THE HORSE GAZETTE
training
Imagine a horse
liberty training ii - circus style patterns with multiple patterns
By Suzanne De Laurentis & Allen Pogue, © 2009
Let’s look back at Lib- able to respond reliably to (your)
feet up and yet another (different
around the pedestals or even control and patterns while they It is normal herd be-
erty Training I and recap the skills direction and to recover from
shaped) pedestal is used for four
simple patterns in single file. are clipped together. havior for horses to try to “hide”
that our horse(s) learned in the correction quickly with a positive
feet up. Another way of accom-
Opposite Directions. Change Places. behind the horse on the pedestal.
square pen. frame of mind. He should work
plishing this is to have the horse
Teach two horses to go opposite Call out the lead (front) horse to If this happens, gently urge the
Walk, trot, whoa and transitions reliably into pressure from the
approach the long or wide side
directions by attaching a lunge make a complete turn around a horse that is “hiding” to continue
in a straight line with the corre- handler and not avoid directives
of a rectangular pedestal when
line on the inside horse before pedestal and then fall in behind forward movement with the snap
sponding whip and verbal cues, by turning away. Horses are slow
he only mounts it with the front
you ask the outside horse to “re- the (now) lead horse. This move of a whip behind him. Try to
inside turns (towards the handler), to think through requests but fast
feet or the narrow end when he is
verse”. Use a lunge whip with a can be repeated in an ongoing se- anticipate if the horse is going
turns around an object such as a to react so we give him every op-
to walk all four feet up.
heavy snap (www.imagineahorse. quence so that the leader continu- to stop and hide and prevent it
pedestal, circle the object, work portunity to respond correctly by
Begin teaching him
com) that you can lay out over the ally moves to the tail position. before it actually happens.
into pressure and come on cue. allowing him adequate response
to ground tie by incrementally
back of the inside horse to keep Tips. Pay atten- Make it a circus!
By the time that these skills are time and giving a preliminary
increasing the amount of time
the outside horse in his place. tion to the spacing and teach Virtually any pattern that can be
confirmed in the horse, he should cue such as “ready?” We sug-
that he stays “parked” on the
Horses learn very quickly not to each horse to rate his speed when ridden in an enclosed area can
already have a very good work gest round pen that is no bigger
pedestal. If he steps back or off
“mind the other guy’s business”. working horses in single file. be duplicated with one horse or
ethic. All of these skills can be than 45 ft diameter in diameter
before you ask him, just send him
Separate Tasks. Call They can be taught to “Spread multiple horses at liberty! Pick
taught to a weanling just as eas- and a 42 ft pen, which is what
back to work. Ground tying on a
out the most reliable horse and out” or “Move up” when called your favorite and add a few more
ily and effectively as they can be circus trainer’s use is even bet-
pedestal will make sense to him
ask him to “step up” on a pedes- by name. horses, you can be your own
taught to mature horses already ter. A standard 60 ft round pen
because he has already learned
tal as the other continues along When schooling two drill team!
under saddle. It’s never too late will be ineffective in meaningful
that it is his “place”.
the perimeter of the pen. When (or more) horses abreast teach the Remember that you don’t have to
to add liberty training to your trail Liberty Training as the horse is
One is basic, two or
the “parked” horse is reliable in inside horses to stay slightly be- run away to join the circus-with a
horse’s education. out of the handler’s immediate
more is a circus! There are lots
staying on his place, the second hind the outer horse(s) so that the willing horse or two you can have
We use Liberty Train- sphere of influence or proximity.
of logical reasons to add another
horse can circle the pedestal as handler can see the inside eye of one in your own back yard.
ing at Imagine A Horse because The advantage of the round pen
horse to the mix! Horses will
part of a pattern. each horse in the line. If the horse For more information
it helps to develop willing obedi- at this point will be unrestricted
learn to think and work both
Side by Side. Clip can see the handler, it is easier on Liberty Training or other
ence in our companion horses flow of movement.
independently yet as part of a
two horses together by running a for him to focus, understand and aspects of Trick Horse Training
AND it trains our performance When using small di-
team. They learn to stand their
piece of breakable string through respond to the requests and cues including pedestal construction
horses for their Circus Style ameter pens we school the horses
ground or pedestal confidently as
the side rings of their halters. he is given. visit either www.redhorseranch.
Liberty Act. at a walk or a moderate trot and
other horses work patterns around
It is fun to perfect both speed net or www.imagineahorse.com.
Liberty training helps to perfect a for very limited time spans so as
them. You can easily school and
horse’s responsiveness to the han- not to tax joints and ligaments.
exercise two at a time. Two
dler and also the handler’s to the Short sessions help horses to keep
horses AND a handler instantly
horse. In Liberty Training a horse a fresh mind and good attitude.
changes the herd dynamics and
comes to understand that if he Horses learn by watching which
rank, horses learn to focus on the
responds willingly and correctly is called allelomimetic behavior
handler and as they develop toler-
to the handler’s cues, he retains so it’s a good idea to let horses
ance for other horses. Schooling
freedom of movement which observe other horses engaged
multiple horses will help a han-
will help to keep him engaged in Liberty Training before being
dler to develop the ability to keep
in his work. A horse that enjoys introduced to it.
each individual horse’s attention
his work will progress faster and An Understanding of
and focus while coaching the
farther than one that is bored with Cues: In training on the ground,
entire team.
mindless repetitions. we like a combination of cues
Although some pos-
Liberty Training helps including physical, proximity and
turing or horse play is to be
to create reliability and coopera- verbal all of which are delivered
expected at first, it will be kept to
tion from the horse-at a distance in a very subtle manner. When
a minimum if the horses are kept
and demonstrates just how precise training complex moves or be-
moving. If the horses absolutely
communication can be. It helps a havior chains, it is the almost in-
insist on posturing, add surcingle
horse learn to stay focused on the visible cue that will help the horse
and side reins to one or both to
handler on a level that simply can to distinguish which one of many
help them focus.
not be achieved on a lead. It helps moves you are asking for.
When teaching the
to sensitize a horse to our wishes Out of the Ordinary
patterns that we describe, intro-
and guidance which is much dif- and into the Liberty Ring!
duce the horses initially by tying
ferent and we believe even more Patterns can be turns around
them side by side or by pony-
useful than desensitizing. We do pedestals or other large objects
ing one while mounted on the
You don’t need a truck to haul when
expose horses to as many interest- (like traffic cones), figure eight
other. Some horses naturally get
ing and even scary situations and patterns around the objects and
along and some require a longer
objects as possible but don’t focus changes of direction with a half
period of time to get to know
you haul with a Brenderup!
excessively on desensitizing. circle. Ask for a “turn” and “step
each other.
Exposure to a scary object by the up” as directed at each pedestal.
Same direction,
way is NOT the same as scaring It is important to have established
single file. Introduce a second
a horse with an object such as a the differences in stepping up
horse by sending both in the same
flag (plastic bag on a stick) until with two feet and stepping up with
direction, in single file. Keeping
he no longer reacts. four feet. At first it is easiest for
them at a trot initially will keep
For Best Results: A the horse to understand requests
them focused more on move-
horse must know and consistently at Liberty when a different ped-
ment and less on horse play. The
respond to his name. He should be estal is used or “marked” for two
horses can learn to execute circles
Store Hours
English, Western, and Equestrian Lover Gifts...we have it all!
9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Tuesday - Friday
Happy Holidays from The Leading Rein...
9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday
Central Texas
’
Equestrian Candy Store

Visit us at: www.HorseGazette.com Page 9
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24