I recently signed onto Monty's University and I absolutely love it. I have watched all the Join Up videos a few times and I see the sense in the methods used. However, there is just one aspect of Join Up that I don't quite understand. Monty says that in language equus, the sending away is often used as a disciplinary measure in the horse herd. So when we unclip the long line, back up and then send our horse away, what are we disciplining him for? My horses usually just stay where they are when I back up and I have to slap my shoulders with the rope to get them going. I don't want to confuse my horses by discipling them when they haven't really done anything wrong! Any thoughts?
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from what i understand it is also a form of communication that gives the horse a choice to follow and let you be the leader. for example, the mother horse in the herd sends the young one away to not only discipline, but also to almost say "you have a choice...you can follow me and let me lead...or you can go on your own." so when the young one is misbehaving, it is an incentive to follow the leader instead of misbehaving.
i think sometimes our horses have already joined up with us before we learn all of monty's techniques...especially if you have always had non-violence at the heart of your work with them. i had a hard time as well getting my mare to go away too! however, i have used it when she does decide to misbehave and it works very well. ALL of monty's techniques work wonderfully for me! :)
Your question is asked very often, a lot of "gentle" horsepeople tend to feel bad about sending their horse away, until they understand how a herdanimal thinks.
Most of all it's about respect and leadership. When you send your horse away, it doesn't have to be disciplined for misbehavior, but recognize in you the one who decides when he's supposed to move his feet. The one who's in control of movement is the leader in the herd.
Watch a lot of horses in their natural environment and you'll find that they send eachother away all the time. This is where they feel safe and protected. When you speak his language and behave like a leader, you are a safe place for your horse where he wants to be.
Thanks for your comments! I do admit that I tend to be a bit soft with my horses so I'll try to be a better herd leader!
Interesting!
I can't help but think this discussion ties in with the challenge question of this week in the news letter.
hi Equus Student, just thought i'd mention that you may only have to do join-up 2/3 times and then thats all, and to check you could start your session with follow-up, and if your horse stays with you then there is no need for another join-up and you can do something different...i made this mistake with my pony, and couldnt understand what i was doing wrong, we were going through all the motions but it was like he was doing it because he knew what to do and the sooner he came to my the sooner he got his dinner, and then my local RA expliand this to me and it all made sense!
hope this helps ^_^
from what ive seen he seems to send it away until he becomes the leader, the horse starts licking and chewing and dropping his head and turning his inside ear towards him then that is the horse accepting him, this is probably wrong but thats what ive seen and think is what hes doing ?
:)