Horsemanship Courses
Open your eyes to a whole new perspective on your horse’s methods of communication and behavior. Experience what hundreds of students have discovered at Monty Roberts International Learning Center; a wonderful learning environment where you will enjoy the staff, meet new friends and return home with a better understanding of your equine companion. Every horse enthusiast can find lessons below to fit their interests.
Monty’s Special Training
This is your chance to be at Flag Up Up Farms with Monty, watching, asking questions and learning as Monty works with a range of young and remedial horses. The 5-day clinic is for any student wishing to observe a master at work. Monty demonstrates how to communicate with horses in their natural language in various situations, providing you with the educational tools you need to address leadership issues, ground manners, teaching to tie, overcoming obstacles, loading, head-shyness, mounting, bucking, standing for the farrier, kicking, and biting. This exclusive training program helps you problem solve using Monty’s violence-free training methods. Spend time with like-minded people absorbing what non-violent communication can be. Enjoy lunch and lively discussions too with Monty and students from around the world.
Cost: $2000
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Horsemanship 101
These two days are designed to introduce those of you who have little or no experience with horses to some of our gentle equine companions. It is a wonderful opportunity for those who would like to become familiar with horses. You will learn how to approach a horse safely, become comfortable around horses in the pasture and in the stall, as well as how to groom and tack-up properly. You will be introduced to working with the Dually™ Halter and apply Monty’s force-free training concepts on the ground while learning how to lead a horse correctly. You will also have the opportunity to watch a Join-Up® session conducted by one of our instructors. This is an excellent chance to become more comfortable around horses prior to signing-up for one of our Join-Up® courses or the Monty Roberts Introductory Training Program.
Cost: $450 (horses provided)
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Join-Up®
The four-day Join-Up® course is an introduction to the language of ‘Equus’. It offers a solid understanding of the body language of horses. You will discover the importance of posture, breathing, spatial awareness and intentional actions in the presence of horses. You will discover that trust-based relationships provide a valuable foundation for all equine disciplines. Through demonstrations, discussions, video and practical hands-on exercises and round pen work you will learn Monty’s concepts. Certified Instructors will demonstrate the introduction of a young horse to its first saddle, bridle and rider to illustrate the effectiveness of Join-Up in this important context. The course is based on groundwork with horses and does not include any ridden coaching or exercises. The Long Lining course takes place right after.
Cost: $1500 (horses provided)
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Long Lining
Effective long lining will bring your horse into balance, enhance their outline, and prepare them both physically and psychologically for further learning. Long lining increases your control of the horse through rein pressure, even when you ride. This unique, easy to learn technique combines Monty’s Join-Up® communication concepts with the effectiveness of long lining. These two days are designed to provide any horse advocate or owner with the knowledge of why double line training is so valuable and the practical tools to apply this knowledge. Please note that you are required to complete a Join-Up® class prior to enrolling in the Long-Lining class.
Cost: $500 (horses provided)
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Horse Sense and Soldiers
Monty Roberts has developed an equine assisted program for war veterans with symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The three-day “Horse Sense and Soldiers” workshops take place at Flag Is Up Farms. Through an innovative approach to coping with what Monty refers to as “Post Traumatic Stress Illness”, reflecting the fact that there is solid hope for recovery, Roberts shares his vision in non-violent communication as veterans learn to interpret the behavior of horses and achieve “Join-Up®,” the moment when a horse will trust human contact. It is a powerful parallel for soldiers coping with emotional trauma.
Cost: FREE (horses provided)
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Riding with Respect
Monty Roberts’ professional team teaches Riding with Respect – striving for performance from your horse through non-violent training. Take this unique opportunity to attend a ridden clinic at Flag Is Up Farms and boost your confidence while learning how to apply the Join-Up concepts from the saddle. The clinic consists of three days of group training for you and your horse. Instruction will be tailored to meet your level of riding. All disciplines and types of horses are welcome; however, if you want to bring a young horse, we suggest you have had 60 plus days of ridden training prior to the clinic. Maximum 10 people with horses.
Cost – Rider: $900 (+ $25/day boarding)
Cost – Auditor (non rider) $150 per day
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Certification Courses
The Monty Roberts International Learning Center also offers the certification courses below. The curriculum offers students predictable, discernible, and effective tools to communicate with horses using their own natural language, forming a partnership based on trust and communication rather than dominance. Included in your sign up is a year’s subscription to ‘Monty’s Equus Online University.’ This online learning tool will give you a great start prior to the course and a greater idea of what you will be learning and doing in the round pen during your course. And the ongoing education that you will have with the Uni will give you great practice and exercises to continue with at home while working towards your exams.
