Questions about Join Up

I have a few questions about this technique.
First off I have a mare that I already posted about that is very difficult to catch.(yrs old, well broke under saddle)
I had a couple of suggestions to try join up.
I watched acouple of you tube videos and today I went out to try it.
I don't have a round pen, I probably wouldn't have been able to catch her to put it in her anyway but I do have a small 1/2 acre field.
I went out and got her moving and watched for the signs, ear, licking lips etc.
We finally stopped and I waited but she didn't come to me. I took one sideways step toward her then she walked up. I petted her and talked to her when I started to walk off she didn't follow. I only took a couple steps away. I stepped back and turned into her then she turned then was able to walk with her.
Now comes my questions. How often do you Join up? Do you do this for a number of times before you try and ride? How often every day? Is it done any time you plan to work with your horse like just to groom or fly spray?
Lastly will this eventually make my horse stand still so I can catch her or will I have to join up every time?
Thank you for any help
Cindy

When I first started retraining my horse, I would do round pen work every day, regardless if I was riding or not. I would trot/canter him in one direction, then another, and give him a break by making him stop. Early on, I would do this for as long as it took to make him join up, and sometimes it took so long I skipped riding (he's a very stubborn Arab!). The first 2-3 days were the longest, but then he started getting the hint and would take less time each time. Right now, I can trot him a little in each direction, make him stop, and he will immediately join up. Maybe 5 minutes worth of work there.

I believe that Monty Roberts does not recommend doing more than 6 (I believe) join ups with the same horse. I would do it a few more times, or until your horse will allow herself to be caught. Any more than is necessary becomes redundant for the horse, and may cause her to become bored and unresponsive. To give you an idea, I worked with a very fearful little arab mare last fall. I had to do the join-up the first time because she wouldn't even let me close to her, nevermind catch her. The first join-up probably took 15 minutes. The next day, she tried to go away from me again, so we did join-up again. This time it only took probably 3 minutes of trotting for her to willingly come to me, and even stand beside me untied while I fiddled with the saddle. If I had continued to work with her, I would probably only have done join-up one more time if I even thought that was necessary.

You do not need to join-up with your horse before you do everything with her. Just establish the principles in her mind, and then live by the concepts. For example, if she moves away from you, put pressure on her to go away until she realizes that the best place to be is with you and comes willingly. It really is a feel thing, so while I can't give you a number, just go by your instincts and what seems to work for your horse.

Just wanted to thank you for your help. I joined up with Willow 4 times. Each time it took less time for her to join up with me. Yesterday I walked right up to her and petted her. Today I walked up to her and put the lead on her saddled her up and rode for about an hour. It was great. First time I didn't have to chase her around the pasture to catch her!