round pen question

[Minouri]

This month all of my energy is tied up in settling into the new house and getting it ready for the arrival of my two horses. I did something I don't normally do......I paid the owner of my barn to round pen work my horse three days a week. Normally I ride him 3-5 days a week.....or lunge him lightly in the winter.

She's really impressed with him and said he's coming along fantastic. But that's another story.

My question is regarding a change in his attitude that I'm wondering if it's related.

Scooter has always been a little emotional. If I go see him on a regular basis he's a warm sweet horse. If I went a week without seeing him (like went away for vacation) he would pin his ears, turn his butt to me and stomp in his stall. He never kicked out. Never bit. But his ears would lie flat on his head for about 20 minutes of brushing until he calmed down. Then after I rode him he would be back to his pleasant self. If I visit him daily I never saw that side of him.

Because of the move...I went a week and a half without seeing him. When I went I expected him to be in a foul mood. He was sweet.....as sweet as he gets mid summer when I spend hours every day riding him. There have been big breaks between my rides lately. Enough that normally it would have changed his mood. But he's sweet as pie to me lately. Even if I am just running in to check his general health and running back to check on the progress of the stalls going up.


Does that mean that his foul mood was more from not being worked than not seeing me? Or do you think the round pen is teaching him more respect for people? I didn't think the round pen experience would show changes in his behavior towards me also.

Is he trying to kiss up to me so I'll stop that strange woman from chasing him around all week? lol

After three weeks of the round pen work he looks great and seems happier than his normal winter ridden self.

I think I'm going to pay the woman to come to my house and train me on how to use the new round pen we just put up in our back yard.

I do a lot of ground work with Scooter....worked with a Natural horse trainer to get him to respect me on the ground.

I'm curious. What benefits are there to round pen training that I don't know about. Do you think his new happier look is a result of the training.....I'm wondering if he was just lunged if it would have affected him so much.

It's all good. I'm not complaining. Just curious if you think the two are linked.

[ErinC]

what did you say his lines were again?
I have a Paso just like that.
the more work the nicer he is.

[CarolU]

Does that mean that his foul mood was more from not being worked than not seeing me? Or do you think the round pen is teaching him more respect for people? I didn't think the round pen experience would show changes in his behavior towards me also.

I have no answer why he was in a foul mood. My best guess is this is an artifact from boarding. Horses like a routine. If he was left stalled for a long time without turnout, or the handler for the turnout was rough with him, or any number of things could cause this. I think he'll improve in a 24/7 environment. Most horses do.

But the answer to your other question is easy...YES, round pen work - when done correctly - teaches the horse respect and horses love the most who they respect most. Bad round pen work teaches the horse respect, but respect through fear and can really mess up a sensitive horse. Sounds like you should take a lesson from her before you move your horses. A good trainer works the horse is ways the horse understands what is asked. It is my experience that horses enjoy, or are at least relaxed and confident, when they are doing what they KNOW you want. That confidence is critical and it only comes when the trainer knows what to ask for and how to recognize a try.

[Primroseddp]

First these horses love to work , and yes it could very well be that workng and the communication with a person wether it is working in a pen or riding your instilling security and llike any child they love it whether they want it or not

[GeorgeGuns]

Well I'm going to be the one to tell you that its because he misses you!! mushy mushy mushy, LOL. Really though, its the consitentcey. Pasos on the whole DO love to work (some try to fake that they don't) especially when they have a good reason to - the reason may vary and findign it can be the fun part. Anyway, even though he is quite a lot happier with someone anyone messing with him frequently, you can pretty well bet that he KNOWS you are his person, and will be even that much happier that you are able to spend more time with him, wether its in the roundpen or just going for walks. That is the emotional part of pasos that I love.

His earpinning .. strikes me that he is saying "hey, I need you so many times a week to remind me that you are the good boss and love me, and you weren't here, no one did it, and I need that reassurance!" Now that he is getting his needs met, he is a happy boy. So, now he CAN meet you ears up, which is probably what he wants too! Everybody wins!