:: Join-Up ::::::::::::
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(Monty Roberts)
The moment of Join-up® is when the horse willingly chooses to come to you through communication. The horse has decided that you will be the leader of its two-member herd. This is a 50/50 partnership, meaning you give each other full attention and are also willing to meet each other midway.
The sequence of the horse’s language is the same in the round pen as it is in the wild. The only difference being that the human (predator) has assumed the role of the matriarch mare. The trainer sends the horse away using the dominant stance of eyes on eyes, shoulders and square movements. The horse then takes flight under this pressure, following its natural instinct to flee. It will do so around the perimeter of the pen for a distance of about one-quarter of a mile, before it begins to re-evaluate the situation and attempt to communicate.
The trainer establishes the message of banishment from the herd using consistent aggressive body language while the horse travels its flight distance.
During this time the horse will turn its ear towards the trainer. This gesture shows respect, the horse is saying ‘I know you are there; I am paying attention to you’. This is generally the first gesture, and the following signals may vary in their order.
Responding to pressure, the horse may close the circle, which means, “I would like to come closer to you and stop using up my energy to go away”.
It will lick and chew, a movement of the mouth that implies it would like to graze or suckle. The horse is saying, ‘I’m a herbivore; I’m eating over here, and if I am eating, it means I don’t fear you’. This signal may also be an evolution from the ‘snapping’ gesture shown by young horses when approaching an older horse. It is a very submissive gesture and allows the younger horse to signal its small size and that it wishes no harm to the older horse.
The horse may then drop its head, a submissive gesture that can be taken to mean, “If we call a meeting to discuss this situation, I would let you be the Chairman.”
In order for the trainer to effectively communicate with the horse, he/she must develop the ability to make himself or herself appear larger or smaller. This helps to communicate aggressive and passive messages to the horse. The trainer must learn to use his/her body to direct, drive and invite in the horse. This body language establishes a trust-based leadership through communication and understanding. Stepping back and to the rear of the horse at an angle of 45° to the shoulder into the ‘driving position’, allows the trainer to bring the ‘energy up’. This energy can then be controlled by proximity to the horse and by using the long line as an extension of the arm.
To bring the ‘energy down’ the trainer must soften his or her body language, taking some of the pressure off while remaining in a dominant position. The aim of this positioning is to keep consistency of rhythm in the horse, creating the smoothness and continuity which we call flow. Once your body language has shown to be predictable and reliable, the horse will soften its attitude in response to your consistency and control and begin to communicate.
At each stage, the horse’s communication must be recognized and responded to. For example, when the horse drops its head, the trainer must lower his energy in response, perhaps by lowering the outside hand. This allows the horse to see that this process involves communication.
Once the horse has presented all the necessary gestures - hence showing its willingness to come in from the perimeter and stop fleeing - the trainer changes his/her positioning to a passive stance. At this point the trainer invites the horse to come in and be part of this herd of two. This stance involves dropping the eyes down and away from the horse’s eyes and taking a shoulder by. The trainer may need to arc around the horse, staying passive. If the horse’s attention wanders, the trainer ‘squares up’ to the horse in a dominant stance. Eventually, through mutual communication, the horse will come to the trainer, Join-Up® and receive reward, thus starting its new life in this herd of human and horse.
Join-Up® outside the round pen
Join-Up® can be used outside the round pen. These concepts and procedures utilizing the 'language of equus' can and should be used at all times when working with your horse. Every time we are in sight of our horses we must be conscious that we are communicating with them. Each move of our body and eyes has a meaning that the horse understands and will respond to if given the chance.
Join-Up® methods rely on horse and trainer establishing a bond of communication and trust. "You must somehow understand that we as horsemen can do very little to teach the horse. What we can do is to create an environment in which he can learn." Monty says, "We hear that 'actions speak louder than words,' but generally we do not live by it too successfully.”
The principles found in Join-Up® offer valuable tools for all other work. Riders, trainers, veterinarians, vet techs, farriers, barn managers – virtually anyone handling horses – can use these methods to increase their effectiveness in helping horses fulfil their potential.
© Horsemanship Portugal 2005