
Join up can let our horses have a good run and a buck and warm their back up before settling into focus and work. Horses learn from the release of pressure. Whatever a horse is consistently doing when you take the pressure off them they will learn to do.
Full Answer
How to join up with a horse?
How to Join Up With a Horse. A 'join up' is a trust activity developed by avid horseman Monty Roberts. Joining up involves using a loose schooling activity and developing awareness of a horse's body language cues. The technique aims to give the horse a choice between accepting the trainer as a herd leader or not.
What is a'join up'with a horse?
A 'join up' is a trust activity developed by avid horseman Monty Roberts. Joining up involves using a loose schooling activity and developing awareness of a horse's body language cues. The technique aims to give the horse a choice between accepting the trainer as a herd leader or not.
Do you chase your horses until they quit?
Not chasing our horses until they quit (FYI this is also why join up works). You are clear and consistent on what you want the horse to do and what will happen to them when they do it. There are clear consequences to their behaviour and it is followed through on.
Is free lunging your horse a good idea?
The premise being that when you horse shows these signs of submission they are ready to approach you and bond with you. When you are free lunging your horse you are wanting them to change direction by turning into you not away from you. This also encourages the join up process. It gets the zoomies out.

How long does it take a horse to join up?
It is scientifically sound to make this assumption for the flight animal. Traditional ways of starting a horse with his first saddle and rider can take upwards of 6-8 weeks, while Monty's methods can take a fraction of the time without the loss of trust.
How do you get a horse to join up with you?
8:0213:54Monty Roberts explains Join-Up® with Equus, the horse - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipJust as plain as day. Now watch when I open my hand you don't have to hit a horse to get him to goMoreJust as plain as day. Now watch when I open my hand you don't have to hit a horse to get him to go faster. I can open my hand and pick a speed up immediately.
Can you do join up without a round pen?
You might remember that, for me, the most important element in Monty Roberts' Join Up is that the choice to join up, to trust, belongs to the horse. It is not forced by the human. And when the horse makes that choice freely, of its own free will, everything changes.
How do you hook up with a horse?
Here, she's come up with seven ways to spend time with your horse.Try mutual grooming with your horse. There are many things you can learn by watching your horse. ... Try positive Reinforcement. ... Go for a walk. ... Play with your horse. ... Try agility with your horse. ... Chill out. ... Try online showing.
How long should you let a horse settle in before riding?
You should always give the horse at least 24 full hours in the paddock before attempting to ride him/her.
What is the first thing to do when you bring a horse home?
Slowly transition your horse to his new hay and grain. The proper protocol is to start with 100% of his old feed for a few days, then replace 25% with new feed. After a few more days, replace 50%, and then 75%, and then 100% new feed. The entire process should take two weeks.
Can I train my horse without a round pen?
0:102:31Horse Training: How to Do Groundwork Without a Round PenYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd the answer is no you can get a lot accomplished.MoreAnd the answer is no you can get a lot accomplished.
How do you gain a horse's trust?
5:1414:48How to Get a Horse to Trust You - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLead them through the barn into their stall. All this other stuff it will help them start toMoreLead them through the barn into their stall. All this other stuff it will help them start to envision you as their leader. And start to learn to trust you and to follow you no matter the circumstance.
How do you get a horse to submit?
2:475:16How to get your horse on the bit... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipContact on my outside rain. And then with my inside fingers i'm going to squeeze. And give a littleMoreContact on my outside rain. And then with my inside fingers i'm going to squeeze. And give a little on those inside fingers. And teach my horse to give and come on the bit like.
How do you tell if a horse dislikes you?
Common Displayed Behaviors:dragging you to a patch of grass in order to graze.refusing to walk any faster when being led.jerking their head up when you ask them to lower it.not picking up their feet when asked.refusing to go forward.pulling back on the lead rope when tied.refusing to move over as you groom them.More items...•
How do you do a join up?
1:515:49HOW TO DO A JOIN UP - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo I walk in front of him where he's about to go change the width and change. The hand that the whipMoreSo I walk in front of him where he's about to go change the width and change. The hand that the whip is in and then I point him in the direction signaling. Him to go the other direction.
What does it mean when a horse snorts at you?
Other horse behavior experts say that snorting doesn't mean anything — the horses are just clearing their noses or responding to itchiness and discomfort, just like we humans do. Still, others say that snorting can be a consequence of negative emotions.
What is join up in horse training?
4:5515:33Join up with Horses: What does it Mean in Horse Training - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHorse looks quiet he's focused on you he wants to be with you he chooses you he trusts you I meantMoreHorse looks quiet he's focused on you he wants to be with you he chooses you he trusts you I meant you're looking at bibs that's your pet oh he sees the cows out. There. It's a big boy yep.
How do you get a horse to submit?
2:475:16How to get your horse on the bit... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipContact on my outside rain. And then with my inside fingers i'm going to squeeze. And give a littleMoreContact on my outside rain. And then with my inside fingers i'm going to squeeze. And give a little on those inside fingers. And teach my horse to give and come on the bit like.
How do you do join up?
1:515:49HOW TO DO A JOIN UP - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo I walk in front of him where he's about to go change the width and change. The hand that the whipMoreSo I walk in front of him where he's about to go change the width and change. The hand that the whip is in and then I point him in the direction signaling. Him to go the other direction.
How do you free lunge a horse?
0:334:56How to Free Lunge a Horse - Horse Training Series with Kelly Alley #10YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd I'm gonna ask her to move around the outside of the round pin. Now again the key to free lungingMoreAnd I'm gonna ask her to move around the outside of the round pin. Now again the key to free lunging staying at their hips even. Though she is loose staying to their hip is key.
What is join up in horses?
