Problem!

[Jaja]

I can't seem to do anything of the 'join up' method. i stand square at a horse, looking it directly in the eye and it nudges me for treats! I read books, everything, please help!!!!!!

[Colorado Sunset]

What do you want to acheive by 'joining up' with your horse?

Are you working on a specific problem or doing it just for fun?

Jo

[Tuff_up]

DO NOT LOOK A HORSE STRAIGHT IN THE EYE look at them more by were the girth is and walk away he/she will then turn and look at the place you are looking at. my mare was trained i have stopped working her for a while but she was trained that were there was pressure she would react looking towards where the girth would be would make her come in towards me if i was at her side. looking at where my feet would be in the stirrups she would move out, look at her face she would shy away and not want me to see her face. horses hate being looked directly into there face. so your horse probably moved away to stop you from looking at him or her in the eye when i have joined up with horses i always stood with my shoulders at an angle asking them to come to me to feel there soft muzzles and breathing on my shoulder before i turn around and reward them with a wither rub but i never look at there face. i remember trying to trailer my mare and we looked at her bum she went forward we looked at her eyes for just a second she stepped out of the trailer and ignored us for the rest of the day i had to ride her to our destination the next week.just my opinion and Chris Irwins method of join up

[Francis Burton]

horses hate being looked directly into there face.
Hmm, I've never noticed this myself. I could show you lots of horses who don't bat an eyelid when I look them in the eye, or even at their face. Maybe it depends on how you look? When people stare at something, the whole body tends to stiffen and tense up slightly - something which horses definitely are sensitive to. Or maybe horses learn to associate looking with pressure, if the only time someone stares is when they're driving away.

[beanz's mum]

There are different ways to join up, i havent tried that one yet because there is no indoor school but you can play horsey whispers if your horse isnt ploody or easily spooked , you sit in the field where your horse is and wait until they come over and put there head down then you lightly whisper anything to them and somtimes they whisper back its fun but can be scary first time especially if your horse canters or gallops over to you:eek: ;) oh and if you look them directly in the eye they think your threatening them

[katefarmer]

Hmm, I've never noticed this myself. I could show you lots of horses who don't bat an eyelid when I look them in the eye, or even at their face. Maybe it depends on how you look? When people stare at something, the whole body tends to stiffen and tense up slightly - something which horses definitely are sensitive to. Or maybe horses learn to associate looking with pressure, if the only time someone stares is when they're driving away.

Absolutely, Francis! Horses look each other in the eye - why on earth shouldn't we be able to do it too? I've never had a problem with looking a horse in the eye - I find it essential to reading them. You see the first try in the eye. The eye tells you when you really have their attention, rather than when they're looking at you because they're frightened or suspicious of you. Attentive eye is soft, frightened or suspicious eye is hard. If you ignore they eyes, you're shutting yourself off from the horse's emotions, in my opinion!

Jaja - you need to get the feet moving and get the horse responding to your energy. Have a look at my website for ideas on how to communicate with the feet and get the energy moving. There are two sections on round-pen work which may help. One at http://www.harmony-project.net/skin.asp?user=katefarmer#shelsey , for the other follow the round pen link in the column on the left. It sounds as though your horse thinks that standing there is the right thing to do! :)

Good luck

Kate
www.harmony-project.net