I had a wonderful experience with the two horses I recently rescued doing a join-up in a quite large arena. There is not a round pen at our stable so, I just went for it in the large arena. One horse did the expected corner-hide move several times before she decided to keep the circles. She took about 8-9 minutes to have a nice join-up where she had to walk a good 25 feet to me after I turned to draw her in. The other horse, however, was ready for join-up and following me around from the beginning. She didn't really get the whole move out thing. It seemed like I would have to really chase her off if I wanted her to move out and around independently. That didn't seem like a natural option. Rather, I just accepted that she already trusted me enough to follow me nose to shoulder everywhere I went around the arena, even over poles and weaving through cones! Is this the arrival point or is there something else?
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Interesting here medicinalarts. I believe you are right. Some horses have done join up so much in the past or are so very quiet already that they do not need a join up session. I have finally come to this conclusion with my shetland. You may have read the very extensive discussion we have all had under my heading "join-up with a shetland?". I tried join-up again with him yesterday but it again failed and I have to accept the conclusion that he is just too quiet and it just needlessly confuses and worries him to have me trying to send him out. When our horses are that good I guess we do not need join-up as they have already given us that.
I have three horses, and my two young mares have been very trusting since I got them. The two are always following me around and always come to me when I go outside. I have not been able to attempt join up with any of my horses because I really have no place to do it yet, I have a 4 acre pasture and a little paddock where they have there shelter and everything but I am building a round pen. I think I may have the same experience as you guys especially with my youngest mare/filly since she is glued to my shoulder wherever I go out. My thinking is that join-up is done to build trust and if the trust is already there then join-up is already accomplished. I do think join-up will help a lot with my gelding though, he tolerable and calm he just doesn't have a lot of interest with being with people. I can't wait to see the difference with him.
I agree Almira. I actually regret trying it with my shetland as I have lost a little bit of that precious trust that was there. He is still friendly and comes to me and follows me around but he is a little more mindful of me. I think trying and failing gives a pretty bad outcome so if you find your youngest mare doesn't go out willingly then I wouldn't push her too much. I suspect though that being a young horse she will go out for you and that you will be well rewarded by doing join up with her. Good luck with building your round pen but the smaller paddock you have could be sufficient.
I was going to try to attempt join up in my paddock when I first got my two mares because during the first few days I was unable to get the halter off my oldest mare, she didn't mind me petting her and stuff but she just didn't want my hands up like that I guess. The problem is they have there is a shelter, water tub, trees for shade/windblock so it is too much like a obstacle course to keep her moving, plus the pasture is connected to the paddock so my mare was partial to staying on that side of the fence with here sister. So in the beginning I got past trust issues just by spending a LOT of time with them, which actually taught me a lot about them. If our relationship is so good now I can't wait till we accomplish join up. :)