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Monty Roberts Equus Online University
Horse Training Video Instruction Program

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About This Week’s Lesson

New Series: READY FOR THE VET Part 1: Preparing the Horse for Injections

By:
Debbie Roberts Loucks, USA
Date:
Hello! 2014 Cyberhunt winner 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed
Let's discuss this lesson 🐴
https://www.montyrobertsuniversity.com/training/2031189252
Kicki -- Sweden
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Looks like I'm the first one to answer the "challenge". :)

First off; so nice to see you and Monty together in a vid. :) :)

For the subject of the lesson, I must say I am very happy it is stressed that it doesn't have to be a major circus before you do something about it. Also, you can be so much more popular with your vet if he/she knows he can concentrate on treating the horse rather than his own safety while doing so.
 
Even a minor nuisance can hurt someone quite badly. Horses have had their entire neck ripped up because they stepped away or twitched when the needle hit the skin. Try fixing that experience in a few easy steps!

And people handling (or treating!) them have had thumbs or muscles sprained or been barged into with bruised ribs and toes as a result, because even a pony packs some punch just by moving his head or body.

I know one horse who knocked himself and his owner bloody when he swung his head away, knocked the owners nose and slammed his head into the wall. It wasn't a violent move at all, just the force of a heavy head being moved away at some speed. (And the vet had a brand new injury to treat which took time and focus away from what she was supposed to do.)

 

conniemacklill
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Ms Deb
It is good to see you and your dad in a video together. I would love to meet you and him  one day and I am working on maybe taking a trip out to California hopefully.
It's a great lesson and one that needs to be taken very serious. I agree with Kicki,. Terrible things can happen when the animal only moves his head or body just to dodge or move away from the needle.
I am working with a friends horse now that has that phobia. My friend approached the horse to give him a shot and all the horse did was just spin. But it knocked my friend into the stall door causing the latch to cut his arm bad enough that he required stiches. The horse did nothing to hurt my friend. He was only moving away from a needle. I had to remind my friend over and over, that the horse did not hurt him intentionally.  Sometimes folks take things that horses do  little extreme and blame them for their own stupidity. It is a slow process and these lessons are a tremendous help.
The training Monty is using in these videos can be used not only for introduction to needles but for any type situation.
One of my 5 boys and girls is afraid of the bag on the stick. I was on a trail ride when he bolted almost out from under me because a piece of paper flew across his face. I decided to work with him with the stick and bag. I approached him with it wrapped around the stick and he bolted away so fast he almost ran through the round pen. It took me 20 minutes to calm him down and to get his breathing slowed down. He was snorting and breathing really deep. Now I am using the same approach Monty is using in this video to introduce it to him. I must say, with a cool calm attitude and slow deep breathing process, I have been able to rub it on him on both sides. I'm still working on getting the bag open because I still have it wrapped around the stick. But perfection takes time. Sometimes slow, sometimes it seems like forever but always beneficial to both horse and human.
You can't begin to  imagine how many times I go to the UNI and review videos over and over just to pick up on something I am doing wrong. And to think. 2 years ago I told someone that they couldn't teach me anything about horses. I have learned so much and gained so much respect for my horses since joining. It has changed my entire approach and I will always be thankful I joined.
I am anxious to see the rest of the series.  Keep up the good work and God Bless to you and Monty.
Connie Mack
Debbie Roberts Loucks, USA
Hello! 2014 Cyberhunt winner 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed
Thank you both Connie and Kicki, you're such good students of the horse. In Part 3 we slip in another concept about the olfactory plate. We filmed It while the Ready for Vet was developing. Steel Buns (Bunny) has such a good snort, Dad thought it would be fun to add. Hopefully it makes sense to include it in the series :)  
conniemacklill
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Oh Great!!! The latest video is exactly what I had mentioned before. When I approached my boy with the bag (still wrapped up tightly), he was snorting so bad I was a little afraid he may try to run away completely. He broke loose from my grip and almost ran thru the steel round pen. It took me a while to calm him down.
This new video explained a lot and made it more understandable for me as to why he was snorting.
Thanks for such a great job you guys do. And for all the wisdom and understanding of horses you have.  You have helped me to become a better trainer and a much better listener of my horses needs.
You have actually made me become a student of the horse!!!!!
Connie Mack
conniemacklill
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Sorry.  I need to rephrase my last comment.

You have not made me , but you have tremendously helped me to become a better student of the horse!!!
For that I give you Thanks
Connie Mack
Debbie Roberts Loucks, USA
Hello! 2014 Cyberhunt winner 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed
🤠 Dad uses the word 'cause' to explain better how we can impart knowledge. I like that. Many people say 'make the horse do it' by training them, but he says 'cause the horse to want to do it' That's better, yes? 

Hopefully the lessons have 'caused' you to become a better student of the horse :)
Kicki -- Sweden
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I do like that wording, Debbie. It can be translated into Swedish as well, but the meaning in English is clearer.