The Introductory Course and the Advanced Course provide a strong foundation in Monty’s Join-Up® methods and will give you the tools you need to become a professional in the equine industry using his revolutionary, gentle training and communication principles.
Both programs have a three-section design.
- The first section, consisting of two weeks of learning, is completed here at the Monty Roberts International Learning Center at Flag Is Up Farms.
- The second section consists of distance learning modules and field study in which the student returns to their area of origin to complete videotapes and coursework each month. The time frame of the field study is variable depending on student commitments, however we recommend several months of practice.
- The third and final section consists of a one to two week period containing both review and examinations.
Visit our policies and forms page to obtain our Registration & Application forms as well as information on accommodation available in the area. You can also call (805) 688-3483 to learn more.
Introductory Course
The Introductory Course is the first step to gain an in-depth understanding of Monty’s concepts. Students from various equine backgrounds are welcome to take part, as there are no prerequisites. To those of you with little or no horse knowledge, we recommend prior participation in the H101 Clinic.
The Introductory Course is designed to provide you with a well-rounded knowledge in general horsemanship in the basics of horse performance, breeding, feeding and nutrition, with a strong emphasis on horse psychology. As the foundation of Monty’s work and a prerequisite for the Advanced Course, you will learn the method of Join-Up® as it relates to various environments. You will have the opportunity to build your skills in Dually™ halter work, long lining, herding exercises and loading.
The training begins at the Monty Roberts International Learning Center where your first two weeks consist of hands-on experience as well as theories in horse psychology. Following this you will return home to complete several months of distance learning modules and field study (submitted via videotape every other month). It is during the field study period that you learn about horse performance, breeding, feeding and nutrition through a distance-learning program. Then you will return for practical and written exams, at the successful completion of which you will graduate from the Introductory Program.
Graduates of the Introductory Course are offered the opportunity to continue their education by completing the Advanced Course and, upon personal selection by Monty, the Instructors’ Internship. Only Certified Instructors are able to teach, demonstrate and advertise their services for monetary gain.
When: February 11-22, 2013; June 3-14, 2013; October 14-25, 2013
Cost: $4000: including 2 weeks of study at the MRILC + several months of distance learning modules and field study
Exam Price: $1000
Exam Dates: April 8-12, 2013; July 8-12, 2013; September 16-20, 2013
Call: (805) 688-3483 to book or email Maya@join-up.org or admin@montyroberts.com for more details.
Advanced Course
The Advanced Course offers students the opportunity to broaden their knowledge in training both un-started and untouched horses. This training is the next step on the pathway towards becoming a qualified Instructor, and to attend the Advanced Course you must be a graduate of the Introductory Course.
You will be given the tools to expand your knowledge and overall experience in Monty’s concepts, with this three-stage program focusing on practical solutions to real situations. You will have the opportunity to test your problem solving skills and stimulate your creative thinking ability while learning to become more aware of what creates remedial horse behavior.
Following the initial two-week intensive period, you will return home to complete several months of field study to be submitted via videotape. You will then return for two weeks of written and practical exams, at the successful completion of which you will graduate from the Advanced Course.
When: April 15-26, 2013; July 15-26, 2013; September 23-October4, 2013
Cost: $3000 including 2 weeks of study at the MRILC + field study
Exam Price: $2000
Exam Dates: March 4-15, 2013; August 26-September 6, 2013
Call: (805) 688-3483 to book or email Maya@join-up.org or admin@montyroberts.com for more details.
Internship
On successful completion of the Advanced Course selected students may be invited for the Instructor’s Internship. This internship has been created for students wishing to become certified Instructors in the Monty Roberts methodology. Certified Instructors are qualified to teach Join-Up® and Long-Lining classes worldwide as well as the Monty Roberts Introductory Course and Horsemanship 101 classes.
The internship consists of a minimum of three months at Flag Is Up Farms, during which time you will assist with teaching and learn the skills necessary to run your own business. Existing Instructors will guide you through this process, and Monty will check your progress regularly.
Monty will assess you at the end of your three months, and depending on your progress, you may need to complete further training, or you may be ready to graduate and join the exclusive and limited ranks of Monty Roberts Instructors!
For further details please contact the MRILC at 805-688-3483 and speak to our team of friendly Instructors. Or email Maya@join-up.org or admin@montyroberts.com for more details.