Round Pen

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

Lynda Townsend arabians4u@hotmail.com
Marv - Please keep talking and writing.
Its true, round pen work help give our horses more confidence.
I bought a 4 year arabian stud, from a well known show barn.
They told me, he had only been out of his stall about 4 times
in 4 years. I think that this is what we call cruelty.
I bought him just to take him out of there, I certainly didn't 
need another horse.
He was so scared, that he would jump all over you, 
when you tried to lead him.  He was dangerous.
We buy and sell buggies and sleighs, and everyday our yard is
changing. Never looks the same 2 days in a row.
So for this poor horse, it was hell to be put out everyday. It
must have looked like an obstacle course of horse eaters.
I have a friend who teachs like you Marv, and he did about 4 or 5
round pen sessions, about 45 minutes each.
It took the first session just to get his attention.
You can click to this horse now, and he will come, follow you around
with his ears forward, rather then back, and he can be lead anywhere,
I could hardly believe the confidence that this horse now has.
You can now pat and brush him, you can enter his stall without 
him heading for the back or worse, wanting to attack you.
We gelded him, put him in a pen beside the rest of the herd, so 
that he could acquire some social skills, and after 3 months was
turned out with them.
I will be anxious to start him under saddle next year, but for now
he needs to run, muscle and grow, and get lots of horsey skills.
The confidence and attitude adjustments he acquired in the round
pen is incredible.
Keep up the good work Marv.
Lynda