Make the Most of Your Roundpen

Many horsemen don't have a roundpen because they don't see a need for one. Others have one because a book said they're handy but don't use it for any more than a place to wear their horse down before riding and turn out horses in. this isn't the best use of a roundpen.

The roundpen can be an incredible tool in teaching your horse, but you must use it properly. This isn't just chasing the horse around in but teaching him to give to pressure, to handle himself, to use himself and to submit to you. This means you must take the lead and keep the lead.

The horse in a roundpen can learn to avoid pressure by running. Indeed you can run him until he's too tired to walk and not teach him to submit if you don't ask him to do more than run away from you. Stop him and make him reverse. Change directions and allow him to relax near you.

Teach different gaits rather than just running him - trot to warm up and build fitness. Some horsemen say trotting builds muscle loping builds air while others believe it the other way around. Either way, both belong in a conditioning program and both can be implemented along with breaking and basic training in a roundpen.

Teach the horse and let him teach you. Too often we have the idea of what we're going to teach this horse and don't really 'listen' to what he has to 'say' back. Perhaps he has a sore spot, or he doesn't understand your request. Perhaps your requests aren't clear enough. By watching and taking notes of his reactions we're "listening" - it becomes communicating rather than dictating.

The horse can be telling you of tension and by not listening to him you're ignoring the warning that he will buck when pressed. Instead listen and fix the problem so he forgets about reacting (bucking) and responds. It becomes a means of working with you rather than just for you.

Before stepping on a horse the first time he should go at the requested speed calmly until asked for something different. He should change direction quietly and not be alarmed when you do something that alters his pattern. He should give willingly to you when asked either in slowing and coming to you or in moving his head to submit to restriction. Only when you have control of all parts of the horse should you move forward to getting on. After all, if he doesn't do it on the ground in the roundpen how do you expect him to do it when you're on his back in or out of the roundpen? Give him a chance to succeed and reduce the chances of injury to both you and the horse.

Use your roundpen for all it can be. It's more than an extra paddock!