well, at the time when they asked me I said that I would do it because at the beginning I was just interested in it and then I experienced - with very little knowledge - incredible successes. That would give me trust in it and I would also feel that horses start trusting me and really WANT to work with or for me.
Today these people do not ask anymore because they have seen the very good results on "my" horses and on their horses if I have been working with them.
At the beginning I was shy to work in new places because people would watch and maybe doubt. But I learned to ignore them or better: to involve them and let them have the same fun as I have using Join-Up, talking Equus and listening to theses incredible animals
I never had the chance to experiment try a true join-up with any horse yet because they're is no round pen in any stables in Montreal an even the padocks are not only squared but also to smals to try anthing. The truth is I still don't know much about horses because I never had a good teacher besides from Monty Roberts book and learning by myself from the horses gestures. I can tell by looking at them if they're happy about the driver if they're tired or taking they're time. If they're quick from been green or from being pushed. Carriage draft horses are supposed to be slow. Well not all the time but if you let them go a draft horse can be very slow without being so tired. Because it's hot or other reasons.
Because I let Bella do has she feels sometimes she's one of the slowest but most of the time she's faster. Because she's good hearted and because I let her rest when she needs it. Otherwise she would have been on 3 legs since a long time.
But if you judge only by the speed I got told by a Lady on the street that my poor horse was tired once that I was taking out a big white Percheron in the beginning of his first ride after a very long break. Of course if you expect the draft horse to walk like a warmblood... Draft horses are going to walk fast if they're green and uncertain about they're new habitat, if they're cold, underworked or if the driver is pushing them. But a calm slow pace is almost what I'm asking for. Anyway for me no trotting without a reason is allowed. Because on pavement it's to hard on the cartilages. It's just like joggers they should always do it on grass, sand or other natural ground that absorb the shocks.
That big white Percheron that I was talking about his name is Joly and he's one of my favorites. He's really old and no working amymore but still alive. He's one of the smartest horse I know. When I was driving him he was doing special things. Like he would turn around and stare at me until I would come down from the carriage to give him a rub. Or once he got on the sidewalk to give me a big kiss (I was sitting there) and then got back on the street by himself before I couldn't say anything because he knew he had no business on the sidewalk.
As Monty says, you can't force learning...create the environment to allow those willing to learn.