Round yarding:
Advanced Round Yard Techniques: I love my round yard (I prefer a diameter of around 18 metres) Our most useful working environment.
Round yarding is about language and communication. It is about the handler learning horse language and body language to then be able to train and control our horse at liberty. Being aware of our own body language. It is about learning about the space or zone around a horse and around ourselves using the space in the round yard correctly.
We can change our horse’s attitude. We can have our horse come to us when asked. We can control the horse’s head position, gait, speed, direction, how to side pass, rollback, back-up etc.
We can build up our horse’s confidence with spook control lessons. We can make our “go” button, work the shoulders, call the nose to obtain correct head position.
We can teach our horse to lead at liberty.
Then there are the Riding Exercises in the Round Yard:
Terrific safe exercises, confidence and muscle structure building.
Round yards can be dangerous. It soon becomes clear to a horse that “He who stands in the centre of the round yard is the boss and in control”
Horses can come running for you to dislodge you from the centre. They can come at you rearing or trying to hit you with their shoulder or come at you double barrelling.
I can give you the safety features to protect yourself. I have seen a horse rear, come down on the handler’s shoulders, knocking her to the ground. The horse then came down, the handler rolled on to her stomach, the horse then laid over her trying to bite her. The handler was completely covered by the horse. We rushed in to get the horse off her, but it was so unexpected. I was just learning at the time, but now I realise what unfolded.
Horses get over and on top of us one step at a time. More often than not we humans are unaware that the horse had taken a step. Testing us until it is too late. If we are unaware of their language or behaviour, that is our problem and to the horses advantage.
The above horse gave many indications that he had had enough, but also he gradually invaded the handlers space in the centre until she (the handler) was on the ground and he (the horse) was standing above her in the centre.
That horse was a stallion. But the most aggressive horse I have met was a standardbred mare. I have had miniatures leap at me with all four feet off the ground. We must treat all horses with respect.
Remember to stay safe, if you are inexperienced and you have a horse that isn’t responding to you or behaving in a threatening manner, hire a horseman that can teach him the basics for you…
Happy and safe riding, Shane
PS: if you need more information please checkout my videos for more details on my training method..
Shane D. Olver - Master Horseman 