Training of Our Horses
Our trip to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on June 8 2002.
Monty went through the same "Join-Up" process he did with the first two horses, with the same success - about 5 minutes. Once the halter and lead rope was on, Monty tried just putting his arm over her back and she spun away. No matter what he did, she balked. After working with her for about 15 minutes, she was calmed down a bit but sweating like she was working in the fields - sweat was simply pouring off her. Finally, she allowed a rather wide belt (can't remember the name of it though) to be put on her - it weighs about 5 lbs, no more than that. After 45 minutes of working with the belt he finally had a very light saddle on her - and she was still sweating like mad. This poor horse was frightened beyond anything I'd ever seen before. At one hour they were no closer to riding her than they had been before. In the interest of decency, Monty stopped.
Once they had the light training saddle off her, she was somewhat more relaxed but not much.
Nobody rode her that night - but enough is enough and at least they'd progressed. She'd accepted a saddle, she was somewhat cooperative. She was also completely frightened.
Hopefully, her owner will continue to work with her. Hopefully, she'll be OK. I hope I can find out what eventually happens to her.
HORSE #4 (and final for the evening) was a fabulous show-horse that didn't like trailers. Her owner had to use 6 people and 3 hours to get her into the trailer to take her to the Equine Center.
Monty did as he'd done before with the "Join-Up" process, and it took no longer than any other horse that evening. Once he had the halter and lead rope on her he started schooling her in moving forward and back. After 10 minutes of this, he had her rocking back & forth just like a rocking horse. He'd lean forward and she'd lean back. He'd lean back and she'd lean forward.
Then came the miracle again. He took her out of the ring to a trailer that had been set up just outside on the floor - and then wouldn't let her get onto it! Yeah, you read that right - he'd lead her up to the ramp and then back her off again. He did this a dozen times, each time faster than the previous time. After about 5 minutes of this he backed her up, and ran right up the ramp and onto the trailer - with her right beside him!!!! They walked off again, and he did it again. By the 4th time onto the trailer she was actually beating him up the ramp!
Then, he gave her to her owner (a lady of about 50 years) and this horse that wouldn't go onto trailers almost ran her owner over to get onto it. The lady led her off and back onto the trailer a dozen times before it was all over.
What an evening!
I watched 3 miracles out of 4 tries. Actually, I watched 4 miracles that evening. I watched 4 horses do something they'd never done, and I watched 3 of them do it completely of their own free will.
This is what horse training should be!!!
If you ever get the chance to see this man in action, don't pass it up - you won't be sorry. Check out his website to see what his schedule is: http://www.montyroberts.com
