JOIN UP WITH YOUR HORSE #1

Today lets just simply start by talking about join up and what it actually is. Join-Up training methods are most simply expressed in the process of starting raw horses. Without the use of pain or force the trainer persuades a raw horse to accept a saddle, bridle and rider. Working in a round pen, one begins Join-Up® by making large movements and noise as a predator would and begins driving the horse to run away. She then gives the horse the option to flee or Join-Up®. Through body language, the trainer will ask, "Will you pay me the respect due to a herd leader and join and follow me?" The horse will respond with predictable herd behavior: by locking an ear on her, then by licking and chewing and dropping his head in a display of trust. The exchange concludes with the trainer adopting passive body language, turning her back on the horse and without eye contact, invites him to come close. Join-Up occurs when the animal willingly chooses to be with the human and walks toward her accepting her leadership and protection. This process of communication through behavior and body language and mutual concern and respect, can be a valuable tool to strengthen all other work with horses.
Now there are alot of people out there that dont believe in non violent training and say that they just dont have time for it. In other words they believe they can do what I do faster. I have a clip here on youtube that you need to watch. Its Monty Roberts giving a demonstration on Join Up. He will take this fresh horse, and have it saddled and rode for the first time in like 30 minutes. Now if you can do it faster than that, then by all means go at it!! Check out the link of the day and tell me what you think. Again if you have any questions or need some help i would love to help in any way i can!! The link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dx91mH2voo

JOIN UP WITH YOUR HORSE

Today lets talk about the old fashion way of breaking a horse. I am sure that many people are well aware of the cruel ways people break horses. Today though we have many alternatives to using cruelty. I have become very interested in the past few years in a man named Monty Roberts. I have read all his books and watched all his videos. Now I am currently attending his university. I am very excited about sharing the information that I have learned and also tell about the expieriences I have had. I am currently working four young horses. I just sold my mare and now I have a mustang, a grey gelding, and a sorrell gelding that I am riding for another person. I love breaking horses and also fixing other peoples horse problems. I would like to begin with what join up actually is and how you do it. We must discuss the language of Equis and talk about what it all means. I am really exited about all this and I will update at least once a week with a step in the process. If anyone has any questions about how to fix a horse or even just a question about the process or blog please ask. I would love to help!!