FEB DEMO REPORTS HERE PLEASE!

[Kelly Marks]

Hi
I've met a couple of DGers at the demos (mostly as helpers!) It would be great to have your reports here - Monty likes the feedback - even if its things we can improve!
Kelly

[Catrin]

Southview

Here's Kelly's: The February tour got off to a flying start at South View last Sunday with Monty for the first time ever using a female demonstration rider; Intelligent Horsemanship Recommended Associate, Rosie Jones. Monty’s Western mount, Jays MasterCopy of the Mendip Stud, was in fine form as was Pie. Nobody is going to say we look jaded or overtrained that’s for sure - when all the snow came down neither Pie nor I got any proper exercise for nearly two weeks and our waistlines expanded just a bit. Since then we haven’t done any arena practice, we’ve just had a lovely time going out on rides and if there’s a gate to open or a reason to side pass or do a flying change we’ll do it, otherwise we’ve just enjoyed the scenery and spending the time together. Pie was bang on form for his TREC routine to the Ski Sunday music and his newly released DVD ‘A Slice of American Pie’ showing the ups (and downs) of his career is proving really popular. He really has become a personality in his right.

Dragonmaster had this to say:
Just come back from helping at South View (Cheshire) today. Frozen, exhausted, but inspired.

And I saw Monty & Kelly at HCM yesterday - you can see me in the picture (not!) - just the edge of my hat behind Monty's head, But OH is the other side of Monty at back and dtr Lizzy is the one in green with Monty's arms round her shoulders.

And highlight of the day? I got to use the credit card machine on the sales table - you make them work by holding them high in the air to get a signal, apparently!

No, the real highlight is seeing Monty riding Copy. That horse is so loose and yet so balanced.
Counter canter figure of eights!!! I also like seeing Pie do his 'entrance', seen it several times before but it never fails to amaze.

More from Kelly's blog, with photo:
Whether our new IH horse, Harvey, is going to prove a success story is another matter entirely. After a very promising start as a supreme champion three year old something went badly wrong in Harvey’s world and he’s come to join us now as a 5 year old and with a real ‘bad boy’ reputation. The professional producers weren’t able to get him into the show ring last year. He rears! He bites! He won’t load into the horsebox. He won’t be caught! He naps! Recommended Associate Rosie Jones has been working with him for a couple of weeks and brought him along to the first demonstration to show us how he was getting along. We were amazed how good he was! The only photo I have of him is him warming up in the fog the night before South View. It looks like it should be captioned “Who is this mystery horse and rider?!” Best of all with Harvey is that Rosie is working to improve on his talents for every single demonstration. Goodness knows what they’ll be doing at Keysoe in Bedfordshire!


More from me:

I spoke yesterday to Idris Evans, the man who wrote the book on droving history Hard Road to London. He came from a long line of welsh cob and pony breeders and was at the demo. Yesterday, he kept repeating the word he used so often while he watched Monty work, "Fascinating," but yesterday he added, "That man is a genius."

As he had watched the demo he whispered constant questions and comments, "Well, I never knew that," he said when Monty explained why he put a sheepskin noseband on the big chestnut mare. "I've had horses all my life, my father too, and never knew chestnuts had more sensitive skin. Explains a lot that does!"

When it came to the starter, Idris's favourite comment was, "Will you look at that. He said he'd do that and now he's done it." He was a little sceptical when the lovely black and white cob, which the owner had had since a yearling, stood so still to have his saddle on. "He's had a saddle on before hasn't he?" but soon changed his mind when Monty sent the horse away and he did two circuits of the round pen still bucking. "Oh, maybe not," Idris said watching fascinated.

"Thirty one minutes," he said as the horse left the pen, "and he did all that. Mind you, he's been doing it for years, hasn't he. Years of experience, makes a difference!" I stuck my neck out, "I can do the same you know," well you have to make the impact! His jaw dropped, "Really!" He actually believed the neighbour he had known for thirty years, there was no doubt in his voice. I added, "So can all the tens of thousands who have trained in Monty's methods. That's what he's all about, getting as many people as he can to work calmly and effectively and end up with happy ridden horses." "Anyone can do it?" Idris said "Fantastic!"

Idris has been researching Monty's welsh ancestors and had difficulty pinning down the South Wales port that Monty's grandfather left from because of the spelling of his name. The Americans wrote down what they heard and changed the spellings of names in 'foreign languages.' Marvin Earl Roberts was one of these old transcription errors. Monty, like his grandfather should be called Mervyn Eryl it seems.

