are no old, bold heroes" :-)
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Good luck, I'm looking forward to hearing her progress.