Probably, but that isn't what I was going for. It was pouring rain this morning, so I was unable to turn out the horses. I put them in the arena one at a time while I cleaned my stalls. After all four were in the arena I went in with my carrot stick/partner stick (mine is black with a blue string) and started moving the horses around the arena.
It was interesting how it worked out, who stayed with whom and how they moved. The geldings were not sure if they should follow me or Precious, but when they were all going one direction (the direction I was moving them) and she was going the opposite, it was pretty clear who was in charge (and for those of you who don't get that, it was ME that they were listening to).
After just a few minutes I got each one of them separate, went up, petted them, swung my stick over them. But Santana wasn't having any of that. He didn't want me close, so I started pushing him out again, making him go. Very quickly, the other horses stood to the side while he lunged in a circle. He tried to use them occasionally to hide, but they were not interested in helping him. In just a few short minutes he joined up, did some nice at liberty work (with the other three horses in the arena) and we were finished.
At Liberty-work without a halter or leadrope
Join Up-a method used by Monty Roberts
7 comments:
Just for the record...
I will join up with you if you have a plate of cookies...
oK, I'm still laughing over joining up with the plate of cookies......
That's very cute, both the post and the plate-of-cookies comment. I love the "at liberty" join up. I had the whole movie running in my head while reading your post.
It'll only take me one cookie to join-up. hehe
You got your carrot stick! I love mine and use it for everything. I take off the string and tied plastic bags and different fabrics to it. It is a great tool.
Just wanted to let you know the next Horse Lover's Blog Carnival is going to be March 28th! Hope you will participate!
Allen Pogue says you accelerate the leadership acceptance by working with multiple horses in the round pen. He says it is very very worthwhile.
I do it when I have a new animal that has maybe never been in a round pen... they get to move around with others who are calmly following orders. It cuts the time for them to figure out what I want down to just a few minutes.
does join up always work? if it dosnt dose the horse loose its trust/like in u??
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