 Dear Friends,
This month I share with you two endearing horses I had the privilege to work with this year. They are from different worlds and different disciplines but they both had fears and phobias disrupting their lives and taking away from their potential. My goal was to communicate to them that I was a partner and not an adversary. The owners in both cases hoped we could make their lives interesting and productive.
Let me start with the words from Pia Centenari-Leonard, the owner of Sirocco:
Sirocco is a yearling Warmblood Oldenburg by Sempatico out of a JC-TB mare. He was imprinted at birth and has been handled daily. His environment at Pearl Cove Farm has allowed him "to be a horse" roaming 40 acres on Martha's Vineyard- never stalled unless there is severe inclement weather such as a blizzard. Before going to see Mr. Roberts Sirocco had been off the farm twice- once as a 3 month old to his RPSI inspection- the second time to be gelded.
Before we went to the MA Equine Affaire I described Sirocco as talented, sweet and willing. We arrived at the arena where Monty Roberts was going to select his demo horses and he acted like a horse I had never met! To be fair, it was sensory overload for both of us! We went from our serene environment on the island to cars! trucks! golf carts! strange horses! people! EVERYWHERE! Although it was a very necessary education for him, he was hard to handle as we waited for our turn to be evaluated by Mr. Roberts and his team.
Finally Sirocco was escorted into the ring. Mr Roberts did not touch or handle Sirocco- he watched from outside the ring. I sat next to him as he observed. He turned to me and said he was head-shy and spooky. I told him he was young and I had just started working with him... he said he was head shy and spooky. He wanted me to agree but I had a hard time because my Sirocco was NOT head shy and spooky- he was kind and willing... although I didn't recognize the horse I had brought into that arena. Mr. Roberts selected Sirocco as one of his demo horses and I was excited for the demonstration.
Three days later, Christina (one of the team) came to his stall to take him to the coliseum to work with Mr. Roberts for the first time- because Mr. Roberts did not touch, or go near Sirocco the day of selection. I was nervous because the arena was packed with spectators... hundreds of people and judging from the outing on the day we were chosen, I was hoping the demo would be successful.
After Mr. Roberts asked me to introduce myself he wanted me to agree that Sirocco was "spooky". I was still having a problem admitting to that because "my" Sirocco was not spooky- he was sweet and willing... however the horse in the round pen with Mr Roberts was spooky. Finally, in front of all the people in the audience I agreed.
Being perceptive to my reluctant admission, Mr. Roberts explained that horses have phobias. When challenged, the phobias rear their ugly heads. He emphasized how important it was to address the phobias and not suppress them- how important it was to deal with them so you and your horse could move on to a happier place without the baggage.
After Mr. Roberts had a challenging half hour, my handsome pinto was desensitized to the plastic bags on the stick and he was walking over the "lake" of the blue tarp- joined-up and following the trusted new friend he had made in Monty Roberts (without a lead rope) over and over the crinkly blue tarp. The crowd roared and I was in tears.
The next day I took Sirocco out for a walk amidst the hordes of people, cars, trucks, golf carts, and horses (10x more than our previous trip out into the scary wildness). He was wearing his new Dually halter, the patented halter Mr. Roberts uses in his training. At first Sirocco was reacting to the distractions. He was hard to handle and he was not listening to me. I applied what I had learned the day before from Mr. Roberts, correcting him with this miracle halter. With each step and correction Sirocco responded. Not too far into our adventure outside he not was not only starting and stopping perfectly at my request but he was "joined-up"! How thrilling was that!!!
I told the friend who accompanied me that all the money I had spent to get to the Equine Affaire between the ferry rides, accommodations for both me and the horses I had brought etc. the walk we were experiencing with Sirocco was worth every penny and more! His behavior and the gentle control I had over him with the Dually halter and Mr. Roberts' instruction was priceless! I immediately went to find him to tell him of my success.
Monty Roberts is truly a very gentle and kind man. He is invested in making the world a better place. He uses the language of the horses to prove his point that violence in the world is not necessary. He is concerned about the abuse of children and truly feels that if his demonstrations with horses can affect one parent in the audience, one abusive situation- he has done his job.
Monty Roberts is real- he practices what he preaches (I read his books). Some people can only "talk the talk" but Monty Roberts "talks the talk and WALKS THE WALK".
He has touched me in the most profound way and I will be forever grateful.
Pia Centenari-Leonard
Pearl Cove Farm
Martha's Vineyard
This Week's Question
I have heard different explanations for the gesture of licking and chewing. Please tell me how you learned this and how you respond to people who question your conclusion.
