round pen 

An act horse people do to get extra energy out of a horse due to too much energy, behavior issues. It is done usually in a 50 ft in diameter round arena type area with higher enclosed walls usually with deep sand to try and break the horse of the outside to focus and to concentrate on the handler. Sometimes, used to break the high spirit of the horse as a submission tactic for a calm, gentler horse. Often a standard practice in the training of coming two year old horses to be ridden under saddle.

With humans, it is an act when an employer runs the employee ragged for submission reasons ie: employer trying to mentally or physically break the employee into quitting, using tactics that are pushing the lines of unfair labor standards.

Coworker 1: Man, I do not get it. It seems like the boss is upset with me because I took some time off and the boss had to cover my shift and James came in the next day for overtime.

Coworker 2: What is going on?

Coworker 1: Well, the boss didn’t like my doctors note. The boss was inconvenienced and covered one of my shifts. Then the boss said they had to pay someone overtime to cover and the boss is mad because of the other employees overtime. Even though the employee took the overtime as comp time in lieu of pay and getting hit on taxes.

Coworker 2: Yeah, I know. Sounds like they are trying to round pen you so you submit and quit because the boss has their buddy lined up to take your job. Be careful- there is a target on your back.

Coworker 1: Yes I know.

round pen by Good Vibes Today June 7, 2025