I have an eight year old anglo-arab crossbred. He has been with me for three months, but hasn't been worked as he was very highly strung and headshy when he arrived and we have been spending the time just chilling out and getting to know each other. Things are progressing well and I am now able to catch him easily and he is allowing me to touch his head, groom him and halter him, although he is still quite nervy. He was also well behaved for the farrier and vet. For the record, the previous owner admitted after she sold him to me that she had tied his headcollar to an electric fence to 'teach him a lesson' and he also has some scars under his eye and across his muzzle, not sure how these happened (he is a bit accident prone and does tend to scrape and scratch himself, despite me having done a sweep of the paddock and removed any potential hazards like stones etc). Anyway, I don't have the full picture on his background but I suspect he has been treated a little less than gently in the past - his temperament is quite araby and sensitive. I rode him when I tried him out and he is quite responsive and only needs the lightest of cues.
He is currently turned out with a paddock mate, an older horse who is a semi retired ex trekker. They share a 4 acre paddock, but are currently contained by electric fencing in an area about a fifth of the paddock as the spring grass is coming through (I am in New Zealand). It was always my intention to go right back to basics with him, and I have been avidly studying Monty's methods online. As I don't have a round pen, my first attempt at Join Up was in the small paddock area, and it didn't go well. We ALMOST got it, but the paddock mate wanted to join in and thought it was great fun to run around on an inside circle alongside the other horse.
So I have decided to hire some temporary fencing for a few months to make a round pen and hopefully it will make things a bit easier.
My question is - how far do I take the Join Up on a horse that has already been started under saddle and been ridden? Given his nervy nature, I wondered if maybe two sessions with just basic Join Up, and then maybe two sessions of Join Up/Follow Up with a saddle/bridle and rider? Or long lines? I have a Dually headcollar.
What do people think? I am very anxious to make sure I get it right as he is such a sweet boy and I sense that he really wants to be friends but I need to work on gaining his trust before we go any further.
Hello
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Monty Roberts says to do 4 to 5 join-ups with a horse. If you want to go right back to basics, then work with him just like you would if he had never been broken in.
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Start with join-up, do the vulnerable areas, pick up the feet. Then saddle him up, let him go in either direction with the saddle, ask him back in and then do some long lining. You could also do some desensitising too. For example, join-up followed by walking over a tarp or working the the plastic bags etc. Set up an obstacle course or something like that perhaps.
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Although, you could join-up, long line and ride all in the one session if you felt it was safe and right to do so.
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I have done this with all my horses since becoming a member of the Online University. Even the ones that have already been started. It builds a good solid foundation for your ongoing relationship with your horse.
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Hope it all goes well for you.
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Kind regards,
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Gen
Hi Emlaw,
Well done so far!I think you will find the temporary fencing very helpful!
I agree with Gen in terms of going back to basics. I went back to basics with my thoroughbred about 6 months after I bought him (I joined the uni at that time and read From My Hands To Yours), as he was very stressy about being ridden. This is what I did:
Day 1 - Join up, follow up, vulnerable areas and picking up feet.
Day 2 - Join up, follow up, saddle and bridle
Day 3 - Join up, follow up, saddle, bridle, longlining
Day 4 - Join up, follow up, saddle bridle, longlining then ride (mounted then did circle each way walk, circle each way trot, circle each way in canter, then halt and step back.
Day 5 - As above
Day 5 - Just did longlining and ridden (no join-up).
This made a huge difference to our relationship. He was a lot more relaxed and it was the first time I felt safe riding him!
I would recommend reading From My Hands To Yours, it really helps add to the uni lessons. Best of luck!
Ruth
Thank you Gen and Ruthy for your helpful replies, it's always good to hear first hand experiences of what has worked for different people. I have the book From My Hands To Yours and have been working my way through the online lessons. Just started watching the Georgia's Phobias series and she is very much like my horse, although her behaviour is a bit more extreme. My previous horse that I had for 10 years was the total opposite, she was rock steady and you could have a bunch of kids climbing all over her and she would just stand there like a statue half asleep. So my new sensitive boy is quite a learning curve, but in a way it's good for me as it is making me acutely aware of my body language and how horses interpret us.
Hi again
Yes, the more sensitive ones are certainly the best teachers! I have certainly learnt a lot from my horse Charlie. In fact, had it not been for Charlie being so difficult (brought about by poor handling from his previous owners) when I first got him, I may not have even thought to join the online uni! So thank goodness for Charlie being the sensitive soul that he is, and you will be in the same boat with your anglo-arab, which means you will learn so much more!
Dear emlaw
I am not that fast. I needed about twenty "lessons" for the three young horses I am working with from different reasons (bucking, one horse arrived without halter because nobody was able to touch him, one had an important separation anxiety) before I could think of putting a rider on them. I think we are not professionals and we should not hesitate to take the time that is necessary.
How far do we go with join-up???
Until we get it right.
It all depends on the horse. There is no majic number.
As Rudi says it's about the time needed not the counting of days.
What works with one may not work with another, the horse will let you know.
And you will feel it in your gut.
As Monty says, horses can't lie. A good join-up will show and be reflected in whatever you do with your horse thereafter.
What's the hurray???
Ronda
I am not in any particular hurry, it will take as long as it takes and I am OK with that. With green horses ready to be broken Monty usually recommends the full works including saddle and rider, and no more than six join ups in total - however, I am sensing with my boy that we should do it in stages (rather like Ruthy suggests) maybe starting with just join up and follow up,then taking each session just a little bit further, if I feel he is comfortable - as you say Ronda, I will feel it in my gut and he will let me know. Just don't want to overface him and freak him out or do too many sessions and make him sour - I guess dealing with a remedial horse is a bit different to a youngster, and there are different levels of requirement. Thank you all for your advice, as Rudi says we are not professionals and should just take as long as it takes - it will pay off in the long term.
Very good emlaw!!!
Ronda