Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: What is to young for join-up?

Learn all about Equus • Dually Halter • Shy Boy Mustang • Jumping Horses
• Story of a Horse Whisperer • Riding Horsemanship • Dressage Horses • Willing Partners
• Horse Training • Round Pen Lessons • Performance Horses • Join-Up

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

← back

Horse Behavior and Training

What is to young for join-up?

By:

Hollyberry

Date:

2012-May-23 at 09:20PM

I have 8 almost 9 month old colt that I have recently trained to lead and am using the dually halter. It has made haltering and leading so much easier. I have recently started to do a little bit of join-up with him. Is he to young for this or maybe I have made some miscommunitcations. The first time in the round pen he was like ok now what? He got this determinded look in his eyes that if you don't move I am going through you. He did it two or three times the first time but the next time I had him in the round pen he only did it once. I haven't done it for a few days now. I always try to end on a good positive note like Monty says to but maybe I am doing something wrong that confuses him. I will keep working on it.

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia 2012-May-24 at 02:31AM

Has your colt been weaned? If so I do not think he would be too young to join up but I would keep it very low key and would try not to confuse him. If he appears confused then just continue working with the dually then try again in a few months time.

Hollyberry 2012-Jun-02 at 05:12AM

Thanks Maggie,

Yes he is weaned. I weaned him at 6 months. He has done very well with the dually. He is such a good little fellow. One of the things that has happened that was not good for him was that our little Jack Russell thinks that when I am in the round pen working the horses he has to be in attendance too. Well he also thinks that he needs to help them move out. After I got him out I went back to what I was doing and it just wasn't as good. So the jack russell is no longer welcomed in the round pen. I try not to push him to much because i want him to have a good experience while in there and not feel endangered.
So far he is doing great.

phantommustang1 Walsenburg, Colorado, USA 2012-Jun-02 at 04:02PM

I learned the hard way not to allow dogs when working with an unbroke horse. I was halter breaking a filly one time when my dog jumped the fence to come with me, and scared the filly, who then whirled around and took off, dumping me on the ground. I landed on my hand and broke it in a rather bad way. So no more dogs allowed, I want the horse's attention on ME. Its much safer that way.

Certified Instructor Ann Lindberg/Sweden 2012-Jun-04 at 05:15AM

When they are WELL WEANED OF - you can do your first join-up on your horse
FInd great information in From My hands To Yours - a whole chapter on it. Good Luck!
Warmest Ann Sweden