What is working in freedom?
Working in liberty is like a dance with your horse. You learn to read each other’s body language, to sense one another, and above all to respond to each other. In this way, you learn to mirror one another and to play with connection and distance in a harmonious way.
You cannot work according to one fixed rule. I believe that every horse and every owner requires a unique approach. When working in liberty, we therefore explore each other, supported by a solid foundation in the language of the horse. At the core, I mainly focus on awareness of your own body and energy, so that you can send a clear and appropriate request to your horse.
You cannot work according to one fixed rule. I believe that every horse and every owner requires a unique approach. When working in liberty, we therefore explore each other, supported by a solid foundation in the language of the horse. At the core, I mainly focus on awareness of your own body and energy, so that you can send a clear and appropriate request to your horse.
Can every horse do this?
This is a question I’m often asked: Can every horse work in liberty?
Yes. Every horse can do this. However, it is the owner’s responsibility to offer enough patience, understanding, guidance, and calmness so that the horse can truly develop in this. Working in liberty means letting go—both literally and figuratively. It removes the filter. The horse can genuinely show how he or she feels. A horse may suddenly buck, run away, or say no. And that is OK. It’s OK when things don’t work out sometimes; in fact, those can be the most valuable sessions.
The art lies in inviting the horse, in a respectful and harmonious way, to choose to work with you in liberty—and above all, voluntarily.
So in principle, every horse can work in liberty, if the owner is ready to hold up a mirror to themselves and be willing to make mistakes.
Yes. Every horse can do this. However, it is the owner’s responsibility to offer enough patience, understanding, guidance, and calmness so that the horse can truly develop in this. Working in liberty means letting go—both literally and figuratively. It removes the filter. The horse can genuinely show how he or she feels. A horse may suddenly buck, run away, or say no. And that is OK. It’s OK when things don’t work out sometimes; in fact, those can be the most valuable sessions.
The art lies in inviting the horse, in a respectful and harmonious way, to choose to work with you in liberty—and above all, voluntarily.
So in principle, every horse can work in liberty, if the owner is ready to hold up a mirror to themselves and be willing to make mistakes.
How do I start?
The first step toward working in liberty is explaining to your horse that you are worth staying with. You are a kind and trustworthy leader; your presence does not cause pain or fear, and perhaps there is even something pleasant to gain with you, such as scratches or food rewards.
Only once we have been able to show your horse this foundation do we begin the actual training. Through various exercises, you learn to work together—both at a distance and up close. You can start in a small enclosed space or with a rope without pressure. In this way, you gradually build up until you no longer need a fence to work together.
You may also choose to start directly in the pasture, giving your horse more freedom to decide whether or not to work with you. In both cases, what matters most is that training becomes an enjoyable activity for your horse, and that being with you is something your horse looks forward to.
Only once we have been able to show your horse this foundation do we begin the actual training. Through various exercises, you learn to work together—both at a distance and up close. You can start in a small enclosed space or with a rope without pressure. In this way, you gradually build up until you no longer need a fence to work together.
You may also choose to start directly in the pasture, giving your horse more freedom to decide whether or not to work with you. In both cases, what matters most is that training becomes an enjoyable activity for your horse, and that being with you is something your horse looks forward to.