I have met a lot of people who are educated by the 'traditional' mathods of horsemanship and have met very few who practice the methods of natural horsemanship. I support and believe in Monty's methods, due to the fact that they have worked for me and work with any horse I handle!
But when traditional horse owners ask me questions about the methods or tell me how they train their horses, I find it impossible to suggest to them that the natural horsemanship methods truely work and could work for them too! I feel like I am imposing or forcing them to practice these methods even if I just explain about the Dually. Or that I am the odd one out and know nothing about how to work with horses.
I have never doubted the methods and would just love to share them with as many people as I can so the world for both horses and humans are improved. Any advice on how to share my experiences with people and allowing them to achieve their own successes with their horse, without making them think I am disagreeing with their methods?
Thankyou Abi x
Hmm, an interesting question... I have the same problem (almost all of us I believe...). What I've seen so far, the best thing you can do is just quietly go in the area where those trainers are and work with your horse just like you were alone. People believe when they see :)
Best Regards,
Mirna, Croatia
I agree, seeing is believing...I never go to local horse events or ride outside of my property but oddly enough somehow I've gained a bit of a reputation as a good trainer and I have people asking me all the time questions about how to train or will I train their horse. Just be enthusiastic about what you know, no need to feel like you're imposing on them...if they're not interested they won't ask.
Abi - being a cytek farrier I know what u are talking about. All u can do is do what works for u and your horses. U can not force anyone to do anything they do not want to do, so don't worry. What u can do is put a positive idea into their head and then just let them pick it up and run with it. Some will and some want. The ones that do pick it up and go with it will more than likley come back and see u re further training or advise and the ones that don't, just don't.
Just my opinion but I would put it to them like this. I can tell you what works for me if you would like to know. That way the choice is theirs to make. I think that would make you feel less pushy. I hope that helps.
Thankyou everyone for your helpful advice, it's nice to know I'm not alone! I will carry on using the methods that work for me and if people want to know I will be happy to explain and if they don't then it's their choice. Thankyou Abi
Yeah, I agree with everyone. Make sure that you don't offend them by saying "Your way is wrong." Many people are very sensitive about it. ;-)
Hi. Monty has answered this - let the horses do the talking. If enough natural horsemen become very successful then attitudes will change. When the attitudes change the speed of it will be amazing. We are all part of this. Monty has witnessed a huge change in his lifetime & the momentum is growing. It is our responsibility, to our horses, to Monty & to the horses of the entire world to hold our nerve & keep the violence free flag flying. People must make the choice to change, as I did. It will come. We will get it done but Rome was not built in a day! Cheers, Jo.
You can lead a human to knowledge,
But you cant make him think.
I am new with horses.
I have an arabian mare 10 years old and looked i have joined up very well.
Everybody was saying that horse loves me. I feel it too till today when i tried to put a girth and put my head down and horse bit me in the shoulder or nipped i can say. i have a scratch and a bruze. No fun there. For two weeks horse is in the pasture in new facilities with another horse and my horse is dominate but there is no harm to another horse. My horse just moving him around from time to time.
I never had an experience with my horse like that. Later i tried again to put a girth and clean his feet but horse pined ears and tries to bite me again. I have backed her up few times but she was obeying but tried again and again when i was trying.
ANYBODY CAN ADVISE ON THAT BEHAVIOUR WHICH SHE NEVER SHOWED BEFORE
Hi. I had a part bred Arab for 24 years. This is a sensitive breed. If you left her for two weeks perhaps you brought up the girth too far & too fast. Mine was a gelding: mares are more difficult. Geldings have less hormones. My suggestion is that you put this incident out of your mind. Not easy. Next, take in a big breath & push out as much air from your lungs as you can - this will make you more calm & lower your adrenaline. Be nice to your mare. Groom her carefully, making sure that her girth area is totally clean. When you saddle her bring the girth up slowly and tighten it in stages, progressively - how would you feel if someone put your corset on & snapped it tight in one go? Do not put your head down. Use your knees & keep the mares head in your vision without staring into her eyes. Do you use a dually halter? Do you follow Montys methods? Have you realised that join up is a way of being with your horse in every situation. The language Equus is a constant dialog with your horse, whatever you are doing. If you throw your fingers around, or your hands, your arms, your eyes, your horse is reading you. Study the Uni & become your mares partner - clearly she felt you were not one with her today but also keep in mind that your experience today was a mare giving a foal a minor dressing down. She has the strength & power to cause serious injury yet she chose not to do that. Something happened that she felt unhappy with & she told you. Your part in this partnership is to work out what & then fix it.
Kelly Marks, Montys UK representative, has a pony called Pie who usually loads into the lorry really eagerly. One day he planted his feet & refused to go in. She did not try & force him; she recognised that he was trying to tell her something so she put him back in his stable & investigated the lorry. She found that exhaust fumes were getting into the container so Pie had a valid reason to not go in - he could have died from the fumes if the journey had been a long one. Trust your mare, she is trying to tell you something. Perhaps she is a little sore somewhere - look for signs whilst grooming her. Ok. You are sore from today but if she was just aggressive she could have broken your collar bone, your arm or your shoulder. She is tring to tell you something. You need to look for the answer & it is unlikely to be 'Your mare is bad'. Cheers, Jo
Hi Kande Horse. That is a brilliant line - I've not heard that before. I hope you won't mind if I adopt it? Cheers, Jo.
you can use that line of course Jo, i now have a new one!!
"you can lead a horse to water but you cant make him shave"
Hi. Ha ha. Neither should we. Whiskers are very important for navigating that long face in the dark. That's one thing I've never done - take off whiskers. If I'm clipping a horse I prefer half neck and face, blanket or trace clip and then all the 'father Christmas' beard can come off. Leave the muzzle intact. It may not look quite as neat but, especially stabled horses bash their faces a lot less with feeler whiskers in place. Cheers, Jo.
yep its true a horse needs its whiskers.never shave them myself.And as i,ve never managed to train a horse to shave himself, the whiskers are staying on haha
Needs the eye whiskers too - we often forget that the eye ones are part of their protection system too.
Hi. Yeah Vicci, that why half face, ending where the curb chain would lie, underside only. Diagonal line from lip, past the eye to base of the ear. Then half neck, to divert rain, via mane, giving enough radiator to prevent too much sweat & protection too, balanced by rugs. The last time I clipped Apollo Le Sheik is was only belly & bottom of neck & face. My pal commented that she thought I'd do more than face & neck. I said "bend down, I've been under his belly". It was literally only the underside I'd clipped. His winter coat was so thick it disguised it. He was an old boy by then & doing very little but sweating greatly with what he was doing. It's called compromise & free thinking. Well, it worked for us. Cheers, Jo.