How to Train a Horse in a Round Pen

Many people mistakenly believe that a round pen is a good place to tire a horse out, thus making them easier to train. Horses are permanently injured every day because of this archaic thinking; they are run ragged in fear, suffering damage to their tendons by being forced to run in a contained circle until their spirits are broken. When properly practiced, round pen training allows a trainer and his equine partner to develop a closer bond while building trust and communication.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Familiarize yourself with the round pen. It is simply a fenced, round area that is 40, 50 or 60 feet in diameter (the larger the better). It is a completely man-made artificial environment which can be very helpful in the early stages of training a horse. (People often mistakenly believe it is a natural environment because training in a round pen should be done at liberty, with no halter, saddle, lead ropes, etc.)

2. Be very aware of body posture when doing groundwork with your horse. The hind quarters represent the energy center, the head and neck determine the horse's relationship to his environment--where he should go and how he should respond to stimulus. Movement is accomplished through your position to the horse in relation to these zones.

3. Use your body to get your horse to respond without touch or fear (a process known as yielding). It is more important to establish a bond with your horse at the beginning than to get him to move. Stand slightly ahead of your horse's shoulder, with his eyes and ears toward you. He should stop or slow. If you step slightly further ahead, he will surely stop, provided that he is calm and aware. To make him back up, you need to stand straighter, try to look bigger and literally think him back. If this is a new horse, you may need to take a step towards him, since neither of you are familiar with what's expected just yet. Once he takes even a step backward, encourage him by dropping your shoulders and relaxing your stance. The gesture invites him to come towards you; follow it with an open-handed rub on the neck as a reward.

4. Pay attention to body language, because it's an excellent way to judge your progress with your horse. Horses are herd animals; they need to trust you and respect you as a leader. They are also prey animals, so techniques utilized for dogs can be disastrous. (When a prey animal like a horse appears willful, it is usually a fear response. That makes a round pen dangerous if you don't remain calm and understanding.) Once your horse has a soft look in his eye, drops his head and keeps an ear turned towards you, you have accomplished your goal.

Tips & Warnings

• Each horse has a unique personality and the same formulae will work differently with every mind, just as in human interaction. Increasing awareness in the horse community is leading to a further focus on the psychology of training and the humanity therein.

References

• www.naturalhorsetraining.com: round pen training
• www.naturalhorsesupply.com: round pens

Resources

• Pat Parelli, an expert on horse personality
• Monty Roberts, the pioneer of humane round pen training