Forming a bond and trust

jemzajewel · 01-08-2005, 07:00 PM

I've owned my gelding for a year now, and he's very gentle and quiet. He's willing to do what I ask him. But I want to get a special bond with him, and I want him to trust me. I've tried join-up, but when I ask him to move out with my body language, he ignores me (I tried Miss Bandit's instructions) and when I do get him trotting by flicking a rope at him, he stops after a few paces and I have to start all over again. I can try it on a lunge rope, and I probably will, if its OK to do that? But are there any other methods to form trust, other than spending time with the horse?

Please help!

AutumnAttic · 01-08-2005, 07:03 PM

Join up is the best way I know of.. Some horses are taught NEVER to trot.. The first barn i was at they would be punished severly if they trotted on a lead line.. Needless to say im not there anymore..

Sorry i dont really have any help

julie&chico · 01-08-2005, 07:21 PM

Have you read Monty Roberts's book? His first one, He teaches Join-up and it actually works!!!

Magzinator · 01-08-2005, 08:59 PM

Yeah I kind of know what you talking about and I was wondering the same thing

KellyJean · 01-08-2005, 11:52 PM

Do you have a round pen?

Kelly

kddoublink · 01-09-2005, 02:34 AM

I have found hand walking does a lot for a horse-human relationship. I've walked my mare to the moon over the last 3 years. It has totally made a difference in her trust with me. Also, when I go to visit her she (Not to start another debate on it) but I scratch my mare in her fav. spot and she'll start grooming me. (very cute) Just thought I'd throw this in there, I know you had posted more a long the lines of "join up" but these methods have worked really well for me and my mare.

WhisperingStar · 01-09-2005, 03:43 AM

I too have spent hours walking my horses, I stop and let them graze and while they are grazing I scratch them, pet them , talk to them, feel their legs etc. Then usually we go back to the barn where I will groom and pick up hooves etc. This has worked for me.

It takes weeks to months to establish trust , so be patient.

ignorethesmoke · 01-09-2005, 05:03 AM

Another vote for walking and just spending time with them... You can't train the horse to trust you(you don't end up trusting someone because they set out to prove they can be trusted, do you? I'd be quite suspicious of something like that), - 'join up' and that sort of thing is about getting dominance, nothing to do with a special horse-human bond.

gingersnaps2002 · 01-09-2005, 02:55 PM

I do quite a bit of ground work with them.Ground work like backing, walking over an obstacle, turning the hindquarters around,etc... establishes that YOU are boss hoss,IF it is done right. Ground work like this should not be scary for the horse. Usually if Squeaker is hyper before I ride,I will spend about 15 minutes or less doing groundwork with her. I will free lunge her a little bit,have her join up with me, then will have her back, move her hips over in both directions, lower her head, pivot,and maybe walk over a log or something. That way,when we are done,she is calmed down and listens to me much better. Also, she has a sense of accomplishment,because she can do all those things on the ground easily. Since you are now the boss, the horse will see you as the leader and will trust you.
And a lot of quiet time of just walking and grazing the horse helps too.

jemzajewel · 01-09-2005, 09:22 PM

thanks for your advice. so it helps to spend lots of time with them and walking them around? And KellyJean, no I dont have a round pen, which is probably why join up didnt work. thanks everyone

01-08-2005, 07:00 PM	#1
jemzajewel Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 84	Forming a bond and trust I've owned my gelding for a year now, and he's very gentle and quiet. He's willing to do what I ask him. But I want to get a special bond with him, and I want him to trust me. I've tried join-up, but when I ask him to move out with my body language, he ignores me (I tried Miss Bandit's instructions) and when I do get him trotting by flicking a rope at him, he stops after a few paces and I have to start all over again. I can try it on a lunge rope, and I probably will, if its OK to do that? But are there any other methods to form trust, other than spending time with the horse? Please help!

01-08-2005, 08:59 PM	#4
Magzinator Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Somewhere... I can't remember exactly Posts: 1,016 Images: 31	Yeah I kind of know what you talking about and I was wondering the same thing __________________ Maggie Elizabeth Yeeeeppppp

01-09-2005, 02:34 AM	#6
kddoublink Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 950 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 2	I have found hand walking does a lot for a horse-human relationship. I've walked my mare to the moon over the last 3 years. It has totally made a difference in her trust with me. Also, when I go to visit her she (Not to start another debate on it) but I scratch my mare in her fav. spot and she'll start grooming me. (very cute) Just thought I'd throw this in there, I know you had posted more a long the lines of "join up" but these methods have worked really well for me and my mare. __________________ You dream of it & in your dreams is has a mane & tail flying hooves covered in feathers that whisper to the grass as it gallops past. A language that speaks to your soul.

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01-08-2005, 07:03 PM	#2
AutumnAttic Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Michigan U.S.A. Posts: 6,106 Images: 150	Join up is the best way I know of.. Some horses are taught NEVER to trot.. The first barn i was at they would be punished severly if they trotted on a lead line.. Needless to say im not there anymore.. Sorry i dont really have any help

01-08-2005, 07:21 PM	#3
julie&chico Banned Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 953	Have you read Monty Roberts's book? His first one, He teaches Join-up and it actually works!!!

01-08-2005, 11:52 PM	#5
KellyJean Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Marshfield, Wisconsin Posts: 375	Do you have a round pen? Kelly

01-09-2005, 03:43 AM	#7
WhisperingStar Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 416 Images: 11	I too have spent hours walking my horses, I stop and let them graze and while they are grazing I scratch them, pet them , talk to them, feel their legs etc. Then usually we go back to the barn where I will groom and pick up hooves etc. This has worked for me. It takes weeks to months to establish trust , so be patient.

01-09-2005, 05:03 AM	#8
ignorethesmoke Full Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 23	Another vote for walking and just spending time with them... You can't train the horse to trust you(you don't end up trusting someone because they set out to prove they can be trusted, do you? I'd be quite suspicious of something like that), - 'join up' and that sort of thing is about getting dominance, nothing to do with a special horse-human bond.

01-09-2005, 02:55 PM	#9
gingersnaps2002 Banned Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: arkansas Posts: 1,350	I do quite a bit of ground work with them.Ground work like backing, walking over an obstacle, turning the hindquarters around,etc... establishes that YOU are boss hoss,IF it is done right. Ground work like this should not be scary for the horse. Usually if Squeaker is hyper before I ride,I will spend about 15 minutes or less doing groundwork with her. I will free lunge her a little bit,have her join up with me, then will have her back, move her hips over in both directions, lower her head, pivot,and maybe walk over a log or something. That way,when we are done,she is calmed down and listens to me much better. Also, she has a sense of accomplishment,because she can do all those things on the ground easily. Since you are now the boss, the horse will see you as the leader and will trust you. And a lot of quiet time of just walking and grazing the horse helps too.

01-09-2005, 09:22 PM	#10
jemzajewel Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 84	thanks for your advice. so it helps to spend lots of time with them and walking them around? And KellyJean, no I dont have a round pen, which is probably why join up didnt work. thanks everyone