How do you join up?
- Thread starter Innocence
- Start date
Youre prob best learning how to do it properly but this method seems to have the desired effect for us x
Send them away from you and keep them moving, get them totally focused on you and your body language,
Use dominant body language to get them moving away & forwards (direct eye contact, make yourself big etc)
Change direction by heading them off - the more you do it the quicker they get at reading your body language and you can do it just by side stepping and bringing your hand up)
Every time they stop, keep sending them on.
Look for signs such as lowering head, chewing, licking, keeping an ear on you all the time, and then turn your back on the horse and stand very still. This gives him permission to come to you.
They usually stop and watch for a bit. If they dont walk towards you or carry on, you need to send them on again for a bit before you try again.
When they eventually "join up" they will walk up to you and will follow you around like a shadow when you start walking as they have realised that its much nicer to be with you than be away from you.
Not all horses give the same signs though - Iggs never licks or chews, I just give him the opportunity to come judging on is mood - when he has been naughty it can take a while as he gets defiant, when he is being good we can do it in less than 30 seconds lol
Send them away from you and keep them moving, get them totally focused on you and your body language,
Use dominant body language to get them moving away & forwards (direct eye contact, make yourself big etc)
Change direction by heading them off - the more you do it the quicker they get at reading your body language and you can do it just by side stepping and bringing your hand up)
Every time they stop, keep sending them on.
Look for signs such as lowering head, chewing, licking, keeping an ear on you all the time, and then turn your back on the horse and stand very still. This gives him permission to come to you.
They usually stop and watch for a bit. If they dont walk towards you or carry on, you need to send them on again for a bit before you try again.
When they eventually "join up" they will walk up to you and will follow you around like a shadow when you start walking as they have realised that its much nicer to be with you than be away from you.
Not all horses give the same signs though - Iggs never licks or chews, I just give him the opportunity to come judging on is mood - when he has been naughty it can take a while as he gets defiant, when he is being good we can do it in less than 30 seconds lol
How do you join up? Well, in Jazz's case, go into the arena with him, scratch his withers for five minutes and give him a good head rub, and walk away. Instant join-up, and then he'll be your friend for life 
newrider.com