Wednesday February 27, 2019
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Question
Hi Monty,
My horse is terrified of the sound velcro makes, it's a nightmare with rugs, fly masks, etc, because a lot of them have velcro on. Any advice welcome, as she throws herself backwards. She is a Welsh section D. She's had a lot of homes until I had her because of behavior problems. She wouldn't be ridden, she threw everyone off, turned her bum on you in stable, wouldn't be caught. She is in her forever home with me and I've taken her back to basics and started with getting her to trust me, grooming and just being relaxed when touched etc. I joined your
Online University
and we have come on leaps and bounds, she's enjoying being ridden, we're still in early stages and she's doing great. Just velcro and carrier bags are our nemesis.
Lisa Wragg
Answer
Dear Lisa,
Horses go faster when you squeak or cluck to them. I have written that the reason horses pick up speed with the squeaking sound we make with our lips and tongue is because it emulates the sound of breaking twigs by a hungry lion. A tiny twig broken under the foot of a predator will send most horses off at a high rate of speed.
The sound of velcro is like a major branch, not just a tiny twig. Having said these things, horses can become accustomed to almost anything. If a certain sound is repeated often without pain or injury connected with it, horses will eventually accept that sound. Recently I had occasion to have an animal housed near an emergency generator. The generator would start automatically whenever there was a power outage.
We recently has a lot of bad weather and many power outages. I noticed cuts on the nose and face of this animal. Literally I saw an explosion of fear upon the engine start up. What I decided to do was move the animal further from the generator, have someone hold him and then we physically started the engine several times, gradually moving our ‘victim’ closer and closer to the generator. Within about a half an hour he could put his nose near the generator and allow it to start and stop without any reaction at all.
The lesson in this is not to hide the velcro, but start out with it further from the animal and gradually move closer and closer, ripping the velcro apart over and over again. It's amazing to see the race horses at the major tracks of the world allowing velcro closures to be ripped off their legs after each workout, only tolerated because it is repeated many times without pain and injury.
Sincerely,
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MONTY'S EQUUS ONLINE UNIVERSITY
THIS WEEK'S EPISODE
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ONLINE REVIEW: MONTY'S LONG LINES
Soft and light!
I bought these for two reasons, they’re pain free for my horse and they are very light. I was using a 20' lead rope which was heavier and hurt when I would slap my legs and shoulders with it. I haven’t long lined yet but I can’t wait to try, I really love these and I practice tossing and coiling a lot! Thanks so much for the online university with all of your instructional videos!
Jonathan B., Verified Buyer
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THE MONTY ROBERTS INTERNATIONAL LEARNING CENTER
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March 1 to 3, 2019: Prep for Introductory Exams Module 4
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March 4 to 6, 2019: Join-Up Course
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March 7 to 9, 2019: Long Lining Course
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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
Hi Monty,
I have been around horses for most of my life, never owning a farm but working at one from a young and ‘stupid’ child. Doing the silliest and most dangerous things around horses, always trusting them and being seriously naive. Strangely and luckily I was never thrown by my horse. I rode bareback, with a saddle, with no bridle, with nothing at all. She took very good care of me and I her.
Now at 58, I am questioning something I don’t have a clue how to answer... even understanding the present herd dynamics of 5 mares, one of them being mine and the youngest.
I am limited where to ride my little 8 year old Arabian mare. I am not fond of riding alone around the 100 acres of land and don’t wish to ride on a busy road as she still spooks sometimes and has dumped me 4 times now while training her.
My question is: Is it safe and/or possible to ride within the confines of the 4 acre paddocks with the other 4 mares loose and in April one new foal?
Walk and trot, circle and figure eights, up and down the fence line, nothing crazy or fast.
Thanks for your expert opinion and I LOVE your books!
Warmest regards, ride like the wind!
Tia Kerst
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From the collection of Pat Roberts Sculpture
Horse in Motion
$3,000
My first horse sculpture, completed in 1981. This is the last of a sold out edition; I broke the mold years ago. It recently came back to me, offered by someone who was downsizing. A rare find.
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