About snorting; True story! I was at a clinic/camp where a couple of riders were having a dressage lesson with the other half of the group watching (on horseback). 
As it happened a pony in the spectator row (the others where warmbloods) snorted to clear his nose and got a huge reaction out of one of the other horses, almost unseating his rider. 
But that wasn't the end of it. 
The pony regarded the reacting horse with pricked ears and after a few seconds... snorted again. 
And, again, the big horse flew away. 
The pony - and I saw this clearly because I was watching him closely - pricks his ears and fully on purpose - I can swear to it! - makes a really big snort with the result that all three horses in the arena bolts. 
I can also swear to that the pony was snickering his heart out. 
JoHewittVINTA
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Hi guys. Ponies learn instantly. Humphrey, who regularly has a worm count not worth giving a number to, so well less than needing worming, shakes his head whenever he see the syringe. He is relentless in this. His son, Kirk, does the same thing,  Kirk often has a high worm count. When he feels shaking isn't working, he weaves. His sister, Holy Moley, who Monty started under saddle on his Scottish visit in late September 2019, adds to this, when head shaking & weaving from side to side aren't working she puts her chin in the back of my knee. Worming is a 2 person job here. Needles are not much of a problem. They all seem to step up, but Max is best. But wormer are the real bug bear. We've used walking as a distraction, we've used plastic bags as a distraction. These guys are ace at giving me & the vets, a headache! Who couldn't love a pony? Cheers, Jo.
conniemacklill
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I'm happy to say that all 5 of my boys and girls take the needle pretty good and stand still for the Farrier as well. But, when I approach a couple of them with the bag on a stick, that's a new day altogether!!!
Regardless the experience has helped me to understand their feeling and do my best to correct their attitude towards it.
The video series is being a tremendous help in doing so.
Stay well all

Connie Mack
conniemacklill
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In Part 4 Monty really stresses body language and standing still. I totally agree that body language is the most critical thing someone can learn while working or riding. So many times when working with the people, I have to keep reminding them to breathe deep and quit looking into their horses eyes.  Although most domesticated horses have grown up around humans and don't pay that as much attention as one that had little or no contact with humans. But it is something everyone should learn. 
I'm working with a 3 year old gelding now that I just introduced the Dually halter to. With a rope halter I had trouble getting him to respond to almost anything I tried especially walking up my back or trying to lead me while leading. him Once the Dually was on him , I got all PIC responses and had him walking on my shoulder and stopping when I stopped in a couple minutes.  The owner was so impressed with the progress that he wants to buy my halter. (not for sale--any price!!) I did give him the sites address and told him that he needed to join the UNI.
I've long lined him once but used the Dually instead of the bit because he has a tender mouth and I'll try a rubber bit later this week. Does anyone have any comments on using a rubber bit? I've used it several times and only once did I have trouble with it. It actually left small blisters on the sides of the horses mouth. Although I do think that it was my fault because I had worked the horse way to long on that day and the bit did not fit properly.  Sometimes we get worked up so much it's hard to stop. I've learned  like Monty says, slow and incrementally is best.
Good series. Looking forward to more.
Thanks Guys

Connie Mack
Kicki -- Sweden
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed
I can offer a comment on rubber bits based on my own experience.: Ask the horse!
No, seriously, I mean that and not as a quip because I've had three horses. The first one worked well on a regular two piece metal bit, but in winter she much preferred a straight rubber. (Mind you I didn't have enough knowledge or money - or very many bits to choose from even if I had - to try out a whole bunch. On the other hand - she wasn't fussing with it.) 
The second one worked her absolute best on a three-piece rubber bit. 
The third one, my youngster, was used to the Dually or a bitless Micklem so I was convinced he would prefer the - as I thought - kinder rubber bit, but no, no, no! His preference lay with metal and I am quite convinced that the rubber chaffed the corners of his mouth but never had that problem with the other two, so there you go! 
(All tack was well fitted to suit the respective horse.)
conniemacklill
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Kicki

Thanks for your input. I think that the rubber bit I used actually chapped my boys mouth too. And I did work my boy way to long that contributed to the problem also. I've tried it on all  of mine and most accept it with some grace to say.
I just used it on the gelding I'm working with and he takes it like a pro. He wants to chew on it but I think it's because I put honey all over it. He seems to be responding well and I will put his first saddle on him this afternoon. I'm to old to be the first rider, but my granddaughter is always there for me and is more than excited about his first ride. For a 10 year old she is going to be a tremendous handler some day and she's so eager to learn all she can about horses. She's actually my best student and when Deb mentioned about being a student of the horse, she's the first person I thought of.
My bad, as a grand daddy it's just hard not to brag some.
I'll let you know how the first ride and session goes later.
Stay well and safe.
Connie Mack
Kicki -- Sweden
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It's a grandparent's prerogative and duty to brag about their grandchildren. ;)

Do keep us posted! :)
conniemacklill
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To all
First saddle went as good as expected, although we put the first ride off. My neighbor had cut hay the day before and was in the process of raking it into piles. His hay  field is only a couple hundred feet from my round pen and when he would turn his tractor it made a loud screeching noise that spooked the gelding enough I thought it best not to let my baby stay on him.
I laid the saddle in the middle of the pen and had him walk by it several times, then stopped over it long enough for him to smell it out. I picked it up and walked with him with it on my shoulder back to the block. We put the blanket on, then the saddle while he kept looking back trying to see what we were doing.  I did join up with it on and he never tried to buck or kick out. At the block we practiced up and down on the saddle for a few minutes then I have 2 heavy large round balls with handles that probably weigh 10 pounds each,  that we attached together across the saddle.. Still no bucking or resistance even though the balls would bounce on him when he trotted or moved faster than a walk.  The only time he would act like he might do something unexpected is when the tractor made the loud noise. It was bad enough to keep me from letting her ride or spooking him to the point that we create a problem with him that could be avoided or get someone hurt unnecessarily.  As a whole it was all positive and we will be going at it again on Thursday. By the way the horses name is "Romeo" and the owner wants him to be a pleasure horse suitable for trail riding.

Connie Mack

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