
A brief overview of the material covered in this course: Why round pen training is so necessary for every horse, the equipment you'll need, how long it'll take, how it's accomplished, and so on.
Music credit:
Livin' Up (Sting) by Otis McDonald
The Entertainer by E's Jammy Jams
This video uses the following sound(s) from freesound:
Dog Barking by nick121087 (https://freesound.org/s/274471/)
20060419.horse.neigh.wav by dobroide (https://freesound.org/s/18229/)
horse snort 2.wav by ERH (https://freesound.org/s/32043/)
Horse Whinny 1.wav, by GoodListener (https://freesound.org/people/GoodListener/sounds/322445/)
Horse Snort 2.wav by GoodListener (https://freesound.org/s/322454/)
horse.wav by blazecon0 (https://freesound.org/people/blazecon0/sounds/99222/)
Horses believe that "whoever causes the other to move" is the boss. So, with that in mind, we begin our round pen training by controlling the speed at which our horse moves, when it can stop and stand, when it can turn, and so on. In this very simple fashion, through a series of steps taught in a particular order, we begin gaining respect.
Music credit:
Crawdad Stomp by Josh Kirsch/Media Right Productions
Metal Race by Josh Kirsch/Media Right Productions
Morning Stroll by Josh Kirsch/Media Right Productions
Sure, the round pen is where you can bring a young horse with zero training and begin to turn it into a horse you'll someday love to ride... but what if your youngster is so wild that you can't get near it, let alone get it into the round pen? Here's what to do.
If your horse continually stops or changes direction on you, here's what might be causing it - plus how to go about fixing it.
This video uses the following sound from freesound:
Mixed Whip Crack 1.wav - peterbullmusic (https://freesound.org/people/peterbullmusic/sounds/351267/)
If your horse continually cuts across the middle of the round pen - as opposed to circling the perimeter - here's what it means and what you should do.
If you find yourself going through the material in this course, yet your horse doesn't seem to be improving (read: his respect for you as leader isn't improving) here's why - and what to do.
Some horses will run like their tails are on fire when first turned into the round pen - others will stand and resist your cue to move. Here's how to approach either situation.
It's a rare thing, but every great once in awhile we run across an old war horse that simply refuses to keep moving. Here's what has worked for me.
Horse training is often a matter of taking a step back for every two or three steps forward.
Case in point: After repeatedly asking our horse to leave us and circle the round pen, they often begin to take our very approach as a cue to do just that - and suddenly we have a horse that we can't get near! Here, you'll find that this "step backward" is a natural part of the process and easily remedied.
While some young horses are skittish and won't get near us, others do the opposite: They just won't leave our side.
If this sounds like your horse, if it considers itself to be a 1200 pound "pet," be sure and check out this video because this type of horse can be the most dangerous, despite appearances to the contrary. Why? Because more often than not, the horse that refuses to leave our side is the same horse that will most stubbornly ignore our commands when the going gets rough out on the trail. Here, I address this issue.
In this video, you will learn to teach your horse "inside and outside" turns. These will help solidify the control you have over your horse (on the ground), but also go a long way to teaching your horse respect for you as leader -- and rider.
Prerequisite before beginning this section: You should be able to give your horse a light cue, causing it to travel three complete revolutions around the round pen without changing speed (to any great degree) or direction. (See the preceding video for help on this subject.)
This video teaches you to teach your horse to politely move both its hips and shoulders away from you as you approach (something you'll need when you later teach it to lead) as well as to "come to you."
Prerequisite before beginning this section: You should be able to cause your horse (on a light cue) to do both "inside" and "outside" turns at a precise spot.
This video uses the following sound(s) from freesound:
Revolver Chamber Spin (Ratchet Sound) by jhka (https://freesound.org/people/jhka/sounds/139001/)
horse snort 2.wav by ERH (https://freesound.org/s/32043/)
Horse Whinny 1.wav, by GoodListener (https://freesound.org/people/GoodListener/sounds/322445/)
Horse Snort 2.wav by GoodListener (https://freesound.org/s/322454/)
Barking_Dog_2.wav by ivolipa (https://freesound.org/s/328730/)
horse.wav by blazecon0 (https://freesound.org/people/blazecon0/sounds/99222/
If you're starting or re-starting a horse - any horse - round pen training is the very first step.
Regardless of your experience level - or how your horse will later be ridden - this video course, "Round Penning: First Steps to Starting a Horse," shows you exactly what to do, when to do it, and even why to do it.
Beyond desire and persistence, all you need is a horse, a round pen, and a pair of gym shoes... 'cause you are gonna get some exercise.
Simply put, "round penning" is the necessary first step for horses destined for any riding discipline! Whether you ride western or English - basics are basics and they are first introduced in the round pen! (Can you skip this training and still get your horse "broke"? Sure! But it's a heck of a lot harder to saddle-train a skittish horse that hasn't learned to be comfortable with you, or to respect your presence, your pressure - and your role as "boss," three things your horse will learn here in this video series... So, seriously, you don't want to skip proper round pen training. Starting here is highly, highly recommended! The short period of time you invest here in the beginning will later pay off in a big way.)
"Round penning" is not the same as lungeing. "Lungeing" is a single, stand-alone "thing" you have your horse do. By contrast, "Round penning" is an entire series of exercises that combine to begin teaching the horse respect for its human and to later carry a rider. Yes, along the way, ground manners will be greatly improved, (you'll teach the horse to turn toward you for easy catching in the field, to have its feet handled - and even teach it to "come to you" at any gait, for instance) but the entire point of "round penning" is for you to begin training a horse to be ridden. There are goals to be met and specific steps to be taken. But you can do this! Anybody who can follow simple directions can do this!
Round penning is easy once you know how - but the changes you can make are amazing. Whether you're starting a youngster to ride or retraining a hard luck case, this step-by-step video guide shows you exactly what to do, in which specific order - and why. Train your horse to:
become a willing partner
deal with its fear
turn and face you, to come to you, to respect a person's space
stand politely for the farrier, to have its feet handled
be much safer for you and your family to be around
And, above all, with this video course, you will learn exactly what it takes to build a strong foundation for any horse that you'd someday like to ride. (Note: While this video course does not address first saddling, it brings you right up to that point. Sacking out, bridle work from the ground, and then saddle-training would be your next steps!)
Free bonus included with this course for a limited time: I've included a free chapter, "Sacking Out" as excerpted from my book "Round Penning: First Steps to Starting a Horse." Why? Because it's the next thing you're going to want to do with your horse after round pen training. If you want to make your horse safer to ride, then the day after completing your training in the round pen, you need to "sack it out" (that is, get your horse "used to" common, everyday objects that it might come into contact with -- either on purpose or by accident., objects like your hands, water bucket, saddle blanket and so on. This excerpted (text version, not video) chapter will show you exactly what to do. I'd suggest you print it out, take it to the barn.
Note: Pick up my book "Round Penning: First Steps to Starting a Horse" for additional guidance. The book goes on to offer even more how-to training, covering the following topics in detail:
Spook in Place (Desensitize your horse to scary objects)
Picking Up Feet
How to Halter Train a Horse
Teaching Your Horse to Lead
Leading a Stubborn Horse
Lungeing a Horse
Horses That Bite
The Intimidating Horse
How to Get Respect
Trailer-Training Your Horse Using a Round Pen
Teach a Horse to Sidepass to You On the Ground [A popular trick]
Is My Horse Hard to Train... Because of His Feet?