Join Up
Published by GHC • Aug 20th, 2008 • Category: Guest Bloggers, Horse Adviceby Horsewhispers, age 14
Understanding your horse is very important. A lot of people dream of having the special connection with their favorite horse, like in movies and books. I’m guilty of the same thing.
Stepping back and looking at the whole picture, it’s easy to see that some (not all) of those relationships are played up to make a good book or movie. But at the same time, there’s truth at the bottom. Horses in herds often form very tight bonds with each other. And while you’re not a horse, you can communicate with your horse – or any horse – in the same way. It just takes a lot of practice and patience.
One way to connect with your horse is the join-up. For those of you who’ve heard about it but don’t understand, don’t worry — it’s not magic. It’s communicating with your horse the same way another horse would. Horses are herd animals. They like companionship. If your horse doesn’t have any other horse buddies around, more often then not they’ll latch onto someone or something else: dogs, cats, goats, cows, but best of all, you.When your horse has other friends around, it’s sometimes hard to control him or her because they want to be with their friends. A way for you to not only make friends with your horse but have more fun with them is get this message across: I’m part of your herd. Not only am I part of your herd, but I’m the boss!
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: Don’t try this (or anything involving horses that’s potentially dangerous) without the help of a trainer or someone very experienced with horses.
The best place for a join-up is in a round pen that’s not very large in size; you don’t want your horse to get away from you. Take off the lead rope, bridle, halter, or whatever the horse has on him. Let him be entirely free. Then have him canter around the circle. You can do that by swinging a rope at his hindquarters, but make sure you don’t hit him.
Stand in the middle of the pen as your horse begins to canter. Follow her with your eyes but stay in the middle. Don’t let her come back to you. Always send her back to a canter. By doing this you’re saying, I don’t want you, go away. It won’t hurt her feelings. Some horses might not move at all or some might try to stare you down. It’s important at that time to make sure they keep moving.
Okay, now your horse is cantering around the pen. It’s fine if she turns and runs the other way, too. When your horse looks over at you, line your shoulder up with hers, still in the middle of the pen, and watch her out of the corner of your eye. Your horse should began to make chewing motions with her mouth, with her head stretched out towards you. This is her way of saying, I want to be your friend. Turn your back on your horse. Don’t turn around for anything! When your horse comes up to you, accept her. Run your hands over her face and back and down her legs. You could even pick up her hooves. If she pulls away or resists, send her back into a canter and start all over again.
Just remember: you’re the boss! You love your horse, of course, and this isn’t to hurt her in any way. You could get hurt if your horse tried to reprimand you one day. Your horse will be much happier and healthier if she knows there’s somebody there (you) for her to depend on.
To learn more about joining up, read this Wikihow article How to Join Up With a Horse.
RELATED BLOGS: Joining-Up - An Amazing Experience
RELATED STORIES: Saving Callie
This was really good. It explains it a little more than my blog did, and you did a wonderful job explaining. I look forward to reading more from you. Horsewhispers, this was a fantastic first blog!!
Your writing skills really shone in your blog. I now have so much more understanding of join-up. I hope that you would write more in the future.
Wow, brilliant blog! And I thought Join Up was made up to be part of Heartland for a while! Fantastic blog!!!
Excellent blog, Horsewhispers! I think I know a lot more about Joining Up with your horse now.
You’re doing an excellent job!
-mustangmane
hi every71 im new to the herd and dont really know what to do so if someone could just get back to ,me on that one then i would really appreciate it thanks!!?!! (: ):
nice blog!
Thanks guys! I want to become a junior blogger so I hope you’ll be hearing more from me, too.
Hey, emily, horsewhispers, SunstarianVermont, I think you guys are new!!!!! Welcome to the herd~ We love having you here. Have fun with everyone! Can’t wait to hear blogs and stroies from you guys!
Really love this blog!!! I really want to try it!
Hey Emily, We love new herd members!!! Anyway, if you would like some help, you can click on the Help/Questions at the top of the blog menu. Or on the bottom of this page their is a Contact button. Clicky that and you can ask LeadMare (she’s the creator of the site) any questions.
Basically this is a wonderful place. I’m sure that by reading some of the blogs you realized that we are all horse crazy girls that love to write. If you need anymore help, just ask and I’m sure someone will help you out.
Your Fellow Herd Member,
Rebecca Shyly
Horsecrazzz
HorseWhispers: This is really really good. Have you considered submiting it to a horsey magazine?? I bet they would publish it too!!!
You really think so? I think I’ll try!
I’ve watched this on RFDTV before with Clinton Anderson or Pat Parelli and its soo cool! I’ve tried out the tequine and it works! I lunge them in the round pen and make them turn towards me when the turn around and make them yeild when they stop. Its soooo cool!