Hi, everyone!
I'm very new to this Join-Up thing but I already have an awesome experience I want to share with everyone!
I have done Join-Up three times with my favorite horse, Biscut. Biscut is kind of a problem horse who has a very strong will and likes to decide what goes down. He always bucks at the transition to canter so if anyone has some tips for me there, I would really appreciate it.
Anyway! I want to tell you all what happened the third time I did Join-Up with Biscut! Here it is:
I was bringing Biscut in from the paddock to get him ready for the drill team we're on. I had to cut through the enormous indoor arena because the strip of paddock leading to the barn was way too icy to lead a horse across. Inside the arena, I glanced behind me to see the rest of the herd following us. I stepped aside to let them in so they could run around and get their bucks out. Biscut looked like he wanted to join so I took off his halter and watched the herd run around in happy-crazy horse fashion.
After a few minutes, they settled down and started rolling. People had already begun to arrive so I went into the herd to get my Biscut. When I got close to him, he said he wasn't done playing yet and trotted away with a mishchievious glint in his eye. I started to follow him when I got a better idea. Instead of playing his little game, I changed the rules he had set out completely. I brought my eyes to his and sent him away with the lead rope. Immediately, his inside ear locked on to me and he gave me a confused look as he cantered away. The indoor arena is unbelievably big so I had to run for a long time before I caught up to him in the corner and sent him away again. Now he was really interested. After repeating the run-away, catch-up, send-away routine a few times, Biscut stopped galloping and started trotting. His circles got way smaller and now it was as if we were in a round pen even though we were in a wide-open space and we were both weaving through ten dozing horses.
I relaxed a little when he started giving me more attention and let him slow to a walk. He immediately dropped his head, and I got so excited! He had naturally given me three signs of Join-Up already! I wanted to hug him!
A few more minutes passed and I lazily swung the lead rope to cue him to pick up the trot. He did it quickly and then I let him slow down again. I got a little bit of licking and chewing so I passed his balance point and turned away. Biscut immediately stopped and stared at me, but he made no move to come in. At first, I was really disappointed. Then I remembered arcing. I turned to face him, walked back across his balance point, and turned away again. It didn't work so I tried again. Several tries later, Biscut suddenly walked toward me. He stopped a few feet away so I had to reach out to scratch his head, but guess what! It worked! It was so cool! I walked away from him and he totally started following me around like a little puppy! I was so proud of him! Ha-ha! I almost started crying! Even though I had done a successful Join-Up once before (emphasis on 'once'), I was just so amazed with this one! I've heard about Monty Roberts' horse Shy Boy but I don't know the details of his story. Was this sort of what Monty did with him? This was one of the most amazing experiences of my life!
Thanks, Monty, for all your help and being willing to share your awesome horse skills with avid horse fans like me! Nickers, ya'll!