[Paint_luver]

As most of you know, I have been working on roundpenning my new 10 year old gelding the past few days mostly doing joinup with him. He has been responding well, turns when I ask him to, stops when I ask him to, and goes when I ask him to. However, all he seesm to want to do is lope/canter. He has not been worked all winter previous to this, and I'm afraid that he will overwork himself.

In the roundpen, I ask him to move and he breaks right into a lope/canter. When I want him to go to a trot, I lessen my body movements, make myself "look" less agressive to a very large extent, but he doesn't really seem to respond to this all the time, he just keeps going. If I add a verbal, I was using "easy" I can get him into a working trot (which is my goal at that point). Unfortunately, he either turns it into a little jog which quickly turns into a stop (then I make him move forward again and it's back into the lope), or he stays in the quick trot for about a lap and then moves back into the lope.

He does stop when I ask him to as I mentioned before, and moves when I ask him to, but how do I work on getting him to simply trot in the roundpen so that I don't have to worry as much about him overworking himself? I have considered using a lungeline to be able to give him an extra cue (and have a little more control), but that kind of defeats the purpose of the roundpen to me, and that way I can't do joinup either.

So, I need ideas on how to get him to trot in the roundpen.

[CowGirlUp1833]

Do you have a lunge line you can use? This may help. Or you could try long lining him to teach him voice commands...Once he understands the word "trot" it will be easier to get him to trot in the round pen.

[Paint_luver]

Originally Posted by CowGirlUp1833

Do you have a lunge line you can use? This may help. Or you could try long lining him to teach him voice commands...Once he understands the word "trot" it will be easier to get him to trot in the round pen.

Yes, I do have a lunge line I can use, that's what I was thinking as well. At least until he gets the hang or it and like you said, understands the word "trot." When I was riding him yesterday, I did use the word "trot" to go into it from the walk, and he did do it, but I think I probably changed my seat and possibly legs, so that doesn't tell me much I suppose.

[DoWeDance]

one thing you can do is teach him the word trot so he knows what he is doing when he is trotting. When you ask him for a trot, always say trot. It's ok to use verbal cues right now, because he probably just doesn't know what you're asking him for. Also, when you want him to trot and he breaks into a lope, go ahead and stop him with a "whoa" and then ask him to trot off again. At a certain point, when he keeps loping and doesn't trot, it will be disobedience, so make sure he knows that when you say trot, he cannot keep loping because that means he isn't listening to you.

[DoWeDance]

oh, ok I just saw that you have been using "trot" with him. That's good - now just make sure he knows exactly what it means

[CowGirlUp1833]

Originally Posted by Paint_luver

Yes, I do have a lunge line I can use, that's what I was thinking as well. At least until he gets the hang or it and like you said, understands the word "trot." When I was riding him yesterday, I did use the word "trot" to go into it from the walk, and he did do it, but I think I probably changed my seat and possibly legs, so that doesn't tell me much I suppose.

LOL...yeah, some people say voice commands are worthless, but I've always taught them to all my horses. It helps in the saddle and on the ground. Horses are a lot smarter then we usually give them credit for.... This is where I would start. If he doesn't respond give a tug on the line to slow him and get him paying attention. Chances are he already knows the word trot...

Also, if he breaks into the canter, keep him going, he needs to think YOU told him to do it. Don't let him trot until you tell him to. Make sense?

[Paint_luver]

Okay, thanks Dowedance. I'll try to teach him the word trot if he doesn't know it already.

Kim- Oh no, I do like voice commands, just sometimes I confuse myself and the horse by saying a different voice command than what my body is saying (ex. I say trot but give the cue for canter).

I definitely havn't been letting him trot until I tell him too though, so I think I'm okay there.

I guess I'll just go on with my own ideas! LOL.

[CowGirlUp1833]

Originally Posted by Paint_luver

Okay, thanks Dowedance. I'll try to teach him the word trot if he doesn't know it already.

Kim- Oh no, I do like voice commands, just sometimes I confuse myself and the horse by saying a different voice command than what my body is saying (ex. I say trot but give the cue for canter).

I definitely havn't been letting him trot until I tell him too though, so I think I'm okay there.

I guess I'll just go on with my own ideas! LOL.

Well, the most important thing is consistancy. He is still learning about who...he'll figure out that you are "mommy" now and he'll slowly learn how you can talk to each other...good luck! Lemme know if I can help with anything else, okay?

[Paint_luver]

Originally Posted by CowGirlUp1833

Well, the most important thing is consistancy. He is still learning about who...he'll figure out that you are "mommy" now and he'll slowly learn how you can talk to each other...good luck! Lemme know if I can help with anything else, okay?

Yes, I know, I was just seeing if anybody else had any other tips! It's not a big deal, it's not like he's deliberately disobeying me, and he responds well to everything else. Thanks though!

[CowGirlUp1833]

Originally Posted by Paint_luver

Yes, I know, I was just seeing if anybody else had any other tips! It's not a big deal, it's not like he's deliberately disobeying me, and he responds well to everything else. Thanks though!

Have you ridden him again yet? He looks so sweet, I just want to hug him like a teddy bear!