Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: Integration into the herd

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

Integration into the herd

By:

Milenco

Date:

2014-Sep-23 at 05:18AM

Hi,

I moved my horse from one bording to the other because I wanted to have my horse in a herd and not be anymore alone even having all super facilities in the old one.
i didn't find any advice or lesson about how to integrate a horse in a herd or horse society! So far the fouls are living together with their moms is ok but after that living alone for some years, now at age of six I think it must be done carefully to avoid fights and injuries!
have anybody experience with that? A lesson about this coming from Mr. Roberts will be welcome!

JoHewittVINTA 2014-Sep-23 at 07:55AM

Hi. It is probably best to introduce a new horse progressively. Letting the established herd get to know them over a fence - usually for 2 to 7 days. This allows time for the hierarchy to establish itself & avoids much of the, usually playful, excitement of a new member in the group. However, horses & ponies have their own ideas on these things so, in my experience, there will always be a period of settling in. It's much like your child's first day at a new school - you can't protect them entirely from any strong characters who feel it necessary to make their presence felt. It's one of the challenges in life, to fit in somewhere strange. Hope your horse has good friends to roam with now. Cheers, Jo.

Milenco 2014-Sep-23 at 10:26PM

Hi Jo,

thanks a lot for the advices and encouraging words! I think this time is harder for me then for him! I brought him over like just taken out from the box! Without any scratches or other kind of small "damages" and I am so tensioned only thinking that I could get some bites or hits from other horses. As I know him he is a leading guy and willing to take the leadership in the herd even he is totally unexperienced and quite young (6 years old). Another topic making me curiosly is the fact that we were a perfect team until now and I am just thinking that he could now change his behaviour to me!
Have you an ideea how long could it be until the "negotiations" with the other horses are closed or is it different from horse to horse?

vicci - UK (North Wales) 2014-Sep-23 at 10:34PM

Ian Vandeberghe teaches on his course that to introduce a new horse to a herd you take a 'middle ranking' horse and put him in with your new one; let them get to know each other for about a week or so but keep an eye on them to make sure they get on, if not, change the horse - if they get on well put them both into the herd - that way yours has a known buddy and it can make the transition smoother. He may change his behaviour to you at first while he is evaluating things but if he trusts you as his safe place then you have a strong foundation - don't worry, he'll still be with you.

Milenco 2014-Sep-24 at 02:14AM

Thank you Vicci,

that is a wonderfull idea! Never tought on this to start with only one horse! Due to the fact that I have no experience with that I trust fully in the owner of the new boarding!
I am just now in California in holiday and I was for three days on Monty Roberts ranch for that special event called "Night of Inspiration" I had the chance to speak personally this topic with Mr. Roberts and he said to me that there will be for sure some changes in his behaviour to me after his integration in the herd. But I have to start again to built up the trust between us if the things are going into the wrong direction. I am interested to see his development in the herd in the next couple of weeks!

Thanks a lot for your advices!