How to Despook in the Round Pen

Because a horse, in the wild, is a prey animal, it has developed very keen instincts that keep it on the alert for danger all the time. Horse owners who ride, show or use their horses for practical purposes need to despook their horse before it can be a safe and reliable companion. A horse must understand that not everything is a threat and something they need to be afraid of. A round pen is a safe enclosure where a handler can work to reduce the spooking sensitivity of a horse.

Things You'll Need

  • Round pen with good footing
  • Tarp
  • Other objects a horse may be afraid of
  • Halter
  • Lead rope
  • Whip
  • Plastic bag
  • Tape
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Instructions

  1. Stage 1

    • 1

      Remove any objects that might be distracting to the horse, and any unsafe objects. These objects may include food buckets, other animals, water puddles, farm equipment and even food.

    • 2

      Place a tarp down on the ground in the center of the round pen. Place other items that the horse may be afraid of in different locations of the round pen, such as barrels, umbrellas and raincoats. These objects are "scary" objects.

    • 3

      Place a proper-fitting halter and lead rope on the horse. Calmly lead the horse into the round pen. Remove the lead rope from the halter. Turn the horse loose in the pen. Walk out of the round pen, shutting the gate behind you. Go to an area on the outside of the round pen where you can clearly see the horse.

    • 4

      Watch the horse carefully to see what he does around the "scary" objects. The horse may be frightened by them and try to run. When the horse learns the objects will not hurt it, and that it can run away from them, it will willingly walk up and examine them. When you notice the horse is willingly accepting the "scary" objects, walk into the pen, reward the horse and remove it from the pen. Your reward to the horse could be a treat, a scratch or just the fact that you are removing it from the pen.

    • 5
      Police horses are completely despooked as part of their training.

      Repeat stage 1 as many times as needed until the horse is no longer frightened by the "scary" objects. When you feel that your horse is no longer afraid you can remove items from the pen.

    Stage 2

    • 6

      Tape a plastic bag on the end of a long whip. Ask an assistant to hold the bag and whip for you. Place a halter and lead on the horse and lead it into the empty pen. Turn the horse loose in the pen; take the whip and bag from the assistant.

    • 7

      Stand in the middle of the round pen with the whip and bag in one hand. Stretch out the arm with the whip and bag in it slowly, toward the horse, without touching the horse. The horse may act afraid of the bag in the same way it was afraid of the "scary" objects. Stand with the bag outstretched, without moving it, until the horse relaxes.

    • 8

      When the horse relaxes from the fright of the bag, drop the whip and bag to the ground. Slowly walk up to the horse and praise it. Repeat this stage until the horse is completely relaxed every time you raise your arm with the whip and bag.

    Stage 3

    • 9

      Place a halter and lead on the horse. Lead him into the empty arena. Have an assistant hand you the whip with the bag. Slowly outstretch your arm and stroke the horse gently on the neck with the bag. If the horse acts scared or tries to flee, stop stroking and simply hold the bag still on its neck. Repeat this process until the horse relaxes with the bag on its neck.

    • 10

      Release the pressure, when the horse relaxes, by removing the bag from the horse's body. After you remove pressure, you can praise the horse. Repeat this process until the horse willingly accepts the neck stroking.

    • 11

      Move the rubbing process slowly down the horse's body, repeating Steps 2 and 3 for each section of the horse's body. If the horse is not willing for its body to be rubbed, move back to simply rubbing its neck, then move forward again. Repeat this process until the horse will stand still when rubbed by the bag.