Join-Up is the title Monty Roberts has given to the body of his work with horses without violence. To define Join-Up, however, requires a narrower view of the term. Join-Up is that moment when the horse decides that it is better to be with the person than to go away. Join-Up can be achieved with all horses of any age or background.
How long does it take to start a horse?
Traditional ways of starting a horse with his first saddle and rider can take upwards of 6-8 weeks, while Monty’s methods can take a fraction of the time without the loss of trust. Join-Up methods rely on horse and trainer establishing a bond of communication and trust.
How many copies of The Man Who Listens to Horses have been sold?
My autobiography The Man Who Listens to Horses has sold six million copies which still astonishes me. It seems to have touched a chord with people who know that horses and people are experiencing violence and seek better ways to communicate.
Why do horses use body language?
I soon realized horses use a discernible and predictable body language to communicate, to set boundaries, show fear and express annoyance, relaxation or affection. In a moment that would change my life, I understood that utilizing this silent body language would allow training to commence in a much more effective and humane manner, encouraging true partnership between horses and me. ‘Join-Up’ would become the foundation of all my work with horses and later people, too.
What is the Right Horse Initiative?
And we have recently partnered with the Right Horse Initiative to help realize their goals of “creating a national partner network of equine professionals that create unity for the horse industry” and “fostering a more compassionate, pragmatic support system for those doing right by people and by horses”.
What is join up in science?
The practice of Join-Up is a commitment to a path that two species travel together in search of commonality, friendship and survival. The process has no time constraints; it has no definable beginning or end. The process does not begin when you arrive at the barn to meet your horse; it begins when you wake up in the morning and exists even as you sleep.
When did I learn to listen to horses?
I first learned to listen to horses while observing wild mustangs in Nevada at the age of thirteen. Sent there to round up horses for the Salinas Rodeo Association’s Wild Horse Race, I spent hours silently watching the feral horses interact with each other.
What is join up in horses?
A horse’s fear and natural flight instincts are what join up is meant to overcome, so that the horse willingly accepts a trainer’s presence, touch , and handling . It establishes a good foundation for all other training that will follow. The way join up works is the horse is put in a round pen or other enclosure.
Is it good to join up with a horse?
A big misconception about join up is that it will benefit every horse. Horses are individuals and each one has different experiences in its past that have formed its thinking. Most young colts or horses that have had very little handling will respond well to join up. However, horses that have been ridden for years and are very gentle may not understand the concept at all, since they have no fear or mistrust of their handler. Horses that have learned negatively or been abused may never join up with a trainer, either, since their fear level has been built up and strengthened. So join up is not for every horse, and it isn’t guaranteed to work. Many people watch a trainer work with a horse and think that getting the horse to follow you is the ultimate goal and constitutes “bonding”. This is not necessarily true, and the horse’s following simply means that the horse has accepted its situation and has learned to respond to the trainer to avoid being driven away.
What is joining up in horse racing?
Join up is where you free lunge your horse in a round yard.
How do horses learn?
Horses learn from the release of pressure. Whatever a horse is consistently doing when you take the pressure off them they will learn to do. So if you take the pressure of the lunge whip off when your horse shows relaxation cues, or calmly approaches you, they will learn to give multiple, loud relaxation cues and approach you calmly… eventually so they don’t have to lunge anymore.
Why do we expect horses to be unflappable?
We honestly expect a lot more of our horses than we do of other animals. Because they are so big and we want to sit on them we expect a naturally flighty animal to be unflappable (get it cause they’re often scared of flappy plastic bags). We not only expect them to be cool, calm and collected in all environments but we also want them to be steady and balanced when they work no matter what kind of performance pressure we put on them.
What does it mean when a horse is free lunging?
When you are free lunging your horse you are wanting them to change direction by turning into you not away from you. This also encourages the join up process.
Can running energy out of your body teach you how to shift your emotional state?
Just running the energy out of them so that they can focus doesn’t teach them how to shift their emotional state.
How to join up a horse?
What I do is simply work them in the round pen or on a line until they show signs of submission then I stop, turn my back and take a couple steps away. when the horse begins to follow and come to you that is the join up. Stand there for a couple minutes if they don't move toward you then work them some more.
Why do horses join up?
Lastly, Join-up works for the same reason that any horse training system works- negative refinforcement and classical conditioning. There is no mystery or magic to its effectiveness and it has nothing to do with the horse thinking that the trainer is another horse or that the trainer speaks its language. We lack a lot of the features that horses use to communicate with each other, like moveable ears, heads on long necks, tails, four legs etc.
How to tell if a horse is dominant?
Lastly, there is no evidence in any of the peer reviewed studies of wild horses that head lowering, licking and chewing and ear orientation are signs of a horse "submitting to, respecting" or any other kind of acknowledgement of leadership of another horse. The only reliable sign that one horse acknowledges that another horse is more dominant than it is by moving away. Not coming towards or coming closer. Avoidance is the key indicator horse researchers use to tell who is top horse and who is not when studying wild horse herds.
Why is it absurd to chase a horse away?
As loosie and others have pointed out, its rather absurd to chase a horse away in order to get it to come towards you and stay with you. In learning theory terms what you are doing is punishing it for the very behaviour you will reinforce (reward) moments later.
Why does my horse give me her ear?
It's just that you're telling them to leave, so of course they're focussed on other places! When the horse 'gives you' her ear, it's because she's run 'away' & you've kept pushing, so eventually she realises that her current behaviour isn't working to get you to quit pushing, so she's looking at you wondering what signals she may have missed, what she can do to get you to stop.
What does experience tell you about horses?
Every horse is different and experience is what will tell you how to handle each one, in join up or otherwise. While you're still earning the experience a good trainer can tell you instead
Why do animals chew?
Its thought to be due to the drying effects of adrenaline on saliva production.
