The Road To Horsemanship, 3.7. Advancing Liberty & Bareback And Bridle Less

We will test our rapport and expand our liberty skills by adding in transitions in both directions from walk to trot and canter, direction changes in all gaits, liberty back-ups and flying lead changes. All without the need for halter and lead rope! Also, we will once again work on our independent seat; this time bareback and bridle-less, testing how faithfully we have been using our focus and body as phases and in preparing for our rein positions.

Working with your horse at liberty, will increase your fluency in communicating with horses more quickly and effectively than almost anything else. With only a 50’ tape yard, a stick and string to get your message across, your horse has many options to choose from. The response and action he takes will depend very much on the way in which you ask the question. If you have too much make, he may leave the round yard. If your timing or body position is not quite right, you will probably get a completely different outcome from what you thought you asked for. If you repeatedly ask the same questions without learning from the experience, your horse will begin to feel pressured and you may lose rapport. These liberty lessons will most likely teach you more about appreciating the importance of rapport and rewarding the slightest try than any other.

In playing at liberty or bareback and bridle-less, you are creating a more equal playing field. No longer are the odds stacked in your favour, the horse now has more of a say in how things go. Be patient, listen to your horse, be sure you ask politely, let him know he’s right as often as you can.

One of our students, who has a lot of ability and even more so a great deal of try, was having some difficulty with her liberty in that although she could do some really nice things, every so often her horse would leave the round yard. On the whole she had good rapport with her horse, however, if her energy came up too much and she missed a phase, or she pushed a little too far, her horse would leave. ‘Make’ can be as small as this at times. We advised her to get to where she could do all of her liberty without the fence; then her horse would no longer leave. If she could figure out how to cause staying with her the most attractive option for her horse, she could figure out what it was that she was doing to send him away. About a week later she came back and told us how much improved her liberty was. Initially her horse left her a lot, however, eventually she figured out the importance of comfort and release at the right time and not relying on the fence. Creating more rapport and instilling in her horse the desire to stay with her, meant that she could ask for more without losing him. She then realised what she was doing to cause her horse to leave. Her liberty now is excellent.

Bareback and bridle-less riding is another great revealer. No saddles or reins now to cover up or hide behind; it really is about just you and your horse. How well does your horse listen to your seat and focus? How good is your focus? Do you and your horse have your rein responsibilities shared equally? If you ask for one step do you get it, or do you get more? The truth is out there and this lesson will uncover whatever that truth may be. Riding bare back and bridle-less is the ultimate preparation for riding with Contact, as it will help you identify what your body is doing and how clearly you are passing on your message to your horse.

Be bold, be brave, go searching for the truth – you deserve it.

Read More Road To Horsemanship articles.

- By Meredith Ransley, Quantum Savvy.

We will test our rapport and expand our liberty skills by adding in transitions in both directions from walk to trot and canter, direction changes in all gaits, liberty back-ups and flying lead changes. All without the need for halter and lead rope! Also, we will once again work on our independent seat; this time bareback and bridle-less, testing how faithfully we have been using our focus and body as phases and in preparing for our rein positions.

Working with your horse at liberty, will increase your fluency in communicating with horses more quickly and effectively than almost anything else. With only a 50’ tape yard, a stick and string to get your message across, your horse has many options to choose from. The response and action he takes will depend very much on the way in which you ask the question. If you have too much make, he may leave the round yard. If your timing or body position is not quite right, you will probably get a completely different outcome from what you thought you asked for. If you repeatedly ask the same questions without learning from the experience, your horse will begin to feel pressured and you may lose rapport. These liberty lessons will most likely teach you more about appreciating the importance of rapport and rewarding the slightest try than any other.

In playing at liberty or bareback and bridle-less, you are creating a more equal playing field. No longer are the odds stacked in your favour, the horse now has more of a say in how things go. Be patient, listen to your horse, be sure you ask politely, let him know he’s right as often as you can.

One of our students, who has a lot of ability and even more so a great deal of try, was having some difficulty with her liberty in that although she could do some really nice things, every so often her horse would leave the round yard. On the whole she had good rapport with her horse, however, if her energy came up too much and she missed a phase, or she pushed a little too far, her horse would leave. ‘Make’ can be as small as this at times. We advised her to get to where she could do all of her liberty without the fence; then her horse would no longer leave. If she could figure out how to cause staying with her the most attractive option for her horse, she could figure out what it was that she was doing to send him away. About a week later she came back and told us how much improved her liberty was. Initially her horse left her a lot, however, eventually she figured out the importance of comfort and release at the right time and not relying on the fence. Creating more rapport and instilling in her horse the desire to stay with her, meant that she could ask for more without losing him. She then realised what she was doing to cause her horse to leave. Her liberty now is excellent.

Bareback and bridle-less riding is another great revealer. No saddles or reins now to cover up or hide behind; it really is about just you and your horse. How well does your horse listen to your seat and focus? How good is your focus? Do you and your horse have your rein responsibilities shared equally? If you ask for one step do you get it, or do you get more? The truth is out there and this lesson will uncover whatever that truth may be. Riding bare back and bridle-less is the ultimate preparation for riding with Contact, as it will help you identify what your body is doing and how clearly you are passing on your message to your horse.

Be bold, be brave, go searching for the truth – you deserve it.

Read More Road To Horsemanship articles.

- By Meredith Ransley, Quantum Savvy.