Round Pens for Horses

Round pens for horses can be used as a great tool to maximize your horsemanship, build a language of understanding, a colt starter environment and to utilize gentle horse training methods.

A word of caution: It can also be a place to ruin the very trust you hope to create. How? By thinking that round pens for horses are just a place to chase a horse to earn respect without setting a clear goal in mind.

Learning horse behaviour and training in a safe environment for both you and your horse is the goal. To create a relationship built on trust first then respect. From there a language can be formed.

Depending on the disposition of the horse would determine where I would begin. For example, if I was dealing with a highly dominant horse who would rather kick or bite me, I would not be safe trying to touch him all over at first. But if I was dealing with a quiet or frightened horse I certainly would not be sending him away either.

Round pens for horses are best for teaching how to use your body’s energy to see how the particular horse reacts to suggestions on where to move whether I am on line or at liberty.

I would also incorporate clicker training into the mix.

Where Your Belly Goes Energy Flows!

This is how I ask a horse to move in one direction or the other. I could also turn them by changing the direction of the energy by putting energy either way out in front of their path or stepping away to allow them in. My goal is to create an understanding with the horse being able to have them do an outside turn (toward the fence) or an inside turn (toward the middle of the round pen and change directions). If I stop the energy and my feet, the horse should feel that too and come to a stop.

Keeping the horse quiet, calm and unemotional is always my desire. A horse cannot learn when stressed and confused. I always just start at a walk and for several sessions before moving up to a trot.

Learning should come to both parties. For example, I would learn from the horse how much energy is needed, a lot? Or just a little? If the horse seems confused, am I asking to quickly or too much? If the horse seems bored, am I not using enough energy? Does the horse wish to be with me or back with his buddies?

This is a huge subject and you can only learn so much from watching horse vidoes. To really get a complete understanding I recommend you get hands-on help. So feel free to contact us for a private lesson.

Building Round Pens for Horses

Round pens for horses can be built from wood like ours which is 50 feet in diameter. But through experience, I would recommend a 60 foot round pen as a better place to start. Make sure the fence boards are in the inside for more stability too.

So if you are considering buying a round pen for your horses check this place out first: All Natural Horse Care- Round Pens for Sale



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