While tracking wild mustangs in Nevada as a boy, Monty observed a nonverbal communication between the horses, a silent language he would later call "Equus." Monty incorporates "Equus" into his nonviolent training approach called Join-Up�.

Monty first developed Join-Up� to stop the cycle of violence typically accepted in traditional horse breaking. Convinced there must be a more effective and gentle method, Monty created these consistent set of principles using the horse’s inherent methods of communication and herd behavior. The result is a willing partnership in which the horse’s performance can flourish to its full potential, rather than exist within the boundaries of obedience. These principles are valuable tools to understanding what motivates horse behavior and increasing effectiveness in any application.

Join-Up training methods are most simply expressed in the process of starting raw horses. Without the use of pain or force the trainer persuades a raw horse to accept a saddle, bridle and rider. Working in a round pen, one begins Join-Up� by making large movements and noise as a predator would and begins driving the horse to run away. She then gives the horse the option to flee or Join-Up�. Through body language, the trainer will ask, "Will you pay me the respect due to a herd leader and join and follow me?" The horse will respond with predictable herd behavior: by locking an ear on her, then by licking and chewing and dropping his head in a display of trust. The exchange concludes with the trainer adopting passive body language, turning her back on the horse and without eye contact, invites him to come close. Join-Up occurs when the animal willingly chooses to be with the human and walks toward her accepting her leadership and protection. This process of communication through behavior and body language and mutual concern and respect, can be a valuable tool to strengthen all other work with horses.

Experienced horse people, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, have called Monty's method incredible. Two-time, World’s Greatest Horseman winner, Ron Ralls uses Monty’s methods in the foundation for his training work as well.

Traditional methods aim to teach the horse to ‘DO AS I SAY’ and involve the use of pain and intimidation, but Monty focuses on communion with the horse, rather than domination. "For centuries, humans have said to horses, 'You do what I tell you or I'll hurt you,' I'm saying that no one has the right to say, 'you must' to an animal or to another human,” Monty said.

Join-Up methods rely on horse and trainer establishing a bond of communication and trust. "You must somehow understand that we as horsemen can do very little to teach the horse. What we can do is to create an environment in which he can learn." Monty says, "We hear that 'actions speak louder than words,' but generally we do not live by it too successfully.”

The principles found in Join-Up offer valuable tools for all other work. Riders, trainers, veterinarians, vet techs, farriers, barn managers – virtually anyone handling horses – can use these methods to increase their effectiveness in helping horses fulfill their potential.

The message of Join-Up� goes far beyond horses. The lesson is also about philosophies of communication and relationships. Join-Up proposes that not just horses, but humans too, thrive in a cooperative and safe environment and falter in a climate of fear and submission. It is clear why corporations, educators, government leaders, physicians, and more, are using Join-Up as a platform for work outside the equine world.

Monty frequently speaks with corporations, translating his theories about rewarding positive behavior with horses, to human applications. Leading corporate communication events, he uses the horse as a model, and shares how more can be accomplished with mutual respect and cooperation than can be accomplished with dominance and aggression. Hundreds of executives from Disney, Merrill Lynch, Jaguar, John Deere and other major corporations have gathered around the round-pen at Flag Is Up Farms, experiencing the Join-Up� demonstration and listening to these new philosophies in management. Ann Marsh of Forbes wrote in the late 1990’s Volkswagen "made a remarkable comeback in the U.S. market… at least some of the credit goes to a kind-hearted horse trainer, Monty Roberts.” Management specialists such as Bob Foxworthy have even based entire leadership development practices around these Join-Up principles.

Educators are applying Join-Up techniques in their classrooms. Recently school administrators, teachers and psychologists have been visiting the Farm in increasing numbers to consider how Join-Up principles offer alternatives to children without the fear of pain or punishment. Using Monty’s methods, the Kinghurst Junior School (read article) in Great Britain, has gone from being condemned as a failing school, to being re-classified as a center of excellence. In Spring 2004, the Girl Scouts recognized the valuable lessons in Join-Up with a badge program for their youth. "Make it easy for the child or adult to Join-Up� with you, rather than struggle against you," Monty said.

Government agencies, such as the CIA’s polygraph division have sought to learn more about Join-Up, relative to the value of body language - based on Monty’s many years of observing animals and people. White House representatives have asked to learn more from Monty about fostering confidence and loyalty within organizations (read article). Monty has even taken the principles of his Join-Up methods to Los Alamos National Laboratory, to promote the value in trust and cooperation, as seen in his work with horses.

Medical clinicians are now using the Join-Up communication formula when working with children with autism. These children exhibit a similar level of sensitivity to the horse’s in regards to body language, tone of voice, and touch. The non-aggressive, visual based communication that is integral to Join-Up horse training philosophies has proven a useful tool when working with these childrens' unique needs.

