Groundwork
Intermediate
25 min
Round Pen Join-Up
Focus: Communication, Bond, Trust
Equipment: Round pen (50-60 ft diameter)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Enter the round pen with your horse at liberty. Stand in the center and establish your presence.
- Drive the horse forward on the circle by stepping toward its haunches with assertive body language.
- Allow the horse to trot or canter around you. Watch for signs of attention: inside ear turning toward you.
- When the horse shows submission signs (licking, chewing, lowering head, inside ear), soften your body language.
- Turn your body sideways to the horse, lower your energy, and look at the ground.
- The horse should turn and walk toward you. Stand still and let it approach. Rub its forehead when it arrives.
- Walk away. If the horse follows, the join-up is successful.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Being too aggressive with body language, causing the horse to panic instead of think.
- Not reading the horse's body language and missing the submission signals.
- Chasing the horse aggressively instead of using directional pressure.
- Not softening when the horse shows willingness to connect.
Variations & Progressions
- Practice join-up with different horses to refine your body language skills.
- After join-up, add leading at liberty for a deeper bonding session.
- Use join-up as the first exercise with a new or untrusted horse.
Tip: Join-up is communication, not domination. The horse chooses to be with you because your body language invites it. Force defeats the purpose.
