Step Three - Discover Horsemanship Philosophy & Methodology in the round pen

Round Pen - Stop and Face

Step Three - Teach your Horse to Stop and Face you from the Left and Right Direction

Goals:

• Human learns horse body language

• Horse learns and accepts human body language

• Horse learns to face the human

• Horse learns to stand still

• Horse learns patience and focuses

Problems Solved:

• Horse that does not stand still on the ground or under saddle

• Horse does not respect human space

• Horse has no patience

• Horse does not trust human

• Horse turning hind end toward human without trusting from the front end

I want to take a moment to share my exciting discovery of a simple yet effective and safe way to communicate with horses, which ultimately helps in building a strong, positive relationship between you and your equine companion. Beginning your journey in the round pen is absolutely key to creating a lasting bond with your horse. It’s imperative to approach this work with the utmost care and attention to detail; don’t simply run your horse around the pen and then expect them to instinctively come to you. Focus on fostering trust and understanding throughout the process.

In step one, I thoroughly explained to you how we can effectively control our horse from both the left and the right directions in a consistent manner. It is important to remember that it did not matter in what direction your horse changed its path, whether to the inside or the outside, as such maneuvers will be addressed and accomplished in the later steps of our training. For now, we focused exclusively on the single cue that encourages our horse to move forward in either the left or the right direction. In step two, we introduced the concept of the extended touch, where we asked our horse to go forward while we skillfully threw the lariat towards and onto the horse. This process continued until the horse stopped moving and began to relax, ultimately accepting the presence of the rope without any resistance. Now, let us move on to step three, where we will teach the horse the important skill of stopping and facing you from both the left and the right directions.

In this crucial third step of our training process, it is very important to thoroughly understand what we specifically want from our horse before we even begin, as well as to comprehend the goals that we intend to reach during this training session. We aim to teach our horse, in this step, to remain still when we ask, and to turn precisely 90 degrees away from the pen to face directly towards us. Additionally, within this same step, we are imparting to our horse the essential concept of respecting our personal space. The horse must also stay still and remain in close proximity to the pen, as he is not yet permitted to approach us at this stage. Through this process, we are also teaching our horse the valuable lesson of patience, while simultaneously allowing the horse to start building a foundation of trust with us. Our overall goal is for the horse to stand still, face us, and maintain a steady gaze in our direction.

I have often seen many mistakes made by others when they work with their horses in the round pen. Some trainers simply run their horses around and around in a circle and then abruptly turn their backs, expecting the horse to join up. I firmly believe that this method can become very dangerous for both the horse and the handler. I have learned this valuable lesson through my own experiences and mistakes with the various horses I have worked with in the round pen setting.

Some horses, whether domesticated or wild, may attempt to challenge or dominate you in various ways. They often exhibit this behavior through their body language, which can include actions such as shaking their heads in defiance or running directly toward you with the intention of biting. Additionally, some horses may resort to kicking when you turn your back toward them as you ask them to join up with you. In other instances, the horse may choose to run away from you entirely or may simply not respond to your cues or requests at all, leaving you to reassess your approach and communication.

I find myself taking a completely opposite approach when I ask my horse to place their trust in me. I will not allow my horse to come to me until I have diligently completed all of my previous work in the round pen. At this stage, I do not yet fully trust my horse, and conversely, my horse does not yet trust me, as we have not yet established a solid foundation of relationship and trust between us up to this point. It truly requires time, patience, and committed hard work in the round pen that ultimately fosters this essential trust between us.

It is also very important to remember to use consistent and clear cues in this next step when we are asking our horse to move forward. This involves effectively using our presence, subtle body language, and a well-timed voice command to ensure the horse understands our intention clearly.

So beginning again with our very first step, ask your horse to move forward consistently and steadily. Once your horse has taken a couple of nice, calm, and deliberate steps, you will then ask your horse to stop and face you directly. It is absolutely not necessary to ask your horse to run around the round pen in a frantic manner before asking the horse to stop and turn to face you. Our goal here is simply to have the horse stop, stand still, and ultimately face you in a relaxed and attentive manner.

The steps involved in asking the horse to stop and face you are very subtle and require careful timing and body language. As the horse is moving forward, you should step slightly in front of his shoulders, which will naturally encourage the horse to slow down and eventually come to a complete stop. To effectively turn the horse towards you and get him to face you, take a couple of intentional steps backwards and motion with your hand using your body language to invite the horse to turn towards you; this gentle movement will entice the horse to follow your lead and shift his body in your direction.

You may find that your horse begins to show a tendency to come toward you when he stops to face you, but don’t allow him to do so just yet, as he may be feeling a mix of curiosity or even a desire to challenge you. At this stage, it’s essential to remember that the horse does not fully trust us, and, in turn, we do not have complete trust in the horse yet. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize safety and to exercise patience, as we are building this essential trust gradually through the carefully planned steps we have established.

Since every horse has both a left and a right side of the brain, you will need to work in both directions to effectively complete these important steps. It is also essential that during this exercise, the horse is not allowed to turn outside or change direction when you are asking him to focus and work for you; he is only permitted to turn towards the inside. This process may take some time and patience, so remember to approach it thoughtfully and consistently with your horse to ensure both understanding and success in this step.

It is also possible that your horse may choose to stop but may not immediately turn to face you; instead, it might simply halt its movement and look in your direction. To encourage a stronger connection, continue to utilize your body language effectively by opening your shoulders wide and directing your gaze towards your horse. In your mind, convey a silent message that says, "Look at me, I am your friend. Trust me, and I promise to trust you in return." This interactive exchange is crucial, as it is very important to maintain eye contact with your horse. By doing so, you can begin to feel the essence of your horse's soul and work towards understanding its thoughts and feelings on a deeper level.

Trust is the key in building a stronger relationship with your horse.

All of my steps and lessons are also available for your viewing pleasure, as it can be incredibly beneficial for a visual approach to learning. I invite you to join me at this exciting opportunity to enhance your understanding and skills in horsemanship. Russ Krachun Performance Horsemanship | Equine Educational Program with Videos and Articles | Patreon