Wednesday March 18, 2020

Greetings!
Question 

My pony will move his head in a full clockwise circle over and over again. He will do it if he's at the gate and ready to leave the arena if I allow him to. Last week we put him out in the field alone. He is boarded at a barn and I'm not allowed to take any other horses out with him. I'm guessing that he does this when he is stressed or bored because he is fine when I work with him and fine when the barn owner puts other horses out with him. My question is, should I try to stop it or just accept it as part of his personality?

Thank you!
Kathy


Answer 

If this is something he fails to exhibit when riding or handling him, then lets consider it his property and accept the fact that all individuals are just that. Every human has some trait we can label a fingerprint. Its theirs and probably should remain theirs without interference if it hurts no other individual.

Sincerely,
MONTY ROBERTS' ONLINE UNIVERSITY
THIS WEEK'S EPISODE
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
May 1 to 3, 2020: Horse Sense and Healing
May 11 to 22, 2020: Advanced Exams
May 25 to 29, 2020: Introductory Exams
June 1 to 19, 2020: Advanced Course
June 21 to 23, 2020: The Movement 2020 with Monty & Dr Temple Grandin
June 29 to July 3, 2020: Monty’s Special Training (Portuguese)
July 6 to 17, 2020: Introductory Course of Horsemanship
July 11, 2020: Kids' Course
July 18, 2020: Horsemanship 101
July 24 to 26, 2020: Horse Sense and Healing
August 3 to 7, 2020: Monty’s Special Training (English)
August 8 to 10, 2020: Introductory Course Module 01: First Steps to Monty’s Methods
August 11 to 13, 2020: Introductory Course Module 02: Join-Up
August 14 to 16, 2020: Introductory Course Module 03: Long Lining
August 17 to 28, 2020: Gentling Wild Horses
TEMPLE GRANDIN & MONTY TOGETHER IN JUNE
Editor's note: Monty and I wanted all to know that we communicated with Temple Grandin and she is confirmed for June, virus or not! She says she will FaceTime from home if need be. She is indomitable! We are monitoring information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and federal, state and local agencies to help ensure the actions we're taking are in line with the latest CDC recommendations and guidance. 

Debbie Roberts Loucks


What's so special about The Movement?
From Ryan S., The Movement 2020

"Bucket List" event
I have seen Monty twice, and in my opinion this event should be on your bucket list. Every few centuries a revolutionary comes along who changes the way we see, think and the way we act. Monty is one of those people.

 
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From Karen K., Verified Buyer

The Miracle of Join-Up
I watched this video 20 years ago when I purchased my first horse and it was a valuable training tool. It has been over six years since I've owned a horse and I bought the DVD to refresh my memory of the Join-Up process and to educate my new husband. We love this way of training horses - it's so effective and creates a bond like no other. Thank you Monty!

 
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

During the breaking in of my beloved mare, something went horribly wrong for her. Somehow she became a rodeo horse. She was rejected because she didn't buck properly. Her tail was broken and she was tazered. Then when she still wouldn't buck properly, she was given a chance to be rescued. She wouldn't float for the person trying to rescue her so I was asked to see if I could get her onto my friend's horse truck. She got on, reluctantly, and the whole drive home I said repeatedly, “What have I just done?"  

Those first two months, she saw numbers of horses go through the crush to be butchered. Its left its scars. She was wild when she came to us. You couldn't touch her, couldn't get close. She would stand in the center of the round pen and pivot on the spot keeping herself as far from you as she could. She has come so far; leads, ties, swims. Is there is anything I can do to make life, and the yard, not so scary? It's something like PTSD. She has her flashbacks and just becomes terrified, freezing. You just wait for all hell to break loose. It hasn't yet, but she gets that look in her eye like she isn't there. She quivers and you can't do anything because it is like you are no longer there. She's absent. I have seen that look in World War II veterans.

I can't get her to walk near the yards or take another step forward, even backwards, or lunging. She just stares and it's like a black hole opens in her mind. It's sad to see. I can turn her around on the spot and when she comes back to me, she won't dare get closer once she goes into this black hole. We walk away, walk along the road on the opposite side, etc. but those yards and gates.  

I would like to add she's a pet. I can't ride very well. I am not meant to ride at all, I just want to know what else I can do to help. I am happy where she is at as far as a pet goes, but I do feel for her. Is there something you can do for a horse with that kind of trauma? Have you seen PTSD in a horse before? 

Kind regards, 
Beth

O besity is an epidemic problem with domesticated horses. We often attribute the problem to overfeeding concentrates combined with too little exercise, the underlying cause is much less apparent and has to do with the horse’s brain and response to stress. Dr. Getty says when a horse realizes that he is safe and that forage is available, he slows down his eating, eats less, and maintains a healthy body condition. Pat Roberts is still busy participating in open competitions into her eighth decade of life, and she buckled down, achieving an amazing 2019 competition record with “Blackie”, a horse with multigenerational value.