- This event has passed.
4 Week Study Group – Around a Round Pen (Reverse Round Pen)
February 1, 2021 - February 28, 2021
It is FREE for all CT Club members.
Around a Round Pen is a simple technique to safely and confidently build up some more movement work with your horse, giving them clear guidance as you start to teach them how to work in a circle around you. You’ll learn how to get started, teach voice cues, start to increase the speed, stay connected at a distance and begin to shape movement and engagement with your horse.
It covers:
Week 1
This week is all about getting started with this technique. Beginning with the basics, you’ll start by walking next to your horse and gradually start moving away so that you’re in more of a lunging position, giving your horse more space and freedom to move.
Week 2
As your horse is moving Around the Round Pen, we want to keep the connection strong. This week will focus on your breath, position, synchrony, focus and body language to stay connected with your horse at a distance and at bigger speeds.
Week 3
From here, we’re going to start adding in and refining cues for walk, halt, back up, lengthen and walk out, slow the walk and moving up to trot (if the horse is ready). The aim is to make it clear for the horse and maintain your connection using the techniques from week 2.
Week 4
Now you and your horse should be confident working Around the Round Pen, happy to work at a distance and staying connected with you in faster movement with strong voice and body cues for transitions. From here, we’re going to start looking at some options to shape your horse’s movement, such as encouraging and rewarding an inside band, teaching a head-down cue or adding in some poles for your horse to step over.
With these skills in place, you and your horse will confidently be able to use and refine your work on circles and Around a Round Pen.