Discover Horsemanship Philosophy & Methodology in the Round Pen
Working with a horse in the round pen has undeniably become a standard practice in the initial stages of starting horses, as many esteemed horsemen throughout history have also embraced the round pen. These knowledgeable individuals have paved the way for today’s horsemen to discover and implement more effective methods of communication with the horse. I take my hat off to them and greatly appreciate their contributions to the art of horsemanship!
As a horseman, I believe we are always learning to find better ways to make our job easier for ourselves and the horse. It's important to understand how each method I use in the round pen helps the horse progress in their training. Some traditional methods have made me question if there are better ways to communicate.
I believe that join-up can lead to communication issues. Allowing a horse to approach you whenever it wants can create disrespect for personal space, which can become a safety concern. Sometimes, a horse may not join up because it isn’t ready to understand what you want and might rely on instinct and keep running. Once the horse joins up, what's next? We need to focus on steps that further educate the horse—building trust, understanding, confidence, and improving its physical and mental growth.
A common misconception in horse training is using a lunge whip to ask a horse to move forward, while then expecting it to stand still in the same context with the very same tool. It’s essential to understand how this approach can confuse the horse and hinder effective communication between the horse and the handler. Recognizing the nuances of these signals is crucial for developing a more harmonious partnership.
I truly believe that we have largely forgotten about the horse as an individual animal, often focusing solely on what we as humans desire to achieve from them. Instead of considering their needs and well-being, our attention tends to shift only to the immediate reactions and results we want to see in the moment. We overlook the importance of a comprehensive educational process that is essential for the development and understanding of the horse.
I am the type of horseman who genuinely enjoys learning directly from the horse itself, rather than solely relying on the teachings of past great horsemen. I believe it is crucial to challenge myself continually and ask whether the methods I employ truly make sense to the horse and also resonate with my own understanding. Through my experiences, I have discovered that many of the traditional methods previously used often did not make sense and, in fact, may have caused significant confusion for the horse. Consequently, I decided to forge my own innovative path by developing my unique methods, which I have encapsulated in “Discover Horsemanship Philosophy & Methodology in the Round Pen.”
My mission when creating “Discover Horsemanship Philosophy & Methodology in the Round Pen” was to thoroughly educate individuals on how to effectively improve their communication with their horses. I aimed to provide them with clear, achievable goals to strive for, which would, in turn, enhance the mutual understanding between the horse and the human. Ultimately, this initiative seeks to promote the betterment of horse welfare, ensuring that both the horse and rider can develop a stronger, more harmonious partnership.
It was extremely important to me that this comprehensive program would deliver a clear, step-by-step education that the horse could understand easily and be able to respond to willingly, without the need for harsh methods or invasive tools. I envisioned a program that the horse would not only grasp but also retain over time, allowing for meaningful progress. Additionally, I wanted this program to enhance the horse's mental and physical well-being, both on the ground and under the saddle, thereby advancing their natural abilities and significantly improving their overall future performances.
As a teenager, I had the incredible privilege of becoming a professional athlete in the demanding sport of fencing, where I was fortunate enough to be coached by some of the top coaches in the world. Through this unique experience, I learned how to effectively develop muscle memory and advance my skills in both mental and physical aspects of my performance. The lessons I gained during those years were invaluable, and I have since incorporated these same concepts and methods into my entire horsemanship program. I firmly believe that the horse should be regarded as our student, and it is my goal to help the horse also achieve the status of a professional athlete. I strive to ensure that each horse develops into the best version of themselves, with a conditioned body that is not only capable of performing but does so with a confident and patient mind.
The methods outlined in “Discover Horsemanship Philosophy & Methodology” are primarily comprised of three essential principles: body presence, body language, and effective voice communication; in addition to clearly defined step-by-step methods that incorporate crucial elements such as timing, consistent repetition, and essential periods of relaxation. It was of utmost importance to me to cultivate a genuine understanding and connection with the horse while it was free within the round pen, and without relying on aggressive methods or harsh tools, as this approach would enable the horse to respond authentically, freely, and with complete focus directed towards me.
During the development process of working in the round pen with my methods, I found that these approaches not only enhanced the learning experience for both horse and handler but also effectively helped to prevent potential future problems or resolved existing issues that, in some cases, were inadvertently created by the handlers themselves with their horses. These common problems include pulling back, rearing up, refusing to travel forward, bucking, failing to respect personal space, and difficulties with trailer loading, to name just a few.
The first step of “Discover Horsemanship Philosophy & Methodology in the Round Pen” is titled “Travel Forward Consistent and Consistently in Both the Left and Right Direction.” This initial step marks the beginning of a total of fifteen carefully structured steps within the first level of the Foundation Program. This crucial step is designed to educate the horse to learn how to respond promptly in a consistent manner; meaning that when asked to move forward, the horse will respond immediately without hesitation. Once the horse has successfully mastered this foundational consistent response, the horse will then be asked to travel consistently, maintaining a steady pace, and will continue to move in the round pen until signaled to stop.
To effectively respond to requests, I first use my presence, then my body language, and lastly my consistent voice. This process teaches the horse valuable lessons both mentally and physically. The horse learns to move forward in both the left and the right direction while in the round pen. It also practices varying speeds at the walk, trot, and lope. Additionally, the horse develops patience, confidence, mental relaxation, and emotional control. It learns to adjust speed on command while improving its balance and coordination. The skills gained in this initial stage will help the horse perform reliably under saddle later on, responding well when asked to move forward steadily with patience and confidence.
There are a total of fifteen comprehensive steps that are carefully educated within the round pen, and each step will seamlessly connect to the subsequent step to ensure the proper development of the horse both mentally and physically. This structured approach will ultimately lead to the next level of the horsemanship program. Each individual step is thoughtfully designed with specific goals to achieve and problems that will be addressed, all aimed at further developing the horse mentally and physically into the exceptional horse athlete that we all aspire to cultivate and nurture.
The round pen is an absolutely essential piece of equipment when working with a young horse that has not yet been started or, alternatively, can also be effectively utilized when working with a horse that has developed problematic behaviors with unknown causes. I highly recommend that anyone who is serious about working with horses invest in a round pen, as it serves as an invaluable space where you will have the opportunity to develop both your communication skills and a deeper understanding of your horse. This unique environment allows for safe interactions and enables you to work independently, all while ensuring that your horse maintains its full attention on you throughout the training process.
Remember that developing trust, respect, and confidence is a gradual process that takes time, whether you are working with a horse or engaging in communication between humans. It requires a steadfast commitment, unwavering dedication, and, most importantly, an abundance of patience. However, it is essential to understand that trust can be lost in a single moment and will often take significantly longer to rebuild once it has been compromised. Therefore, always be kind to your partner, offering plenty of love, attention, and understanding, and I can guarantee that you will receive far more in return than you initially give. This journey is incredibly rewarding and is constructed step by step, allowing for growth and connection at every turn!
To learn more about the complete step by step program including tutorial and videos of “Discover Horsemanship Philosophy & Methodology in the Round Pen” join Russ Krachun Performance Horsemanship at https://www.patreon.com/c/RussKrachunPerformanceHorsemanship