Step Nine - Discover Horsemanship Philosophy & Methodology in the Round Pen

Round Pen - Building Confidence with Lariat

Step Nine - Build Confidence with Lariat on Both Sides up to the Withers - Discover Horsemanship Philosophy & Methodology in the Round Pen

Goals:

• Horse learns to accept the human with lariat in hand

• Horse learns to accept human with objects in hand

• Horse learns to control his emotions and stand still

• Horse learns to accept smell of human

• Horse learns to accept physical touch with lariat

• Preparing the horse for the halter

• Preparing the horse to give to pressure

• Building Trust

Problems Solved:

• Lack of confidence with humans with tools in hand

• A horse that runs away when trying to halter in the field or paddock

• A horse that lacks confidence with different objects

• A horse that is not confident with touch of human

• Lack of trust

You may think that this next step, which is step nine, is very similar to step eight; however, it is different in a significant way, as this step will also contribute to building the essential respect that we desire from the hind end of our horse. Once again, as I have previously mentioned, it is extremely important to thoroughly complete all of the previous steps in order to achieve success in this next step effectively.

So, take your lariat firmly in your hand and gently ask your horse to move forward, encouraging him to take those initial steps with confidence. Once he is moving, ask him to stop and face you directly. When he comes to a stop and turns to face you, walk toward him by first moving to the left and then shifting to the right, all while keeping your lariat positioned in front of you for visibility. Allow your horse the opportunity to explore and smell the lariat, providing him with a moment of curiosity, and then, without hesitation, immediately walk away to create a sense of distance and anticipation.

This is important so that he clearly realizes not to become afraid of the lariat you are holding in your hand. By consistently exposing him to the lariat in a calm manner, you can help build his confidence. You can also work in a similar way with other objects to foster confidence, such as a tarp, rope, plastic bags, or any other item that may provoke a fearful reaction.

Eventually, you will become skilled enough to place the lariat gently around the horse's neck, and then you will confidently ask him to move forward. Following this, you will pull the lariat carefully around his hind end to further enhance and build his confidence and comfort level. Once this process is complete, you will then release the lariat by turning the horse smoothly to the outside, ensuring a calm and positive experience for him.

You do not have to resort to throwing the lariat on your horse in order to effectively catch him. Instead, you can teach him to come directly to you, and he will eventually learn to place his head comfortably inside the loop of the lariat. This approach embodies genuine horsemanship principles. This is precisely the reason why I have taken the time to introduce our horse to the lariat; it serves to enhance his confidence in a safe and controlled environment. This crucial step will also pave the way for our success as we progress to the next phase, which aims to further build his confidence with the hind end while using the lariat, and to help our horse understand how to give to the pressure with his hind end, thereby enhancing his overall training experience.

I sincerely hope that you understand my ideas, as well as my philosophy and methodology when it comes to working in the round pen. I believe that this approach is essential for developing the partnership that you may have been missing in your overall horsemanship journey. Through this process, we can cultivate a deeper connection between horse and horseman, leading to a more harmonious and effective partnership.

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 the “True Grit Academy” Virtual Education.