A Training Tool that Transforms
The round yard is a training tool and there are many different ways to use the space. In this master class course I teach you a way to round pen a horse in a way that solves problems in horses, allows them to gain balance and confidence in all gaits, teaches them how we communicate with them but also teaches you key qualities related to timing and feel that will forever change your ability to work and ride horses.
How is Round Penning Transformative?
The round yard and the process of round penning horses is so transformative as it start with very easy tasks for the horse to learn and understand. To start with the horse learns to focus on you, move in the direction you ask. Then as confidence and understanding grows the horse learns to transition up into the gait you have directed, make turns, perform downward transitions and draw towards you when asked. The horse learns to do all this with nothing but the sides of the round yard, your body position, well timed cues and pressure to communicate to the horse what you mean. This means there is nothing connected to the horse to disrupt its balance or pull on its head. Therefore, the horse is free to move unrestrained.
It Also Helps You!
Learning to round pen also means that you learn to control a horse with nothing but your body position, movement and timing of pressure from a training stick. Whilst the freedom to move and balance unrestrained helps the horse gain confidence in the way it moves, the need to learn how to coordinate your position and movement helps align your mind with your body which helps you learn to stay present with horses. This has a powerful impact on your ability to be clear and motivating to horses. The alignment of your mind and your body, you will take through all the stages of my process from groundwork and into the saddle and has great positive impact on your riding.
Round penning horses is a great place to start a horse's training but also to reboot or restart horses that are having problems. It can also be a great place to start if you get a new horse and wish to build a new partnership with the horse.
Teaching a horse to round pen can help horses that are prone to being anxious, rushy, lazy, distracted, aggressive or just struggle with cantering.
For example, if you have a horse that struggles with canter, teaching the horse to canter in a relaxed way in the round pen and then in groundwork sets a horse up to be able to canter relaxed under saddle. This is a far easier way for a horse to learn how to canter than expecting the horse to learn to canter while someone is sitting on their back making it harder for them to get their balance.
Canter can also be a therapeutic gait for your horse if they tend to get anxious or worried. Cantering can help horse's learn to relax and helps build resiliency and coping mechanisms.
In this course you will find:
You will even find discussions on energy, sending love to your horse and tests to perform to check your horse's understanding and progress!
Each Step has optional homework to perform and a place to post reports and video links to receive my feedback (which is all included in the price!).
Watch the course welcome video here:
Horse Trainer & Expert in Human Learning
Dr. Shelley Appleton is the founder of “Calm Willing Confident Horses”. Shelley teaches people how to train horses by presenting online courses, training lessons and clinics. Shelley helps riders nurture partnerships with their horses whilst building confidence, trust, knowledge and skillsets. Shelley has an uncanny, highly experienced ability to recognise, problem solve and correct issues with horses. Her doctorate in Human Learning proves beneficial to all coaching scenarios allowing a deeper understanding of strategies helping people develop their awareness, thinking and skillsets to be more in tune with their horse.
Shelley can help remove the frustration and fear out of owning and riding horses and increase your enjoyment. Let her show you how to support your horse to be calm, willing and confident.
Shelley is a published author of books - Confidence & Trust, Solving the Human & Horse Equation and Buying & Supporting a New Horse, The Essential Guide.
She is the co-host of the popular Canter Therapy Podcast and creator of the her program of teaching people to help horses called the Complete Reboot System which consists of the following courses and master classes: Things to Know About Horses,
Establishing a Starting Point, How to Roundpen a Horse, How to Groundwork a Horse and How to Build a Riding Foundation on a Horse.
You can find out more about Shelley and access her podcasts, blogs, coaching and clinic schedule at www.calmwillingconfidenthorses.com.au
What People Have Discovered From the Master Class
“It is because of round penning that my Andalusian has recently learnt to love to canter. He used to physically struggle but now enjoys it. It opens him up in terms of looseness of his body and mind and he has learnt to relax. He is happier and I have been amazed at the change in him, he is a different horse.”
Vicki
“Wow, I am hooked! In this course I have learnt about drivelines and commands. I felt so alive, and without doubt felt the energy between me and my horse and how I could transfer that through my body towards the her. I felt so in tune. I can see now how this works and where it leads.”
Caroline
This course teaches the absolute foundations for any horse. It teaches self carriage before we stick them on the lunge or get on their backs. I've seen the way it helps to rehab their bodies and their minds. I cannot recommend this course enough!
Katherine
The recommended diameter of the round yard I recommend is approximately 15-18 metres. A round yard is recommended, however a square yard can also be used. It is important that the panels or sides of the round yard are safe, secure, free of any damage or material that could injure a horse. It is also recommended that the height of the panels be at least 5ft tall. The surface should not be too heavy, hard or slippery.
You will need a training stick and string or lunging whip.
This course has just over 2 hours of instructions and is broken up into 4 steps. Each step takes on average two sessions of work to progress. Therefore, on average most people who take the course and who work their horse's 3-4 times per week become proficient at round penning their horse in 2 weeks.
You have lifetime access to the course. Therefore, you can work through the course at your own pace.
If you follow the course for two weeks and engage in all the assessment and feedback opportunities and find that you have not had any improvement with your horse or discovered the reasons behind your horse's behavioural issues - your course fee will be refunded.
Yes you do. Each course chapter has an optional assessment that you can submit for feedback. However, you can email Dr Shelley Appleton at any time and ask for help if you have any queries.
If you have any questions that are not answered here please email Dr Shelley Appleton via [email protected]
Video Stories
This is so heart warming to watch! 
Kara has done such a brilliant job with Ludo. She has been meticulously taking him through a process and helped him understand and be confident moving forward under saddle.
Ludo and breeds such as Friesians can struggle to learn forward because when they get worried they freeze or shutdown. Because this is poorly understood they get labelled lazy and stubborn and get subjected to tremendous pressure to force them to move. This is what happened to Ludo but Kara was having none of that as she could see Ludo was actually distressed and anxious...Kara has successfully followed the process and this is the result of what happened when she asked him to canter after so much careful preparation!
Enjoy this story and footage.
Not sure if this course is suitable for your horse
If you are not sure this course is suitable for you and your horse, please contact Dr Shelley Appleton via email ([email protected]) and she will examine your situation and help you customise the best approach training approach to suit your horse's situation.
