| One of the best exercises you can do when | | | | gone around a few times, you can look for her to |
| training a new horse is getting her to hook-on in | | | | make the circle smaller and to slow down. This is |
| the round pen. But doing so effectively means | | | | a further indication of trust, as she is approaching |
| you need a crash course in horse communication. | | | | you. |
| When you're pushing the horse around, how and | | | | The ultimate sign of acceptance from the horse is |
| why should you invite her in? | | | | dropping of the head. In fact you can look for a |
| Do the exercise at liberty, which means remove | | | | lowering of the head not only in round pen training |
| the lead rope from your horse. As a prey animal, | | | | but also when you're trying to catch a horse that |
| horses are designed to flee, and when working in | | | | doesn't want to be caught. Dropping of the head |
| the round pen we want to give our horse the | | | | indicates several things-trust and acceptance, |
| option to escape, which will ultimately be | | | | submission to leadership, and relaxation. A relaxed |
| transformed into acceptance and wanting to | | | | horse has a lowered head while a horse alert to |
| come in. You start by pushing the horse. When | | | | danger has his head raised up high (with a tense |
| doing so, you can tell the horse to go away using | | | | neck). |
| two cues-look directly at the horse, and use your | | | | After she's given you these four signs, adopt a |
| lead line to put pressure on her hip. Have her | | | | more passive stance. Stop eye contact and let |
| circle about 5 times around in both directions. By | | | | the horse go past you. Then back away from the |
| its very design, the round pen has only two | | | | horse. You can exhale as you do this to |
| directions (left and right), making it easy for the | | | | communicate the energy of relaxation. Taking the |
| horse to explore all options she has to flee from | | | | pressure off is an important step. A predator, of |
| the predator. | | | | course, isn't going to interact with a prey animal |
| As she's going around you can look for those all | | | | and then back off, they're going to go in for the |
| important signs of horse communication. The first | | | | kill. By taking the pressure off you're letting the |
| sign you're likely to see that she wants to have a | | | | horse know that she can trust you. You can |
| conversation with you is an ear on you. When a | | | | reinforce this trust by avoiding direct approach-if |
| horse puts an ear on you, she's telling you she's | | | | you walk toward the horse, do so at 45 degree |
| interested in listening to what you have to say. Or | | | | angles, and don't make eye contact. Let her |
| put another way, she is looking to you for | | | | approach you and investigate, she may sniff you |
| direction. This is a sign of respect. | | | | at this point. Then you can turn and walk away to |
| Next, look for a lick of the lips. Often licking and | | | | see if she will follow. |
| chewing will come together. A prey animal that's | | | | Done correctly, horse round pen training is one of |
| licking and chewing is relaxed, and relaxation isn't | | | | the most effective ways to break a horse. We |
| possible in the presence of a predator who's out | | | | use that term loosely of course, because no |
| to get lunch. When you see licking and | | | | force or intimidation is involved. We're simply |
| chewing-that's a sign the horse trusts you. | | | | communicating with the horse using her own |
| Now watch for how the horse is circling around. | | | | natural language. This will produce more effective |
| When you driver her in the beginning, push the | | | | and longer lasting results. |
| horse so she's moving at a canter. After she's | | | | |