HOW TO JOIN UP WITH A HORSE

HOW TO JOIN UP WITH A HORSE
Some horses just won’t quit avoiding you and asserting themselves. They don’t trust you. You don’t trust them. They are scared and so are you. How can you help create a bond without spending millions of dollars or fancy training stuff and spending years just trying to avoid getting bitten while putting on a saddle? Or maybe you just want to be closer with your horse/pony.
Joining up may be able to help you calm your friend and make life easier, as well as making being together less painful and less frustrating.
Steps
1. Calm down. Going into it with a nervous or angry attitude is not going to get you anywhere. Take a few deep breaths, and run your hands over the lunge line (Stroking the rope may imply that you are in a friendly attitude).
2. Show yourself and your horse that you are calm, confident body language (you should be erect, head up, shoulders back) and disposition first. The horse understands your good/bad attitude and tone and timber of your voice.
3. Bring your horse to an enclosed paddock or ring on a lunge line. When lunging, the lunge line stimulates the reins as a directional took as if you were riding.
4. Gently talk to the horse. He/she might be a little scared or confused. Lead him/her around the safe enclosed area you are working in for a few minutes, with some changes in direction to set yourself as “leader.”
5. Go to the centre of the area you are working in. Unclip the line (don’t use tied lines); step back from the horse; look the horse in the eye; adopt assertive body language squarely to the horse, and raise your hands if need be (represents “pawing the air”).
6. Encourage the horse to stay at a respectful distance from you in this training. The process of moving them away represents you as lead mare. You are trying to be actually mean like the stallion would be in a herd. The stallion expels challenges from the herd—opposite of joining up.
7. When the horse is moving away from you, throw the line out behind him/her (keep hold of the clip) to move the horse forward at a brisk trot.
8. After 5 or 6 circuits (if using a 50 foot diameter pen) change direction by blocking the horse using body language, but not actually getting in the way. After another 5 or 6 circuits change direction again, and start to coil the line and maybe drop eye contact down to the neck/shoulder.
9. Look for signs from the horse, such as making the circle smaller. The inside ear will be turned towards you. He/she may lick and chew, head lowering.
10. Continue to push the horse on, changing directions every five or six circuits, you will see the horse angle its head to you, which is a sign they are ready to negotiate their position according to what you want.
11. When the horse drops its head very close to the ground when near you, you can be sure you have won its respect. It now understands that you have told the horse: “I am not a predator. I am no threat to you”.
12. When you see these signs, drop eye contact completely, soften your body language by bringing the hand nearest the horse across your stomach with fingers closed, step a little in front of the horse turn your back but be alert (watch out) and take a couple of steps away from the horse. This will cause him/her to come to you slowly and “join up”.
13. Reward the horse with a rub between the eyes or a nice stroke on the neck. This is how they naturally groom each other or assure a lower status horse. They do not approach the lead mare unless she is very relaxed and not exerting her authority.
14. Now stand next to the horse on the left hand, or near side, facing forwards. Walk off and circle around the horse’s nose to the right, he/she will follow when you have established that you are the leader. Complete a small circle and reward the horse. Do this in both directions.
Tips
Light use of a whip is a good enforcement aid to establish that you are “in charge”, but is not good for join-up.
If you don’t have a line a lunge whip can be used but never touch the horse with it. The idea is to move it behind him/her to make them move.
Throwing a line behind the horse to step up the pace is okay but it does not hit the horse (obviously such tricks are not for use with a horse using blinders).
Instead of using fear with yourself—here you treat your horse with respect (calm and accepting) to get results. He/she will show you the same regard.
Only allow your equine to come in after he/she has shown the movements of accepting your presence by relaxing (licking lips, dropping head, etc).
Walking away a couple steps ahead of the horse puts the horse in position to choose to accept being a (willing) follower, and the horse joins you (not vice versa. Reward that behavior.
Warnings
This is a guideline. Horses are not robots that can be “fixed” each one is different with a personality. Respect that and don’t expect too much the first time. Your horse is trying its best to understand.
Horses can be unpredictable, always be aware of this for safety and for your sanity.
Stay close to places that are safe for you to get away to in case the horse runs or kicks at you. If it’s an outdoor arena, it’s a good idea to have a fence that you can quickly crawl under or jump over.
Never yell or get mad at your horse because you are not trying to be a stallion.
Always be patient with your horse and don’t always expect results instantly.
Don’t be too passive-aggressive. This can really scare your horse and the join up will be unsuccessful.
Never do join-up with more than one horse in the ring because they may be confused and may compete for position in the herd.
Never hit your horse that you are trying to get to volunteer to join up to you. You are supposed to be bonding and learning to gain trust of a horse and each other with you as leader—not mean and bossy.
PLEASE do try this if you do not have a clear idea of what and why you are doing it, as it would confuse the horse and put you in danger.
Things You’ll Need
Halter
Lunge line
Closed paddock or ring
The “safe” place to escape from an aggressive horse
Praise the horse with your tone of voice