Using a round pen- an Alternative Horsemanship perspective

I find 95% of folks misuse a round pen, whether under the guise of "exercising" or teaching conditioned responses, an example being the lesser of two evils is to turn, face the human, and be caught rather than made to run; which is a bullying tactic. The problem with teaching conditioned responses and patterns is the day you change the routine, the horse does not know how to react because his responses have been obedient versus thoughtful. Sometimes, this creates him throwing a tantrum or seemingly becoming a fire breathing dragon instead of the horse you're used to. 

So what happened when the pattern of expectation from the horse changed? Most horses learn the pattern in order to get the human to leave them alone. There's not a lot of thought or clarity, it is just a form of "escaping" the pressure created by the human. The human in turn incorrectly assumes that because the horse is offering the physical response they want, or is being "helpful" by automatically doing something, that the horse is okay with what is being asked of them. More times than not, he is not. I approach working in the round pen as an opportunity in a safe place where the horse and I can have open two-way communication. It is an opportunity to assess if the horse is mentally available to physically participate with me. When the horse is offering fast, dramatic or continuous movement, this is a reflection of his mental and emotional state. The more concerned or defensive he is, the more flamboyant the behavior, and there's typically a brainless-ness and flee to it. If in flight mode, he has very little ability to interact and hear the human's opinion, instead he winds up reacting to him, rather than interacting. Most horses that arrive for training with "behavioral issues" (which is often a symptom, not the issue) is a direct result of constant mental and emotional stress. The horse is rarely considered when the human has an agenda. So often the horses are bullied, whether intentional or not, into doing things that trouble. Their responses when bothered, if semi-reasonable, are oftentimes ignored as they seem "manageable," until "all of a sudden" they act dramatic, resistant, and dangerous. But it wasn't all of a sudden. Most folks do not notice or have been taught to ignore, put value to, or address the root cause of unwanted behavior. The horse only has so many ways of asking for help. Many people interpret resistance in the horse as an act of "defiance" rather than a result of the built-up of stress based on a lack of quality interactions. So as I start a colt, re-educate an older horse, or fine-tune a finished one, the round pen can be a tool. Could the same conversation happen while in the pasture, being led or tacked? Yes. It is not about location, the shape of the fence, or teaching the horse to offer a patternized response. It is about offering, participating in, and supporting a quality Conversation that sets the horse up to be mentally available to hear the human's opinion and physically try in a way that does not diminish the horse's confidence. If the horse is physically and mentally bothered, fearful, insecure, or what I call "shut down," and I don't help him sort out his concerns BEFORE I get on, what will the quality of the ride be? There's no need to "wait and see," if he is bothered now, it will increase in the saddle leading to a potentially dangerous ride. And how will that experience contribute to future interactions and rides? 

Imagine what these amazing, athletic creatures could offer the human if they were supported and believed by the handler or rider during interactions without being in the continual state of stress and duress? Offering crucial factor is offering the horse TIME to sort through his emotions, rather than just attempting to physically exhaust him, but never addressing what he's bothered about, is teaching the horse to be defensive... Yes, most "problems" horses have that I encounter are unintentionally human taught. As with everything, depending on the human's priorities, something such as working in the round pen that can be a safe, confidence-building, and supportive tool can also create a horrific experience for the horse if someone with ego, time limitations, and ulterior motives uses it... Would you like to find out how Samantha Harvey can help you improve the partnership with your horse? Visit www.remotehorsecoach.com today to learn about distance horse coaching options.