For some reason, I am subscribed to Clinton Anderson's news feed, which puts his news blog entries into my email box every so often.  I say "for some reason," as I don't recall signing up but I'm sure I did or maybe it was those rope halters I bought ;-)  In any event, he seems like a reasonable man, but he's not someone I have ever watched or followed or seen a clinic, read a book, etc.  In general I don't disagree nor agree with him as I don't know anything about him - I just liked the man's halters.

Clinton Anderson Halter

This week the email title was Training Tip of the Week: A horse's training should begin in the roundpen.  My initial response to this was "no, it shouldn't."  I delved a little bit deeper into the article, and it appears the post may be misnamed.  It would be more appropriate to describe this article as one that offers tips on how to get to know your new horse (that you just bought) by utilizing the round pen, no matter the level of the horse's training or his age.  Those key points from the article I can agree with.

The title, however, I cannot.  Has anyone been reading the Kasino Series?  There's no mention of a round pen anywhere until he was almost six months old, and I pushed him around some inside my mom's round pen to make a video.  His training began the day he was born, and it began in a stall.  His training has continued all summer and fall without use of a roundpen (in fact I no longer even have one on my place, although I would like to rectify that).

I think a horse's training should begin (and continue) in the stall, in the pasture, on the trailer, or anywhere else you and he are occupying the same space.  My horses are constantly learning a little bit all the time and are expected to act and behave in certain ways at all times.  If I had waited until he was old enough to withstand much roundpen training, Kasino would be a wild baby indeed!  What are your thoughts on where to begin horse training?  Let me know in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you comment below and then subscribe to my RSS feed!