Horse Whisperer 3 - Round Pen as your Classroom

[siarrahbabey14]

I really want a bond with my horse that people can see. But I find it hard to do without a round pen where I board her. And the arena doesn't have a gate from the pasture next door. Wt can I do to bond with my horse? PLEASE HELP!

[mysticpasos]

@siarrahbabey14 The round pen gives your horse liberty in a small space - freedom within limits; choices with consequences. With a halter and lead line you can build a strong bond. Start by harmonizing with your horse in the pasture, keeping slack in your lead line. She stops, you stop, she walks, you walk. Do this until your mare checks in with you with an eye or ear, then lift your rein and suggest that she go off in that direction, relaxing and going with her. Teach her to follow a feel.

[myahorning12]

and my horse is a american quarter horse

[AquaAngel374]

Ok i have another question. When i lunge my horse in the round pen i let her run and then i turn around a keep my head down and the horse is supposed to walk to you but she just stands there looking at me,she doesn't do anything else,any tips? (PS the round pen isn't big :P)

[mysticpasos]

@AquaAngel374 You need to teach your horse to mirror your energy and relaxation and how to project a driving energy and a drawing energy. If you want your horse to come to you, walk a circle that will bring you maybe 20 feet behind the horse. To keep an eye on you, your horse will turn its head or body to face you. When it does, back away, creating a draw. If the horse starts toward you, turn and walk away, creating a stronger draw. When the horse reaches you, just stand and rub it softly.

[AquaAngel374]

@mysticpasos Ok i will try it this weekend!! Thanks :)

[mysticpasos]

@AquaAngel374 So..... how did it go? Just curious.

[AquaAngel374]

@mysticpasos I didn't get a chance to do it this weekend,but i did get to ride my horse and i dunno what happened....she all the sudden...started being good....LOL she did almost PERFECT on a 2 hour trail ride i went on (and it was rough,plus we had to walk thru deep water) and i got her out of her pasture and i put the leadrope over her back and she followed me the whole way,i didn't even have to lead her! LOL i will try my best to try her in the round pen

[mysticpasos]

@AquaAngel374 Sounds like a great ride and your mare showed you a lot of trust and respect, happy to follow your leadership. The clearer you are in your body language, the softer and happier she will be to do as you ask and, as you discovered, that is a fabulous feeling. Have fun.

[lapazfarms1]

this is awesome. I have learned and practice these training techniques with my horses and clients horses. It truly is a key to respect, harmony, and a happy trusting partnership with the equine.

[mysticpasos]

@lapazfarms1 Glad you liked the video. It does create a wonderful relationship with the horse. Thanks for commenting.

[myhorserocks100]

My name is Tori!

[pikkparis]

I used to ride this girl's horse. She was very very hyper and would never walk in a relaxed manner... I rode her for 1-2 years. I noticed that the bridle was dry and too big. so once, I tried to ride her without the bitt and only in the head-thing you usually lead/tie up horses with. I've had long trips with her riding w only that and without a saddle, and she was another horse. She was a lamb and listen to every movement/thought you made.the owner never gave her a chance

[geocachelinda]

I have just began riding again after several years. I have had a few lessons but am not an experienced rider. We started leasing an old quarter horse (33 yrs old) and this horse will not do what I ask, he will only go as far as he wants and then tries to return to the barn. When I try and stop him and turn him, he backs up instead. Another horse I rode was the same way, wanting to go back and running me under trees! The old horse knocked my husband right off under a tree. Any suggestions?

[mysticpasos]

33 years old? That is beyond the normal life expectancy of a horse. Is he sound enough to work? If so, then let him go back to the barn and make him work there, doing circles or figure eights.  The barn becomes a place of work rather than rest. Then ride him out again and let him graze away from the barn. If a horse backs up, you can say "great - back up some more for me" until he asks to go forward. Running under trees means you don't control his feet so practice that in a safe place first.

[DeeJayandClover455]

everytime i join up with my horse, the next day he acts like he did before i gained his trust. its like he forgets it. Then i have to start from the beginning all over again:(

do you have any tips?

[mysticpasos]

I doubt that he forgot. Horses may wake up happy & engaged, or grumpy & distracted. Liberty gives my horse a chance to move his feet, discover that I control his movement, choose to sync up with my energy and relaxation and ask to be with me. Sometimes it takes one turn of the round pen for the horse to elect me as its leader. Sometimes it takes more. Until the horse chooses to follow my feel & energy at liberty, I don't get on its back. If you are consistent, he'll become consistent too.

[DeeJayandClover455]

thanks you so much:)

[evita565]

thank u for ur kind reply))i am looking forward to ur new videos))i like them!))

