Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: What did I do Wrong???

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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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My Join-Up® Experience

What did I do Wrong???

By:

caiti.jane

Date:

2011-Nov-25 at 03:17AM

I decided to try join up with my horse about a month after buying her. She seems to be a more dominant mare, so it took ages for her to move even when i tapped her lightly on the but with the lunge line and tried running at her, waving my arms, etc. when i finally got her moving she galloped laps of the paddock with me trying to keep up with her for an hour. by then we were both exhausted and she absolutely would not move unless it was to go back to the shed where i keep her food!!

star 2011-Nov-25 at 11:27AM

Good morning cati.jane,
It is more difficult to do join-up with out a round pen, not impossible but more difficult.
A dually halter really comes in handy as well to earn respect from your horse, in schooling her when they are dominant.
I'm sorry your attempt was exhausting.
I can't realy say what you did wrong, per say, but I can make a few suggestions.
With a dominant horse the best thing you can do for yourself and the horse is avoid any aggression on your part, if we have a battle with a horse they will always win.
They out-weigh us by a few hundred pounds!!!
Perhaps tapping her on the butt wasn't a good idea, she may have interputed this as an aggressive act on your part and therefore wanted to escape from you.
Not a good beggining for join-up.
The purpose of join-up is not to get your horse moving as much as it is to get the language of equus going between you.
She understands what to do, it is us that need to learn their language.
You did great by waving your arms.
Another thing to remember is the snapping of your eyes on eyes, I call it the mother-in-law look.
At the beginning, when you go to release her, you do not look her in the eyes, at all.
Then when you release her from the line, you snap your eyes up into hers, she will interrupt this as a warning from you to move it, now.
At this point, if she doesn't get the message, as you are standing in the middle of the round pen, you can wave your arms, make a lot of noise, slap the line on your knee, cluck loudly and approach her with your shoulders square and your head slightly forward and walk firmly towards her.
You do not run, your body language has to be firm, do not go directly to her, she has to see your eyes.
Once she is moving, keep your eyes on her eyes to keep her going in the same direction, when she has done around five laps in one direction, turn her.
You do this by putting one arm up in the air, step slightly towards her, in front of her, and slap the line on your knee. She should turn and do the same amount of laps on that side.
Turn her again and lower your energy level, keeping your eyes on eyes. You want her moving still but to start to negociate with you, the language of equus.
The ears, licking, smaller circles, and the bowing of her head.
Monty's video's explain this really well and he can tell you where to go next.
I hoped this has helped and I know you'll get it right soon.
Have a great day,
Ronda