Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: when the horse is too keen

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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.
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“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
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University Suggestion Box

when the horse is too keen

By:

Sig

Date:

2010-Nov-22 at 04:38PM

About how to work with a horse that is too keen and wants to rush when ridden, how best to get him to settle and be relaxed while still keeping his forward motion

paddyluv123 2010-Nov-23 at 06:27PM

Hi
why dont you try useing half halts to help with it. i know they normaly help me, or maybe if the horse tried to rush to much turn them in a few circles until the stedy out a bit.

horselover 2010-Nov-24 at 01:28AM

With my horse, it only takes a few no's and tight circles to let her know that I dont want to go with her behaviour. Also, I walk her backward in a rush, 'business like' way and she knows to listen to me. No yelling, no whipping, just tight circles with the thought of NO. Hope this helps.

julie m. 2010-Nov-25 at 07:43PM

Sig,

It is unclear if your horse is just full of energy or if he is nervous/afraid. If he's just full of energy, you can look into his food and make sure his grain isn't making him too hot. And you could warm him up thoroughly on the ground doing round pen work, practicing things like sidepasses, turns, even some low jumps to get that excess energy burned off before you ever mount up. I think a lot of folks don't like to take the time to do this (and I'm talking 15-30 minutes for a high energy horse), and from my viewpoint, it really makes a difference between a nice ride and a dangerous one. I don't get on my mare until she is warmed up and really listening to me on the ground. That means she's soft and responsive and calm. I learned that the hard way, and since I don't bounce well anymore, I keep that policy in :).

If your horse is nervous or afraid, then you have a whole other set of issues. Can you describe more thoroughly the circumstances you are running into?

Sig 2011-Mar-22 at 03:45PM

Hi
Thanks for the comments, and sorry about my delayed reply. It sounds like good sound advice, however I ment it as a general question as a topic for a university lesson. I don't actually have a problem horse. :-)