[BJMM]

I went to Hadlow on Sunday, my whole yard went, all 6 of us! I have been before, the others hadn't.
All were impressed by how friendly and helpful IH staff and helpers were, also by the approachability (is that a word? Catrin?)of Monty and Kelly. My friend had her book signed by both and had a chat with Monty - she was made up!!
We enjoyed every bit of the demo. For me, the most interesting was the starter, as I am about to start my baby in Spring. Loved Kelly's Trec bit! That sofa jump was HUGE!! Pie looked as if he was having lots of fun!
I was lovely and warm cos I took a sleeping bag and a blanket. No moans at all, think you are all doing a great job. xxxx

[nutkin]

I also went to Hadlow with a couple of friends.We had a great time and it was lovely to meet Kelly and Monty.Both happily posed for photos with us which was lovely. One friend spent a fortune on books and clothing and had the book signed by Monty and was totally made up by it. I enjoyed watching all the horses.The starter was lovely and I also enjoyed the spooky horse and it was wonderful how quickly Monty gained his trust and had him walking over the scary lake tarpaulin. We all had a bit of a heart stopping moment when Copy almost unseated Monty and were relieved he managed to stay put. I love the way Pie came into the arena for Kelly and also enjoyed the Trec display. It was a great day out and we all want to go again next time Monty or Kelly are back in the area.I did take some pictures.Will it be okay to put them on here for all to see?

[kathrine-epona]

I also went to Hadlow and took a couple of friends who had not seen Kelly or Monty before. I sneaked a look at them while Monty was in the round pen. (They were transfixed!!). They totally loved the whole afternoon and now want me to do a join up with their ponies.

Demo was totally brilliant, educational, fun, entertaining, fab!! Well done to all involved.

[Deleted]

I was a helper at Hadlow, it's the second time I've volunteered and it was great fun - especially as we get to see most of the demo and I had a prime view for the loader!

I must remember that I am supposed to be SELLING, rather then buying though!

For anyone who's thinking of volunteering - do - it's a great day out!

[gambler]

i helped at berkshire. it was great fun. so a big thank you to monty kelly and the rest of the tour team.

[annabelle h]

Great demo at Berkshire College.

Spooky coloured mare - very very spooky! Rosie kept her on a line while Kelly did approach and retreat to help her become more comfortable with being touched. Also walking up to her and clipping on as if catching her. Plus someone else (was it Catrin?) came in to "catch" her as well. Anyone know why she is so spooky? She was spookier than most unhandled horses, not sure why but think it may have been memory of being treated for a physical problem when very young (?) Sorry can't remember what you said about her Kelly (old age setting in).

Nice starter which Monty worked with and Rosie rode - owner flabbergasted as usual. :-)

Big spooky horse who was leaping in the air at the start when shown a plastic bag 8 feet away. Monty worked by advance and retreat and noted the pulse rate coming down as he did it. Poor horse was almost sitting down when the bag initally went near his quarters. :-( By the end he was standing with a low pulse rate, with Monty standing behind him in his blind spot and wafting the bag-on-stick over his quarters and down his hind legs. Lovely horse and I hope he won't be living with so much fear now!

Was it our Catrin calling out the heart rates??

Riding bit was very good - Copy is so fast in his spins he has to be seen to be believed! Monty did some interesting figure eights in counter-canter with a flying change in the middle - in fact I think it was counter-canter shoulder-in - flying change - counter-canter shoulder-in on the other rein. Nice! Also some 3 time and one time changes. Maybe we'll see Monty in a tail coat and top hat next time, lol.

Kelly was also very good, one hiccup but I think it made the rest of us mere mortals feel better about ourselves! Nice jumping over a sofa with an arch of flowers over the top. And their gate opening is pretty much perfect!

Rosie rode Harvey, as mentioned in Kelly's blog - the unhandleable unrideable expensive show horse. She did a lovely sympathetic job of riding him, sounds like he had a freak-out at Hadlow when he found himself away from Pie and Copy, but here he was able to perform on his own around the arena with only a tiny spook or two which you'd probably expect from many "normal" riding horses.

Three weeks work with this horse and Rosie has him coping with the "show ring", could sit with him at halt on the buckle while everyone applauded (try that Anky, lol), and get him to stand while she walks away from him, and have him follow her loose out of the arena. Nice one Rosie. Definitely recommend getting to the next few demos to see his progress - get your tickets booked if you haven't already!

And the loader - loaded (in pink trailer) about 0.5 seconds after Monty asked her . . . think the pulse rate monitor was on again and showed how unstressed she was by his training. I'm loading a heavy horse stallion later this week and I really hope it goes that well!!

Well done all, nice to see some familiar faces from years ago, and hello to Yvonne Munday whom I spotted in the distance but didn't get to say hello to.

