At 10:57:15 on 14.10.11, emz_mistybay wrote:
my horse is 2 and a half and has been doing so well shes brillant to lunge has had her bridle and saddle put on with no fuss i asked my neighbour that works at the local yard when its time to break her in could you help me as ive never done this before (wont be asking her now) she came over a few weeks later filled up a bag of sand and said this will be good for her put her tack on and dumped it heavy on her back she went crazy and now hates being lunged in her saddle ive tried taking it slow and started from the beginning with her and slowly worked my way to lunging her with no tack everyday for a few weeks then in her bridle no problems again few a good amount of weeks then her saddle no problems until i ask her to walk on then she does a buck a roo and flys round like theres no tomorrow what shall i do to get her back to enjoying being lunged with her all her tack on?

At 23:31:12 on 15.10.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
Do you know how to join up? If not it is easy to learn but i would advise it as it regains trust, so i would join up a few times and leave it at that then after a few days joining up have a join up session and put her bridle on and flap a saddle pad over her back, few days of this and then join up and tack up fully and lunge you should be back up to where you were at pretty quick :)

At 19:42:46 on 16.10.11, emz_mistybay wrote:
thanx for your advice and reply to my problem il give it a go fingers crossed your advice will work il let you know how it goes thanx again

At 13:57:09 on 20.10.11, emz_mistybay wrote:
ur advice really helped and it seems 2 b workin many thanx :)

At 21:55:05 on 20.10.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
No problem :) glad it is working and i could help

At 00:04:57 on 27.10.11, FalconGirl wrote:
Hi Jess, I've heard of Join Up from Monty Roberts but have never done it and may need it now. My 11yr old gelding has developed a resentful attitude towards the round pen and mostly the saddle and especially the girth, I checked to see if it didn't fit right or had anything that may be poking him on it but everything seems fine and I make sure to pull the girth nice and slow and not too tight. What could be the problem and how do you do Join Up?

At 22:58:20 on 27.10.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
It could be that he doesn't like working on a smaller circle than usual which could be why he doesn't apreciate the round pen lol but the more he works in the round pen the more muscle he will develop making it easier and more pleasant, as for the saddle and girth could he be a bit tight in his muscles on his back or he might have a sore spot near his girth line give him a rub and see if it helps but i would say rub before and after join up to see whether it was a physical or respect problem, it if is respect he will be fine or considerably better after join up than he was before. To join up, the easiest way i can explain it is you send your horse away in a pen (have a lunge line in you hand but not attached to your horse) and chase him, use mainly your body, square shoulders, look at him in a purposeful way, you should give dominant body language, turn him by stepping infront of his movement and sending him in other direction, its like saying 'you don't want to be with me? you want to go away? fine go away' and sooner rather than later the horse gets sick of going away and says 'can i come and join up with you and be with you?' the first sign is the inside ear will fix onto you showing concentration on you, then he will lower his head to the ground showing submission, he will try to make the circle smaller but keep sending him away untill he is really submissive then you stay still turn your back and drop your shoulders, this is when he should start to lick and chew the air and walk into join you and then where you walk he will follow, it may not work the first time but just keep sending him away until he comes into you. I will add a video cos this was a LONG comment and explaination lol. Also try what i suggested to emz_mistybay and descencitize him to the pads on his back, maybe use a lunge roller too to get him used to a girth and then bring the saddle back into the picture :) hope this is helpful

At 23:17:19 on 27.10.11, FalconGirl wrote:
Thank you Jess :) I will try it.