The benefits of a round pen for you and your horse. Round pens are very versatile and create a controlled environment where you can evaluate, train, and bond with your horse.
The last time that I went with a friend to buy a horse, the barn had a round pen. We were ecstatic! Bringing a horse into a round pen is a great area to evaluate the horse. You can free lunge the horse through the gaits to see how they move without anyone having control. This allows for full movement. It can be determined by watching the horse if they are lame, have behavioral or physical issues. Free lunging will let you see the horse’s natural abilities.
A round pen can also be used as a good place to train a horse. One of my favorite exercise is to despook in the round pen. Have him walk over a tarp or poles. This way if he does spook, he can’t get far away from the object and can’t hide in the corner of an arena. It also is a great area to bring him in to free lunge before a ride. Free lunging before a ride, his muscles will warm up and get all of the “kinks” out before you ride.
Last but not least, it is a great place to bond with your horse. A round pen provides a non-threatening area. The horse can run around in circles until he has calmed down and realized that you are not a threat. He also will be able to focus on you and the commands you are asking of him. Spending time on ground manners, grooming and saddling in the round pen can strengthen your bond together, all while doing this in a safe space for your horse.
There are plenty of companies that sell round pens, you can purchase them, as well as create your own. There are lots of recommendations for height, materials used, etc. You can find some great information in this article by Stable Management.
When looking for footing for your round pen, don’t hesitate to give IGK Equestrian a call for dust-free footing with great performance!
