Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: Overly Desensitized horse and Join-Up

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Watch Monty's horse training videos to learn how he demonstrates communication through horse training techniques that the amateur and professional alike consider to be the trainable skills of a horse whisperer yet Monty calls it horse gentling.
Monty's horse training techniques are non violent with intelligent natural horsemanship. In addition to video instructions, Monty has written many books related to natural horsemanship. Monty trains safe horses for nervous riders called Willing Partners. Monty trains world class race horses for sale.
“I am very proud to be a part of Her Majesty’s horse training and her passion for their welfare. I believe she is the leading monarch for the advocacy of horses in the world. She is a thought leader in this field. Her Majesty's horses are trained using the Dually Halter, making a difference in the training of sensitive animals by giving the horse the choice to partner in the training.” ~ Monty
“I communicate with a horse in what I call the Language of Equus; a silent language of gestures that is discernible, predictable and effective. Now you can learn from my videos, audio and notes to help you understand the horse as I do. This language is really quite simple, but simplicity becomes its greatest strength.” ~ Monty
Monty Roberts is a renowned horse trainer known as the man who listens to horses and the original horse whisperer. Monty's horse training instructions are accepted worldwide.
Monty has helped thousands of people globally through his Monty Roberts Online Videos to learn how to Join-Up with horses, training young horses, spooky horses, horses that bite. His mustang , Shy Boy , is his most famous horse.
Join-Up methods help horse and trainer to establish a bond of communication and trust. “You must somehow understand that we as horsemen can do very little to teach the horse. What we can do is to create an environment in which he can learn.” ~ Monty
Monty says, “We hear that ‘actions speak louder than words,’ but generally we do not live by it too successfully.” Now Monty has taught thousands of people worldwide how to build trust in animals through our actions and body language.
Monty’s principles really amount to common sense and immense patience. He believes that children and horses have the same behavioral patterns. They are both naturally “flight” animals. "If you frighten them and resort to confrontation, you’ll lose their trust." ~ Monty
"Simple one-on-one reassurances and praise reap long term dividends that can all be undone with the quick slamming of a book on a desk or shouting back." ~ Monty Roberts
"No one of us was born with the right to say 'You must or I'll hurt you' to any other living thing, animal or human". ~ Monty Roberts
"My life's goal is to leave the world a better place than I found it, for horses and for people too". ~ Monty Roberts

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Horse Behavior and Training

Overly Desensitized horse and Join-Up

By:

megkirk19

Date:

2020-Mar-04 at 07:16PM

Ok guys, this is my first time asking something on the forum. I have two horses and older Arabian who is the most easy going horse I've ever known. He is also Super desensitized, which in his case means that he hardly responds to pressure of any kind if he doesn't want to (Nothing fazes this horse). I also have a yearling Quarter Horse, and I am working on his ground manners. I would like to do join up with both but feel that it would be best to practice on my Arabian first to make sure I feel comfortable with the process before trying it with my baby boy. My fear is that my Arabian will not respond (again he does not usually move off pressure in the round pen), if he does not do any of you have suggestions for 1)how long I should keep trying to get him moving before it's just a moot point and 2) any techniques you've used before to get a desensitized horse to respond. This may seem like a premature question but I want to have some strategies in the back of my mind to get him going if we run into this. Thank you in advance!

JoHewittVINTA 2020-Mar-06 at 03:00AM

Hi Meg & welcome to the Uni. My Humphrey would just stand despite all the usual encouragements to move. Plastic - usual carrier bags on a stick didn't work, even when flopped on his back/bum or sides so I tried something a bit more, a plastic feed sack. Have you ever watched someone shake the wrinkles out of clothing before pegging it on the line? A sharp flick & the wet clothing was hung up virtually wrinkle free. I chose a predominantly white bag & it worked - initially a bit too well but once he realised it wasn't going to hurt him he got the idea. We changed to a very long, narrow piece of plastic bag on a stick once the president was set as the 2 handed sack flapping was impractical long term. The white, long, snake-like thing can make wiggly movements with crinkly noises to keep enthusiastic forward movement going. Hope this is helpful. Humphrey gradually progressed to respond to long line & leg slapping but it did take time & patience. Cheers, Jo.

megkirk19 2020-Mar-07 at 01:24AM

Thank you! I definitely have some empty feed bags lying around so that's a great idea!

JoHewittVINTA 2020-Mar-07 at 03:40PM

Hi. Don't forget to square up to him, fix your eyes/stare at his head, up your adrenaline (breath faster & more shallow) & place yourself in the driving position of behind him & slightly to the side so he has every reason to move away. Good luck. Jo.