Monty Roberts Learning Centre behind the scenes

Manjeev and Marwa, his 'project' horse

Friends and family often ask us what we do while we are at the Flag is Up farm, Monty Robert's Learning Centre. 

We do a tremendous amount, from discussing theory, training techniques and learning to start young horses, gentle wild ones and work with problem horses. 

The Learning Centre has a great system whereby the local rescue centre sends a few horses for us students to work with. For our advanced course each student is allocated one 'project' horse (allocated randomly - the horse's name was pulled out of a hat). 

My project horse was a 2 year old gelding while Manjeev got to work with a gorgeous 2 year old Arabian mare (the Arabian mare was from the local stud farm - not the rescue centre). Our job was to get these babies used to human touch, accept the saddle and the bit as well as to learn to lead and follow instructions (turn right, left, stop etc) in the least unpleasant way possible. We say we teach the horse but the truth is that the horse teaches us. 

Here are some pics of our time in and around with the horses. 

Meet Finn, my project horse

Marwa, the Arabian mare

Finn & I

a long lining session with Denise

Manjeev & Marwa

We spend a lot of time observing each others' sessions and doing some silly stuff in between

desensitising Pink - our gentler - to the plastic bag

the gentling pen where we get wild horses used to being handled

At the end of the course we had to prepare a little show with our project horse and make them pretty. I felt like an 8 year old again braiding my pony's tail. 

Mara's new hairstyle for the show

Finn's little trick

post braiding waves!