Monty's Answer
I first came to study the gesture of licking and chewing in 1948. It had to do with mustangs that would use this gesture with other horses in the family group. I have concluded that it is primarily a gesture of contentment and relaxation. At no time, did I ever conclude that it only followed an episode of violence. The people who differ with this conclusion have, in my opinion, misread the horse. I feel more confident with this answer than any other I’ve given. I have worked alongside such outstanding horseman as Leon Harrel, Richard Shrake, Simon Stokes, Brian Neubert, Pat Parelli, Bill and Tom Dorrance, Buck Brannaman, Charles Wilhelm, Pony Boy, Ray Hunt, John Lyons and many others who have stated categorically that they read licking and chewing just as I do. I have read their books and watched their videos with intense interest in expanding my knowledge. I believe that this collection of horsemen would represent more than 300,000 horses in training. I would be more than happy to answer an invitation to observe any qualified scientist who would choose to demonstrate for me their position in this matter.
Update on King’s Alchemist one year after meeting Monty:
From Monty
One of the most interesting aspects of this story is what can be done to change a horse’s future in just three days. I agreed to assist the trainer Mark Usher and the young lady that was attempting to get him tacked and ridden. My schedule allowed for 3 days only.
The first day I was shocked by volatility of this young Thoroughbred. If, on a scale of 0-10, 10 was to have him saddled and ridden on the training course that first day took us from 0-2.
I couldn’t sleep that night as I realized that it was probable that at best I could reach a 6 on the 3rd day. I came up with some ideas during a sleepless night and on the 2nd day King’s Alchemist and I reached a 6 or 7. The third day was a celebration as 8, 9, and 10 were accomplished in less than ½ the time I spent on the first two days. That last afternoon, King’s Alchemist cantered up the gallops with a quiet horse for company and has never returned to the obstreperous adolescent that he was in the beginning.
-Monty
From owners John and Veronica Stansfield
You might remember that, on a visit to Lambourn in England in September 2006, Monty Joined-Up and had ridden away a tall, athletic but very wild (not to say stroppy) colt called King’s Alchemist who had recently arrived at Mark Usher’s historic old yard, Saxon House. Although as difficult a Thoroughbred colt as Monty has had in recent times he did react well to Monty’s handling and has been in steady, progressively fast work all summer on the downs above Lambourn.
Although very athletic and with an imposing way of going he is still very much on the leg and physically quite immature; as a consequence Mark was not overhard on him and put him on the track once, at the Grade One Course, Newbury, in October where he ran a perfectly satisfactory race over a mile to be seventh going on steadily at the finish.
Although a very different kind of horse from his high class sister, Royal Alchemist (in the sense that he doesn’t have the natural pace and speed that she exhibited from very early on as a two year old) he remains a nice prospect given both time and a distance of ground.
If you were ever in Southern England I know that Mark Usher would be very pleased to show you the colt and talk through the way in which Monty’s very early handling helped make him trainable; he is currently enjoying a little break out at grass away from training and Mark will get him back during the first week of January with a view to putting him back on racecourse during the Spring; both his Owners and the Yard are much looking forward to 2008 with him!!
-John
Join-Up Corporate Course: January 9-10, 2008
Imagine if every conversation in your organization resulted in an immediate improvement in performance… where people wanted to change and they felt valued in the process. At the heart of Monty's methods is a belief that with trust you will gain cooperation, with listening you will spark motivation, and with understanding you will know how to coach people to perform at their best. That’s what the Join-Up Corporate Course is all about. Contact us for more information and click here to download our corporate course flyer.
Dear Readers: We really appreciate the suggestions that you have been sending in and we are exploring every idea to bring you the most unique equine learning tool on earth! Monty will announce plans for a subscriber based educational tool for his readers later this year. As an advocate for gentle training and Join-Up principles, we want to know what you would want to see in Monty's subscription. Please continue to send comments to Debbie@montyroberts.com.
Monty's Challenge
Next Week's Question to Answer
Will you please tell me how your horse selection process works for demonstrations you do? I am thinking about bringing my horse to Equine Affaire Pomona.
Test Yourself!
I want all of my students to learn to be better trainers than me! Test yourself each week as I challenge you to answer the question from below by writing to newsletter@montyroberts.com. I mean this. Sit down and write an answer. Don't wait for my answer next week.
If you have been reading my Weekly Questions and Answers for the last six months, you should be in a position to do this.
Why should you bother? Because it will help you focus. There is probably a comparable question in your life that needs answering – or will be. If you can gain insight into how to go about answering a practical question that is loosely related to your problem, this exercise will help you answer your nagging question.
Then read my answer. Then read my other answers at this link: Ask Monty. The closest answer to mine each week will be awarded a DVD but more importantly you will learn! That's good for you! That's good for horses!
-Monty
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To all of our friends:
Thank you for your interest in my non-violent Join-Up methods. The positive feedback from the E-Newsletter readers has been very gratifying. You can help me continue to make the world a better place for horses and for people by sharing this information with your friends and colleagues. Forward this on and invite them to sign-up before next week to receive my free weekly email. Your friends can also sign-up at www.montyroberts.com by clicking on "NEWSLETTER SIGNUP" button.
- Monty
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