[evita565]

i am the beginner,but i am really into horses))i go to school to ride them 3 times a week,but sometimes i dont know how to understand a horse...i always ask my teacher about horse bodylanguage..i realy like the way u treat ur horses and it would be so great if u could share more of ur knowledge about horse body language...please)))sorry for my english..

[mysticpasos]

A horse's eyes & ears tell you where their attention is focused. Tension shows up in worry lines around the eyes, the whites of the eyes showing, tight lips, tight neck (often high), feet whacking the ground, pogo stick gaits, clamped tails...... It is all part of a big package. If their head, ears, neck and lower lip are relaxed, they are relaxed. The physical shows you the emotional. Take some time to just watch horses communicating with other horses. You'll begin to read them.

[evita565]

i love ur videos!plaese make more!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mysticpasos]

Glad you like my videos. What additional videos would interest you?

[vivaloriflamme]

I like the way you've made your videos- a bit of text, then a photo example. Very clear, easy to remember.

[mysticpasos]

Glad you liked my videos. I hope they give a feel for this style of communication.

[x1moose1x]

Hi, your videos are outstanding. Could you help me with my horse? I barrel race, and I'll take him to the first barrel and he will rear on me and do what he wants. I'm trying to establish trust and love, but leadership at the same time and it is very hard. I have ridden him bareback, slide off his butt, crawl under him, on his neck, he lets me touch him everywhere, but sometimes he will act up and do what he wants. I have loping him bareback in a halter and he took off running with me. Help?

[mysticpasos]

Glad you like my videos. Horses become more emotional with speed. I'd suggest that you do lots of transitions off of your energy and seat. Start with walk - whoa - back up until you don't need to touch the reins. Then do walk - trot - walk transitions, then trot - canter - trot transitions. Don't increase your speed until you can stop without touching the reins at the lower speed. Start with just a few strides at the higher speed, & increase only by a few strides so he keeps his mind.

[mysticpasos]

When a horse bolts with me, I will relax and go with him on a loose rein. Human tension scares horses. I sigh - multiple times - until his ears flick back and he asks me a question. I'll then pick up one rein and not pull back, but just ask him for his attention. If he gives at all to the rein, I release, then ask again. If you do the exercises I mention your horse will sync into you. I've slowed a bolting colt (Prince) from a gallop without touching the reins by sighing and relaxing.

[x1moose1x]

thank you so much. the onlt thing reason why I couldn't do much while he bolted with me was because I was barebac and I would of fallen if he kept going and i didn't grab his neck and hold on. but I do remember while I grabbed his neck and release the reins, i just calmed down, and let him go. as soon as I did that, he started slowing down and stopped. I will try the energy and seat to stop this weekend when i go out to ride him again. thank you so much your amazing:)

[mysticpasos]

Let me know how it goes with your boy. When a horse gets scared, his adrenaline shoots right up into us, making us tight. Knowing that, I've trained myself to breath deeply when something goes wrong. When I sigh, it sends oxygen to my muscles and relaxes them. Try it. Horses bolt for lots of reasons, but one reason they continue racing away is because their human is tight. When you calmed down, so could your horse. The predator on his back wasn't scared, so he didn't have to be.

[x1moose1x]

You are truly amazing:) I will let you know how my barrel race goes Saturday, I think part of my problem is me expecting him to rear on me, which is making him do it. I'll try to relax and keep him calm:) I hope this works, I would have to sell him if he hasn't improved :(

[mysticpasos]

I hope that works for you. I can tell that you love barrel racing, but think how dangerous it is to have your horse rear with you. Trying to win a race isn't worth getting you or your horse hurt. Take some time to build your relationship and foundation so he can give you the speed you want with harmony and control. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

[MissDottieWestt]

I have a 10 month old foal (well she turns 10 months tomorrow.) and I have no idea how to teach her to lounge. And I have no round pen, just a lunge line. Any advice?

[mysticpasos]

Think about getting her to follow your feel and energy on line, starting with walk by bringing your energy up. If she doesn't respond, pick up your stick and suggest. If she doesn't respond tap her gently on the butt with it. Once she is moving, move in harmony with her. When you want to stop, inhale and sigh yourself into a halt. If she doesn't respond, raise you stick in front of her. If she doesn't respond block her with the stick. Get her walking and halting with you, then add trots.

[MissDottieWestt]

The problem I have with this though, Is she wants to come in and follow me. It's very very frustrating, she is getting better, but she when she gets to about, 12o'clock She turns into me. I dont know what to do about it. Should I have someone walk beside her? Also I tried loading her into my trailer yesterday for the first time. And this didnt go so well. And suggestions?

