Effective Round Pen Techniques
November 10, 2009
Use this classroom to create a better bond with your horse.
ByThe round pen is one of the most effective classrooms there is for establishing leadership, respect and communication with your horse – the three foundations for successful training. The round pen lets you control movement and direction and learn to communicate with your horse in a safe, controlled environment. It is different from longeing, because the horse learns to respond to you, not to a rope.
It’s important, though, to use the proper technique in the round pen. The round pen should not be used just to run your horse around and around in circles – that results in an exhausted horse who really hasn’t learned anything.
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Instead, use the round pen to control direction and movement of your horse, which establishes your leadership. First, introduce your horse to the round pen. Take the horse into the round pen, remove the halter, and give the horse a few minutes to explore the round pen and get comfortable with it.
Next, using a training whip or something similar as a motion starter, get the horse to start moving. At first, your horse will probably look outside the round pen, not pay attention to you, and even turn away from you – that’s normal.
I use a “pressure and release” approach. I get the horse moving, then back off (move back, relax my body language) and say “relax.” This takes pressure off the horse and gives him the opportunity to make his own decision to submit to me. Try not to intimidate or overwork the horse. Instead, watch closely for him to communicate signs of attention and submission – inside ear turned toward you, chewing, licking lips and turning in to you.
When your horse submits to you by turning in to you with his head lowered, allow him to stand and relax. When the horse does this, he is “inviting” you in. Next, walk slowly toward the horse and introduce yourself by letting him sniff your hand. Reward him with pets, rubs and encouragement. If your horse moves off or turns away from you, get him moving again and wait for him to “choose to submit” again.
At this point, you have started to establish a strong bond of leadership, respect and communication with your horse. Be patient, because it may take several sessions and you don’t want to rush things. Always end on a good, positive note. With each round-pen session, both you and your horse will grow closer and closer. Stay safe and have fun!
Dennis Brouse is the host of the TV show “Saddle Up With Dennis Brouse.”
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5 Comments on “Effective Round Pen Techniques”
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November 30th, 2009 at 7:02 am
[...] you begin teaching your horse to lower his head, it’s important to work with him in the round pen to establish leadership, respect and communication – the three critical foundations of all [...]
November 30th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Hi Dennis-
Great reading the roundpen article. Question?
I have an 8year old mare.
I raised her from 4mos. and she’s a real people horse and would
actually leave the herd to come to me. Over the past year, when I go into her stall to halter her for anything, even the farrier, her ears are back and stay that way. When saddled, and I’ve asked her from my ground position to back up, she has actually tried to lower her whole body to the ground! The trainer who broke her out for me (Jessie Coffell/Ontario) said “She is naturally lazy and will get all pissy when pushed” I’ve never pushed her and when I did finally, she does act up.
My question: ” Has she decided not to be my partner anymore? ”
” Would your roundpen exercise work for an 8yr.old?”
Thank-you for your response,
Barbara Matthews
December 16th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Barbara,
I live in Georgia and have been training quarter horses for several years and recently began working with peruvian pasos. In my experience round pen training can be effective for any age horse. When used properly, the round pen and your training techniques can establish a level of respect with your horse that will prevent many of the issues that you have raised. All horses are different and many of them lazy, but they must all respect you and your requests. Your question as to whether she has decided not to be your partner is better answered by indicating that she does not acknowledge you as her leader. The process may take some time, but the round pen is a safe and effective place to begin working out those little bugs and incidents of disrespect.
January 5th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
Concerning horses this is my general rule – Horses want(crave) leadership if you have not shown that you are a wise and strong leader (because that’s what leaders are) then they will assume the position of leader-because they will believe they can take care of themselves better than you, a weak leader. In a herd situation, it is even more evident-there is always someone “in charge.” If you have let yourself become less “in charge” then the horse or in a herd situation someone else takes that position “in charge” as the leader.
Now different horses have different personalities in herd situations – some rule very arbitrarily, some rule passively, some are very wise leaders. Sometimes how the horse is “trained” by people can dictate how that horse will “rule” over other horses. I am only referring to the leaders (not the lower ones on the totem pole).
Generally all horses can benefit from round penning, but that can be abused and eventually not have any effect as well. I would suggest getting some videos and learning why they round pen horses, like Buck Brannaman’s, Martin Black, or several others-I personally these two alot.
Lastly I had a client who had an 8 year old mare who started pinning its ears everytime she came into the stall as well. She had a set up where a paddock was attached to the stall. I told her that whenever she needed to go into the stall to take a little crop or whip and keep it by her side (pointing down) and if the mare started pinning her ears – be safe by staying out of harms way, but give ONE whop and immediately send her out of the stall and I said EVERYTIME and don’t let her take her own good time. Then actually do not let her back in the stall for a few moments/minutes until her stands still somewhere outside and looks at her. After the fourth day, the client called me and said guess what my mare hardly ever pins her ears now and I can work around her in the stall! It’s like she is a new mare! I was glad she did it and she was glad she did it. Now her mare even appears more agreeable when she gets her to ride her. She established herself as a leader and now she has her mare alligence!
January 5th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
People too much want to have dogs instead of horses…they are quite different!