Wednesday February 5, 2019

Greetings!
Question  
Hi Monty, I have a ex racehorse mare that I struggle to get in from the field. She’s good to go into the field and is happy while out there. But when I try get her in from the field she’ll plant her feet and if I do manage to get her to move she’ll continuously canter circles round me, she has run me over before, until we’re back to the yard. Also, if other horses get too close to her on either side she bolts and runs in blind panic and has run through and into fences on multiple occasions. Any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated. 

Kind regards,
Immy

Answer 
Dear Immy,

If you don’t have Dually Halter , then you need one. I will explain more about the equipment in the next paragraph. First, you need your own physiology to be right using diaphragmatic breathing. If your adrenaline is up, your horse’s will likely rise as well. Breathing and relaxing will create a calmer environment for you and the horse. 

Second,  appropriate equipment is essential to help build your confidence. Use a longer lead than most people use. I use a 30-foot line, but if your hands are smaller, a 17-foot line is sufficient for training. With this, if she is inclined to bolt you have more line in your hand to bring her around with. To train, find a time when you can focus on her, with no deadlines. Use an area with good footing, appropriate for safe training. I suggest you school your mare to stand still, walk when you walk, stop when you stop, and back up when you back up.

These skills will transfer to more challenging areas. Once you have your mare living to the rules you have trained for and once you get this behavior modified, go to the field and repeat the process. It may not be easy, but I know it will work.

Sincerely,
MONTY'S EQUUS ONLINE UNIVERSITY
THIS WEEK'S EPISODE
ONLINE PRODUCT REVIEW

"It works! I’m very happy with the Dually Halter ! I’m using it on three different horses, with three very different personalities, and I can use as much or as little pressure as each one needs. Next, I’ll be using it for trailer-loading training. I’m expecting the halter to make it very easy!"
UPCOMING EVENTS    
USA
June 21 to 23, 2020:  The Movement 2020  at Flag Is Up Farms in California
USA
September 11 to 13 , 2020:  CHA Equine Facility Manager Certification  at Flag Is Up Farms
THE MONTY ROBERTS INTERNATIONAL LEARNING CENTER
March 6 to 8, 2020 Horse Sense and Healing
Photo credit: Sharon Jantzen

HORSE SENSE & HEALING WORKSHOPS


Horse Sense & Healing for Veterans and First Responders: Read more about Monty's life changing workshops here: https://montyroberts.com/non-profit/horse-sense-and-healing/
REDUCING VIOLENCE THROUGH WORKSHOPS
WITH HORSES GLOBALLY

These kids from Trebago Child Welfare have never had the opportunity to be with horses in a therapeutic context; and perhaps they won’t again. But studies have shown that even just a few hours with an inspiring person (or horse?) can have a permanent and positive effect in a young person’s life. We wish we could do more in Lead-Up. But at the very least we are planting a seed; a seed of non-violence, self awareness and resilience

Photo: Monty Roberts Certified Instructor Simon Marrier d'Unienville conducts a Lead-Up clinic for in South Africa

MONTY'S CHALLENGE

Test yourself each week as I challenge you to answer the question below. I mean this. Sit down and write an answer. Don't wait for my answer next week. If you have been reading my Weekly Questions and Answers for the last six months, you should be in a position to do this. Send your answer to my team at:  askmonty@montyroberts.com  
 
Why should you bother? Because it will help you focus. There is probably a comparable question in your life that needs answering... or will be. If you can gain insight into how to go about answering a practical question that is loosely related to your problem, this exercise will help you answer your nagging question. Then read my answer. I want all of my students to learn to be better trainers than me.That's good for you and good for horses! 
 
~ Monty 
  
NEXT WEEK'S QUESTION

In Ireland at the moment there is, as you probably know from Caitriona, Patrick, and Caroline, a growing interest in horsemanship that rejects violent training methods. Catriona has been of immense help to me from a distance, and I did a course with Caroline Jennings a few years back (and with Kelly, many moons ago).

But, there is a growing group that seem to say that any method that is not their method, which they term "positive reinforcement" is wrong. Their method is clicker training, to the best of my knowledge.

I must admit, the results look great, and I support any good non-violent training method. Indeed, I have a small, once abused, pony, that could probably do well with this training. I’m sending you a link to this website, and while I think there are a lot of good practice in what Philippa Christie says, I really object to the inference that any other method is wrong. The method involves treats – non-stop treats.

As a Montessori trained teacher, this kind of motivation goes against the grain as the ideal would be that the student would respond from an intrinsic desire to do the right thing, and not for a treat. I feel that followers of the clicker method would work towards non-treat motivation, I don’t know enough about it at the moment to say if this is the case or not. The Irish exponents of this first came to my attention when they posted the study that "cast doubt" on natural horsemanship and Monty’s methods in particular, and negative comments regarding natural horsemanship escalated.

Best Wishes,
Dee


FIND A MONTY ROBERTS CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR  
 
Find a Monty Roberts Certified Instructor  near you. All courses offered by certified instructors give students effective tools to communicate using the horse's own natural language, forming a partnership based on trust and communication rather than dominance. Visit the certified instructor web page here: https://montyroberts.com/learning-center/certified-instructors/
SHARE ASK MONTY WITH FRIENDS