Round Pen Training-Using Some Old Time HorseRound Pen Training-Using Some Old Time Horse Sense

ROUND PEN TRAINING
USING SOME HORSE SENSE
by Charlotte Blackwell

   Bob Blackwell is one of the few remaining cowboys, having been a real working cowboy along side of Billy Bishop whose influence on horsemanship and training can be seen in the training methods being used by today's most popular clinicians. At our farm training first begins with imprinting when first born and continues daily with the young foal working up to the first experience in the round pen.
   At first the foal is taught simple lessons while with its mother. For example, touching the foal and teaching the foal to accept being touched is a good start. It is important to be able to handle your foal for many reasons. One never knows when and at what age medical attention may be needed. Teaching the foal at a young age to move out of your space is more beneficial and lasting than waiting to teach this until the foal is older and larger, picking up the baby's feet will accustom it to what to expect later in life and to accept it when it does, and the list goes on...Training as a baby should be controlled and consistent. Not sporadic, or in places where you are not in control, or in an inconsistent fashion.
   The round pen is highly beneficial as a training aid providing a controlled situation necessary if lasting and early lessons in trust and respect are to be achieved in a supportive and humane fashion. It is probably the easiest and safest aid for a beginner to use. The first lessons in the round pen are not and should not be concerning gait, but should be for teaching your horse the lessons necessary for rider safety when it comes time for your horse to be ridden. Even though some horses may not perform the preferred gait at first in a round pen, once they relax and are comfortable with this setting they usually fall into the beautiful natural gait of their namesake if they are bred right.

Bob's round pen techniques in training his horses are easy on both the horses and Bob. His idea of training is not that of "breaking" a horse, but is based on a more lasting method of training which requires the "winning" of the horse. Early lessons should include teaching the horse to focus on the person in the round pen, what "whoa" means, to give to pressure, and to respect the trainer's space. The round pen trainer needs to work slowly getting the horse accustomed to each new task and accustomed to accepting new experiences with trust.

This, also, includes touching the horse from head to foot, from front to back so that you can introduce the horse to the bridle and bit properly, be able to work on the horses feet without problems, eventually accept a saddle easily, etc. Also, before you get on a young horse it should be introduced to saddle blanket, a saddle, and finally a rider slowly so that each new experience is totally accepted before going to the next step.
When ground work is done properly and in stages allowing the horse to learn, adjust, and accept, the first in-saddle experience should go smoothly.

The in-saddle experience must also be taken slowly and in stages. I am not really an experienced rider, myself, but I have been the first to ride 2 of our young horses without a problem, a misstep, or mishap from either.

In the above pics Bob is working with a young stallion in the round pen. Stallions take an experienced handler. This particular young 3 year old is very gentle, quite alert and intelligent, and learns his lessons quickly.

Shown here is some work in the saddle with a young horse at
one of the training clinics Bob has taught.

       Other lessons might include placing a tarp to flap in the breeze near the round pen, or have someone walk by while
opening an umbrella, etc.,. so that these everyday distractions are accepted by the horse as being ordinary and not a cause
to be afraid or "spook."
      Eventually the horse will be taken out of the round pen to ride on a trail. Along the path we have sacks tied to trees, white buckets lurking in the bushes, our neighbor's emus and ostriches, and the natural distractions of wild turkeys, deer, etc. They
are also introduced to our neighbors cows and donkeys, farm equipment, riding lawn mowers, etc. All is done slowly and
gradually allowing the horse to gain and maintain confidence.
      There is no quick fix that is a safe and lasting fix. Training should never be rushed and should be done in such a manner as to create a loving bond and respect between the horse and trainer.
      Bob conducts riding, problem solving, and shoeing clinics across the country, and gives private riding lessons for properly riding gaited horses for the appropriate gait.