Horse Tasks in the Round Pen

Tasks performed in a round pen make the difference between a horse that ignores its rider and shows poor ground manners or a trusting horse that knows the rider has absolute control. The most basic round pen training provides the necessary hierarchy between horse and trainer or rider. Tasks in the round pen should further horsemanship and enhance the relationship between horse and human.

  1. Basic Training Concepts of the Round Pen

    • Once the horse gets used to the halter and grooming, begin to train in the round pen. The round pen serves as a classroom for the horse to learn the benefit of voluntary cooperation and joining with humans. Trainers must realize the importance of proper body language; the horse's response is not to pressure, but having that pressure released. Trainers must know the precise moment to release pressure to obtain the desired response in behavior. Be patient, kind, confident and assertive; do not be aggressive. Horses must learn that you are the alpha horse and they are the followers.

    Leaders and Followers

    • For any session, from the first moment when a horse enters the round pen, the lesson must center on the trust relationship between horse and trainer. Every lesson and every task must focus on the trainer as leader and gentle motivator. All lessons in the round pen must establish the horse as follower of your leading. Horses in the round pen do not make decisions. From the beginning, trainers make all decisions on where the horse will go, how fast it will go and what it will do. This one basic tenet will likely determine how a horse responds to people from this point on.

    Trotting and Stopping on Command

    • Teaching a horse to trot and stop on command in the round pen not only benefits the horse, but also helps form a crucial relationship between horse and rider or trainer. The horse has learned the basics of following commands and executing verbal instructions. Absolute obedience of commands will become important later on when riding in certain situations. A horse that will not follow simple commands and instructions in the round pen will likely not follow them later, causing possible injury. Turning and backing up are tasks also taught in the round pen. To turn a horse in the round pen, simply wave your arm or loosely twirl a rope in front of the horse's shoulder while tipping your head.

    Lunge Lines and Driving Lessons

    • Using a 25-foot rope, or lunge line attached to the halter for gentle prompting, teach the horse to stop, turn and trot on command. Be certain to wear gloves when working with this rope. The first step in getting the horse used to the idea of being directed by reins to make turns and stops begins here. As more trust develops between horse and trainer, driving lessons are the next step in the process. As the trainer walks behind the horse, these driving lessons help the horse learn to follow the trainer's commands. Saddling the horse remains the only task in round pen training.