[mysticpasos]

Think about where you apply energy. If you want her nose to go away, apply energy at the nose. As it turns out apply energy to the neck, then the barre,l then the rear end only when she is going forward. Get her following your feel first, then worry about the circling game. Trailer loading won't be easy if she doesn't understand you, trust you or respect you first. Try crossing a pole first, then a pallet or a ditch before you try loading her in a trailer.

[rari77]

thank you for sharing all your knowledge for free! I only just started watching your videos and i find them extremely interesting and what a bliss is to know that size and age don't matter in horsebackriding!

Anyone can ride a horse actually if only the fear is overcome.

[mysticpasos]

My pleasure. I'm glad you enjoyed them and are looking forward to your journey with horses. If you take the time on the ground to learn to read the horse, teach them to yield to pressure and follow your feel and focus, you will find the riding part fairly easy - once you learn balance and an independent seat. Any one can learn it - but it does help a lot to have a good instructor to help coach you through it. Good luck!

[logrokz24]

do u think a two 5 year old mares would be good for a 10 year old person one is broke but not the other the that is broke hasnt been rode for a wily .the other one waz born in the wild but not trained the person we might get them from said we had to get both because they are buddys .

[mysticpasos]

Horses are herd animals and your mare will like having her buddy with her. You want to start playing with the horse that is already trained, learn the skills you need to manage her and then take on training the second mare. I hope you have someone near by to help coach you.

[chattycathy2000]

I have an 11 year old daughter and she has a mare that she got when Gidget was 5. HOWEVER, a 10 year old is not ready to really handle any horse by themselves. I help my daughter to lead and work with our mare and the foal, but horses are dangerous. If you mess with horses, you (anyone) will get hurt.

[mysticpasos]

Horses outweigh any human and are prey animals, with quick flight instincts when startled. Those instincts and that size make horses dangerous even if you do understand them. It is far safer for children to be supervised by an experienced adult when they are around horses.

[PiggyDog89]

Horses hare extremely dangerous, but by researching the horse you are buying and the people you are buying from, you can find OLDER horses that are as close to bombproof as you can get. A good kid safe horse is safe enough for seven and eight year olds to pull out of the field and handle...

[PiggyDog89]

99% of 5 year old horses are not equiped with the knowledge for a 10 old child to handle them... You have to remember that horses teach people then people teach horses. Find something older that has kid exprience and that is known to be kid safe, that way the 10 year old can learn to ride and enjoy themselves...

[Leochick18]

Well I have started to just get him used to my touch and accepting me as "mom" so to say. But now i am having a problem with lunging. i am clueless as to how to teach a horse to lunge so young. How? any advice is much appreciated.

[mysticpasos]

The easiest way is to start in the round pen at liberty. Initially, you just want to cause movement in the direction you request. Youngsters will often try to change directions on you and you should block them. When they accept that you control the direction of their feet and their head starts to drop down, their eye and ear to track you, take the pressure off and back off. Your colt should come to you. If he doesn't just wait and quietly approach him.

[Leochick18]

Im workin with my first baby. He is a yearling colt. At about what time can I expect him to be like Mystic? Hes sucha good boy. My colt is extreamly smart but arrogant aswell.

[mysticpasos]

Sounds like a left brained extrovert, like my Mystic son. Using natural horsemanship, you will develop your relationship with your colt so much faster. Take a look at my video of me playing with Mystic on line to get an idea of the harmony you can look forward to.

[Agelesslegend23]

He Looks SO much taller in some of Your Pictures... Still though Beautiful Gelding!

[mysticpasos]

Mystic is actually a gelding now - though he was a stallion until he was nearly 4. He is 15.2 hands. He is a handsome boy and so very good with students.

[Agelesslegend23]

How tall is the White Stallion? Hes Beautiful>>> my Filly is black... going to see her and payment on her. I Just Love Quarter Horses But Love other Breeds as well.

[AeronRiding]

Glad to see everyone (well... almost everyone) following Safety Rule #1: hard hats!

Keep up the good work!

[mysticpasos]

Helmets are required for children; optional for adults. No doubt that you are safer if you wear one.

[happyhorserdr]

wonderful,just how it should be.I started and trained my own paint filly at two and now she is five and I have an awsome horse.people dont believe it and think shes 'just a good horse and arent I lucky.little do they know she is very much an alpha mare and very clever and stong minded.

[cathrynxox]

You should put up some informational videos!

Amazing

[Tessa4Chester]

is that join up ??

[mysticpasos]

Similar. Monty Roberts coined the term "join up." He keeps the horse going in the direction at a trot or canter until it drops its head and asks to come in. JWe take it a step further by asking the horse to go from a walk to a trot to a canter to a trot to a walk in response to us bringing up and decreasing energy. Once they have given us their feet we invite them to come in and follow us.

[BlackHatWrangler]

Wow -- amazing that these young people are riding so well. Very nice video.