Ok I am hooked! I am new to all things equine. My partner Becky has been horse mad for her whole life but I have never been introduced to these fantastic creatures and have never felt anything was missing with not having horses in my life. That all changed when my partner talked me into her taking on a rescue pony Vanilli (conamara). Pretty soon after feeling well and truly left out I had my own Gypsy Vanner youngster (not too ride yet he's too young which gives me all the time in the word to get that idea fixed in my head). Now we have added a Shetland who our kids adore and a Welsh Secton D to our herd.
After hours watching these online lessons I decided today to attempt join up with my Cob Billy. A couple of people had tried before with no joy we thought not knowing his history that something had happened to him in the past which prevented him to wanting to join up. He is pretty friendly though which seemed a bit of a contradiction as he seems to want to be around people. Anyway spurred on I have had a go and let's say I have a lot to learn but ........ To my amazement...... We did it!. I am stunned. He was distracted and all in all I think we spent about 10 mins in the school with him seemingly not wanting any part of it but then his ear turned and locked on to me, he started making smaller circles and dropped his head (no chewing though). I had to pass in front of him a couple of times before he wanted to join but then he did and followed me around the school like a shadow.
Now then this is worrying these amazing animals are addictive. I am confused though I feel like I fumbled through join up,and want to be better but I don't know how many times I can do or should do join up with Billy.
Can anyone help?
Thanks
Adam
hi i dont feel i can give you the answers to your questions as i am new to it all myself and i am curios to read what replies you get,as there is so much i don"t understand yet,however..i tried join up myself recently with my little mare and if there was one thing i learned that i will always take with me and that is,"believe in yourself and your ability to do it, there was no way i was going to achieve this,she is a moody mare welsh B and i was just too scared and nervous but,if i was ever going to move forward for me and for her i had to give it a try, i did and i will never look back, i managed it, and most importantly i proved to myself that with patience and a soft voice anything is achievable, it is the most amazing feeling when they respond and an unbelievable friendship is formed good luck.
karin
Hello Adam
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Horses are addictive aren't they? :-) I didn't have horses for 10 years while my husband and I had our business, but I bought one when we sold it. That one horse has now turned into 5 with one on the way (due Boxing Day this year).
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Monty Roberts says that you should do 4 to 5 join-ups with a horse. Others will say that the number of times doesn't matter as practice makes perfect. I agree that you do need to practice till you get it right, BUT not too much with the one horse where the process no longer means anything to them.
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There is another post on the forum were someone else asked a similar question to yours, and Ruth gave a really good breakdown of what things to do from your first join-up through to day 5. The steps that she lists are consistent with what I can remember seeing in Monty Roberts' Follow Up DVD for days 1 to 4. And there are lessons on each of the things she lists in her response to the other lady's qestion.
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These steps can be taken with a new horse being started and a horse that has already been started that you may have just purchased and want to get to know. Both Ruth and I have completed the process she describes with our horses with great success.
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I will see if I can find the thread and let you know which one it is so you can find it and read it.
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See you later,
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Gen
Hello again,
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That post where Ruth gave the really good explanation can be found by going to the Forum, My Join-Up Experience, How Far to go with Join-Up?
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Hope that helps you. Good luck :-)
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Kind regards,
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Gen
Thanks Gen. I will take a look
Adam
Congratulations on joining the horse world and doing your first join up. It sounds like it was very well done. Your horse wanted no part of you or join up at the start, then realized it would be to his benefit if he let you be the leader. Well Done. Don't worry about not getting all the signs of licking and chewing Sometimes the horses licking and chewing can be very subtle When they are really nervous it becomes a little more obvious.
You are also coming into this with an advantage over many of us 'old timers' in that you don't have any bad habits to overcome, so I would not be surprised if your progress is at lighting speed.
Cheers
Thanks for the encouragement Dennis.
Well done Adam,
Congradulations on your horses!!! A Vanner, my dream horse, WOW.
And Gen is right not to do join-up too many times with the same horse, practise on them all!!!
Welcome to the horse world, you're going to love it and what they teach us.
The best to you,
Ronda
HI Adam,
What an amazing and fantastic journey you have found yourself on!!!! Welcome to the very addictive world of horses :-) On the subject of your join up....sounds like you did good. As you learn your horses language it will all get easier. Never doubt your own abilities is one thing i will say :-) If you go into all this with the right attitude - no violence - you can't lose! I completely agree with Dennis..as a newby you will hopefully bypass all those bad habits we with more experience spend time trying to overcome! hope that makes sense!
Looking forward to hearing more of your journey :-)
Also i agree with Ronda...A Gypsy Vanner....you lucky lucky duck!
Janelle