The Join-Up principles, while originally developed as a tool to work with horses, hold value in an infinite number of applications: some tactical and quantifiable, some more abstract. Join-Up is about a balanced existence, encouraging trust, reliability and comfort from others, but it can only occur when an underlying desire for partnership exists on both sides. With humans, as with horses, communication enables Join-Up. Trust keeps the process alive.

We are always eager to hear new interpretations and success stories! Please send us your Join-Up story.

Monty: I am compelled to share with you one special night that occurred at The Hand Equestrian Center, Clevedon in Somerset, UK [in October 2005].

During the course of a veterinarian inspection of the horses I was told by an owner that they had brought me a horse that was phobically frightened of bicycles. I have no idea what transpired in this horse’s life to ingrain within him this overwhelming disdain but the owner convinced me that it existed.

Chester was healthy and I accepted him as my second horse for the evening’s proceedings. The plan was to get a good Join-Up� and school him to the Dually halter so that I achieved optimum control of his movements. Once those procedures were complete I gave a signal to four of my assistants who were waiting in the wings.With that, they entered the body of the building, each riding a bicycle. They began to ride in a circle outside of the round pen and about 15 feet (5 meters) or so from the fence. Chester went ballistic and for a minute or two I thought I was going to have to call them off. He began to settle a bit and I went to work schooling him with the Dually halter when he was negative and giving him great praise and comfort when he was positive. Within three to four minutes I asked an assistant to open the gate and the four helpers actually rode the bicycle into the round pen.

Chester and I took a position square in the middle of the pen and I asked my cyclist to circle as close to the fence as possible. Within six to seven minutes from the time the bicycles came in to the building I was asking them one at a time to ride toward the center allowing Chester to assess and even smell each bicycle. Throughout this procedure I was schooling with the Dually when he was negative and stroking him to reward when he was positive.

I suppose I used about four to five minutes of this acquainting procedure and then I asked three of the cyclists to leave the round pen. Dan Wilson, my rider for the evening, remained on his bicycle inside. At this point we really went to work and Dan was riding up to Chester more often and with more speed. It was easy to see that Chester was becoming less frightened as we progressed. There was a certain time in which I could determine that Chester was no longer frightened of the bicycle.

At that point in time I asked Dan to take the lead and actually lead Chester around the round pen from his bicycle. Approximately 25 minutes into the entire procedure, Dan removed the lead and circled the round pen with Chester following totally comfortable with this sight of the “killer” bicycle.

It was a good demonstration. It showed the value of Join-Up and the use of the Dually halter. The final value however would only be known when the owner would request the same behavior at home in the next few days. The letter we received contains the answer regarding the “acid test”....

One horse owner's experience with Monty's demonstration and Join-Up Emma Brownhill and Chester share the Follow-Up story of the Killer Bicycle:

I brought my horse Chester to one of Monty's demo's at the beginning of October. My horse was petrified of pushbikes (our term for bicycles in England). I am writing to say how well he's doing since Monty worked with him.

The day after we got home from the demo, I was thinking that Chester did amazingly well that night with Monty, but how will he be at home with me? So out came the pushbike from the barn. He did have a look at if and was snorting a little, which was nothing compared to beforehand. I propped it up outside his stable for awhile for him to have a look at it.

Then I got his Dually Halter, which is FANTASTIC! No more getting pulled from one end of the yard to the other anymore!! Total control, which not only helps me, but helps Chester learn some manners!

I had my friend push the bike around the yard at first to see how he reacted. He seemed a little nervous but then after a few minutes he was following the bike around the yard on his own accord, which was just amazing. (I did this a couple of times before we went out on the road). So that was great; then just yesterday I was out riding on the country roads when we came across a guy on a pushbike. In the country lanes there isn't much room to do anything if your horse kicks off, as you can imagine. So I was just talking to Chester, patting him and encouraging him to go forward rather than backwards (which is what usually happens). He just looked at the bike and walked past it!!! I was in total shock because before I would have to ask the person to stop on the bike or ask them to get off it, or most of the time I wouldn't have the chance to do anything as he would be performing in the middle of the road and we'd end up at home unannounced! I was just in total shock that he walked straight past him! That doesn't mean he is totally cured but he has VASTLY improved. I am still working using Monty's techniques.

Thank you so much for helping find the correct way to help my horse overcome his fears.

Thanks again, you are amazing!

Emma Brownhill (and Chester!)

A note from Monty: I commend this owner for her follow up. Horses, just like people, have habits. Emma is habituating positive behavior established at my demonstration. Chester is well on his way to new habits, forgetting his phobic fear of bicycles. - Monty