Didn't get to speak to Monty either but - if you read this Monty - I'm the Annabelle that travelled around with you a bit in England and Australia around 2001/02, and helped on loads of demos - got MRPCH in 2003 and now am still helping lots of people with their horses and working to help troubled businesses turn around, both using your concepts. The other day spent an afternoon teaching 15 teenagers how to "talk" to their horses and train them non-violently - great fun. Afraid I did hand-feed them with chocolate (the teenagers though, not the horses, lol)

So - thank you for getting these methods "out there" as I would never have been able to pass them on otherwise.

Take care,

Annabelle

[Catrin]

Feb 22, 2010 11:35:19 GMT 1 annabelle h said:

… Plus someone else (was it Catrin?) came in to "catch" her as well. …
Was it our Catrin calling out the heart rates??…

Nein es war mein Standin! It was Katrin Junker, one of Monty's german students. She is organising the german tour and presumably practising on this one. Mind you if it was an out of breath old lady who tottered in to help Kelly, it could have been me and my memory's gone!

[annabelle h]

Lol! That explains it then - your doppelganger. ;D

[heather]

So who is going to the Hand tomorrow? I am looking forward to it!

Heather

[Ally S]

The Hand EC, Clevedon

Another superb demo last night. From the bicycle phobic horse, and starters, through the ridden demos, to Amber the bad loader, Monty and Kelly did superb jobs. The demos just keep on getting better! I just cannot recommend these demos enough! It is wonderful to see the partnership between Kelly and Pie and watch them having fun as well as see Monty's demonstration of western riding on Copy. What a horse!

Huge praise should go to Rosie for the amazing job she is doing with Harvey. Rosie, your riding and handling of him is amazing. You were a joy to watch. Harvey has clearly been through some very bad experiences and watching you, Monty and Kelly working with him was wonderful. We can only guess at much of what he's been through that has made him so difficult, but it speaks volumes about IH and the team to just see how far he has come already. Watch this space - Harvey and Rosie are awesome!!

And best of all was watching Martin Clunes Join Up with his lovely horse Chester. Actually that's a lie! Best of all was meeting Martin Clunes. He's a lovely bloke, and thanks Kelly for introducing us!

Lovely to see so many people there. Hoping to make the coffee morning Heather on the 20th!! xx

[potto]

Another excellent demonstration.... summed up by Ally S, and how strange it felt this year to be part of the audience rather than a helper but brilliant not to miss a single bit!!!! Having never been able to sit and absorb all of it before i can genuinely say at least once buy a ticket and sit and watch the whole thing through.....

I am very very sad to be saying goodbye to katie who has been doing the filming for Kelly and designing the trendy hoodies and providing the cheery fun young face of IH at the demos, does this mean the end of trendy IH clothes, the christmas dvd and horsemanship essentials ... I am not sure helping will ever be the same....as my journey began eating chocolate and sipping wine in a tent...having a giggle helping out on the 5 day.... but i wish her all the best with her unstoppable talent and lust for life with her new endeavours what ever they will be xxx

It was wonderful to see Rosie so human and so skilled with the 'harvey the horse that looked to me like a bomb waiting to go off....' It will be a joy to see him progress further and be happy, relaxed and understood at last.

Its always fab seeing Monty and Kelly work like the true professionals that they are and Martin clunes was the icing on the cake and very very nice to talk to... as were the many other people that were there, such a wonderful bunch.....

Infact my only gripe... is that the RA's did not have their books for sale on the stands... Why is this? I know that many of them have written and published books recently and would be interested in buying them.
But who am i to complain at saving money ;D ;D ;D

[mandal]

Feb 28, 2010 16:07:33 GMT 1 potto said:

I am very very sad to be saying goodbye to katie who has been doing the filming for Kelly and designing the trendy hoodies and providing the cheery fun young face of IH at the demos, does this mean the end of trendy IH clothes, the christmas dvd and horsemanship essentials ... I am not sure helping will ever be the same....as my journey began eating chocolate and sipping wine in a tent...having a giggle helping out on the 5 day.... but i wish her all the best with her unstoppable talent and lust for life with her new endeavours what ever they will be xxx

Are you talking about Kitty McG???

[potto]

My Ditty to the Kitty!

yes mandal the very same...
tis a shame,
I hope their is going to be a big leaving bash....
we can all go and crash....
the thing about Katie
is that she is a great matie
honest to the corr
and definately not a bore
sometimes a little crazy
maybe a little lazy
but true to the IH cause
deserves the most loyal round of applause....
So to Katies future we drink
as tears back we blink
for fun memories we had
of mischief (and realness) i will be glad!

;D