join up instructors in yorkshire?

N

narkymare

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 July 2010
Messages
1,019
Visit site
Ive read a lot about join up and am really keen to do it with my horse
- 2 problems though

1. I only have a square school - no round pen.

2. I would like an expert to guide me through it to make sure i do it correctly.

Im in leeds, Yorkshire - any ideas?
 
Oh Christ, that's it you're stuffed if you haven't got a round pen.

*goes off muttering ungraciously under her breath*
 
narkymare I think jemima_too may have been joking.

If you've had your horse for a while you'll likely find that he/she 'joins up' with you regardless of any training or what shape arena you're in.

My share for instance will happily follow me around any arena/yard/field most of the time. I didn't have to chase him away from me in a little round pen to make him feel isolated from our 'herd' and have him beg to join back up because he was scared of being eaten by wolves if forced to live alone. It happened very naturally through gaining his trust and respect.

I'm not a join up expert and do believe in being open to new ideas but do be cautious and question things too. No point breaking a join-up type connection you may already have :-) Good luck!
 
Tickles said:
narkymare I think jemima_too may have been joking.

If you've had your horse for a while you'll likely find that he/she 'joins up' with you regardless of any training or what shape arena you're in.

My share for instance will happily follow me around any arena/yard/field most of the time. I didn't have to chase him away from me in a little round pen to make him feel isolated from our 'herd' and have him beg to join back up because he was scared of being eaten by wolves if forced to live alone. It happened very naturally through gaining his trust and respect.

I'm not a join up expert and do believe in being open to new ideas but do be cautious and question things too. No point breaking a join-up type connection you may already have :-) Good luck!
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. Ours hear the gate open and come to see what I want. We joke that we could do with someone to teach us how to stop the b*ggers following us around the field. Actually, before anyone posts hints & tips, its ok. We have trained them to stop when we tell them - we hold a firm hand up in front of them.
 
Thanks you tickles, but a joke only works if you understand it!
Anyway - my trouble is i feel we have bonded but only on his terms! Or i have bonded to him, he puts up with me.

He is a cob and very much guided by his stomach - when hes "normal" he will follow me anywhere and everywhere - but put him in a new lush field and thats it, he doesnt want to know!

I would just like to build a closer bond with him if i could and join up seems to do this?

Am i right in assuming not everyone agrees with join up?????
 
Tbh you are expecting an awful lot if you are expecting him to come to you in a new lush field, especially if he has moved from one with nowhere near as much grass. If he will let you go up to him without walking off or threatening you, I think you have to accept that he is a horse with feelings of his own. We never expect ours to come to us when they go into a new field.
 
narkymare said:
He is a cob and very much guided by his stomach - when hes "normal" he will follow me anywhere and everywhere - but put him in a new lush field and thats it, he doesnt want to know!
Click to expand...

If you put even a wellbehaved child into a sweetshop you would not expect them to pay attention only to their parent and to ignore the sweeties - well you might but it just ain't gonna happen! That's what it feels like to your cob, he certainly won't be more mentally equipped than a small child.

You don't need a round pen any more than you need an orange stick and a carrot rope.
 
oh ty pearls - he never runs away even when in new field and has never ever been agressive to me - he just doesnt come ot my whistle like he normally does.
Maybe i am expecting too much or am just too touchy - thanks - i honestly have never ever had to chase him so i guess thats good xxxx
 
jemima_too said:
If you put even a wellbehaved child into a sweetshop you would not expect them to pay attention only to their parent and to ignore the sweeties - well you might but it just ain't gonna happen! That's what it feels like to your cob, he certainly won't be more mentally equipped than a small child.

You don't need a round pen any more than you need an orange stick and a carrot rope.
Click to expand...



I understand now and thanks xxx
 
Don't worry too much about the round pen, it's handy but not a necessity. Youtube it and watch a few, but I think you'll find it's a lot simpler than it sounds when you read about it :)
Good luck!
x
 
I wouldn't worry about this at all, I don't think you need to do join up to build a relationship with your horse. Remember he's a horse, not a dog or a human. Many horse just want to be horses and will only really be interested in you if you are feeding them!

I don't know anyone in leeds area who does join up type stuff I'm afraid. I do know of , someone who will help you understand a bit more about how your horse thinks and how to overcome certain issues (although it doesn't really sound like you horse has any). However you may find she is helpful for certain aspects. Her name is Sarah Ussher, she is based in Harewood. I think you can google her name and you will get her website.
 
it will come naturally in time.my cob is very food orientated but if shes out in the field and sees me (we have penty of grass) she will come to me and follow me anyway quite gladly leaving the others. she has been like this for years and we have a wonderful bond/understanding. i have owned her ten years
 
If you look at the intelligent horsemanship website
http://www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk/ there is a list of recommended associates - I think Sarah Dent is Yorkshire, and she certainly teaches join up.
With your square pen, it's not a problem, but some horses get a bit 'stuck' in the corners. Setting up a jump across each corner works quite well, I have also used electric fencing.. If there's grass in there, sticking a few ponies in to strip it down to bald works quite well ;-)
ps I think you have very valid reasons for wanting to try and improve your communication with your horse.. A horse that follows you has not "joined up" with you, unless it is on your terms! I hope you enjoy the experience, it can be very moving for both of you!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top