quick question...

I was watching some youtube videos on how people "joined -up" with their horses and i must say i have seen many different ways. But aside from that i saw this one video that said "me and copper joining up for the second time" and i was wondering if you are supposed to do the join-up process more than once. like every so often?

I've never heard you having to do it more than one time, but I am not a Monty Roberts follower so I could be wrong. Definitely interested in knowing

Me and Shay-la both use it as a tool. She's much better at it then I am, haha, my Arab mare just doesn't get the point of join-up, she spends half the time just trying to snuggle in close to me anyway. All I have to do is stand still for half a second and she'll immediately trot into me and bump me with her nose.

However, for youngsters and such, Shay-la likes using it as a tool anytime one of them is getting a bit snotty. It helps reinforce your position as the leader. Think of how a natural horse herd acts - the lead mare isn't going to drive away a young naughty colt once and be done with it. She's going to have to do it every time his little pea brain forgets his lesson the first time and goes right back to naughty behavior.

So I think join-up is a useful tool anytime you feel your horse is forgetting a bit who the leader is and acting out, trying to get bigger then his britches.

Personally, I did it every second time I tack up a youngster. Even a green horse, every 3rd time. It's reinforcing your dominance and leadership. Even now I have a 4 year old somewhat green pony mare that I do join up with about once a month, just to keep her knowing her place.

I think it's a good thing to do until your horse "gets it" and just wants to be with you all the time, you know? If a horse still seems untrusting and such, it's a nice thing to do pretty often...

I've done Join-Up once [so far] with my horse because we were having serious problems with him 'bullying' me - it worked, but he's still got the odd quirk, so I'm going to have to try it again!

It's not a magic wand. You still have to follow up with training and good horsemanship. I've heard people say they need to do join-up again because thier horse wouldn't change leads very well. Join-up is a long way from lead changes. Just something to keep in mind while you are trying to find the solution to your horses people problem.

I agree with Kevinshorses on this one...join up isn't a "fix all". It's a training tool you can use to gain your horse's trust and respect but it's not going to solve all your pony problems. I've only ever had 2 horses that didn't respond to it, but I think it's an awesome tool when used correctly and followed up with training.

Thanx for the replies everyone. I kinda agree more with macabremikolaj and evening shadows, but everyone had good coments. I personally though as well as macabremikolaj thought, that you can do it more than once just to reinforce your domiance since horses will continue to test us and the other horses forever.