For those who do or understand freeschooling...

sandi_84

sandi_84

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 November 2011
Messages
4,124
Visit site
How is it done? What do you do with your horses?
Just out of interest to be honest as I don't have a school and can't school in my field :o
 
I dont do it too often, but my routine for all the horses goes something along the lines of....

5 mins each way trotting on a lunge line to get any ridiculous behaviour out of their system!

Then they are released and encouraged to have a run around/sniff/roll

I then see if they are paying attention to me - start walking around, see if they will follow etc, if this is ignored I do a teeny bit of 'join-upesque' work, changing direction, sending them forwards etc and then try again with walking off and seeing if they will follow.

I then normally get out some trotting poles or create a jumping funnel and have a play around depending on each of the horses ability/workload etc.

At the end I normally hop on for a 10 minute warm-down/stretch bareback.

Tend to use free schooling as a bit of chill-out relaxation not proper work!
 
We free school at work to teach young race horses to jump- its great as they don't have to worry about a rider or have to deal with any rider error. They learn to work things out for themselves.
 
Let me start by saying freeschooling is not letting a horse tear round an arena being made to go fast and being chased over jumps with a lunge whip! Nor is it a way tks let off steam! As you can tell it's a real bugbear of mine!!!
I taught my lad my making sure he was absolutely solid to voice commands on the lunge.
One session I did about 10 mins on the lunge then took off the line and just asked him to walk on. We did some walk halt transitions on both reins and that was all. I've gradually built it up and he does everything loose now the same and with the same amount of control off line as on line.
Let me tell you it's one of the most rewarding things I do with him. Having him respond to just my voice is an amazing feeling.
 
Interesting question!

I free school/lunge without a lunge line in a round pen. I am still trying to work out which is best -- to issue voice commands as the pony does something or issue the command then encourage it to do it? So it is a timing question. When do you issue the voice command?

Other than that query, I am in no doubt of the value of free schooling. The pace and direction of the horse can be controlled in the pen with body language and the guidance of the lunge whip. But should the commands be before (to warn the horse that a change of pace or direction is required) or as it does it (so it associates the sound of my voice with the action)?

As for jumping, I sectioned off a small corral and fed the ponies inside that every day. Then I placed a pole across the gateway and gradually, over days, raised it's height. That has worked to encourage jumping with some amusing and interesting results.

The ponies now know that jumping is not difficult, even though a yearling gelding was convinced for a while that he couldn't manage 6 inches! I've had two wooden gates broken by ponies who had ideas above their station. One was seen to jump a small section of post and rail fence across a gateway, from a standing start, for no apparent reason other than she had a whim to be on the other side! But none have broken out yet - possibly because my very savage mains electric fencing is an effective psychological barrier!
 
Last edited:
Dry Rot said:
As for jumping, I sectioned off a small corral and fed the ponies inside that every day. Then I placed a pole across the gateway and gradually, over days, raised it's height. That has worked to encourage jumping with some amusing and interesting results.

The ponies now know that jumping is not difficult, even though a yearling gelding was convinced for a while that he couldn't manage 6 inches! I've had two wooden gates broken by ponies who had ideas above their station. One was seen to jump a small section of post and rail fence across a gateway, from a standing start, for no apparent reason other than she had a whim to be on the other side! But none have broken out yet - possibly because my very savage mains electric fencing is an effective psychological barrier!
Click to expand...

I'm confused as to why you would teach your ponies to jump out :confused:
 
I use it for fitness work as its less pressure on joints than lunging, im lucky as i have my horses trained to my voice so they do lots of transitions and work!
I will loose jump my 2yo towards the end of summer to see what she makes of it all, but seeing her jump over twigs in the field doubt it will be too tricky for her!
 
[deleted user] said:
Let me start by saying freeschooling is not letting a horse tear round an arena being made to go fast and being chased over jumps with a lunge whip! Nor is it a way tks let off steam! As you can tell it's a real bugbear of mine!!!
I taught my lad my making sure he was absolutely solid to voice commands on the lunge.
One session I did about 10 mins on the lunge then took off the line and just asked him to walk on. We did some walk halt transitions on both reins and that was all. I've gradually built it up and he does everything loose now the same and with the same amount of control off line as on line.
Let me tell you it's one of the most rewarding things I do with him. Having him respond to just my voice is an amazing feeling.
Click to expand...


agree with this.

all mine work free school like they would on a lunge.
 
For us, it's more about having fun and it does include tearing out at top speed and free jumping, but when asked/permitted.
Let's say it's 9 pm and I am at the yard after a full day work, it's dark and I clearly don't fancy tacking up and everything but mare has been standing in the field stuffing herself all day and needs the exercise. So I'll take her in the menage and since she works off voice command, she makes a circle around me and gets free lunged, but depending on the mood we might include practicing backing up, turn on the forehand, a little back massage while stood still, pawing at the ground, reversing on command, me pointing at a jump for her to jump (though am a bit too hopeful on that sometimes :o), etc..., and there are even treats to be had once in a while. So as you see for us it's mostly being silly and trying to see how many commands/tricks she can learn. She usually lets me know when she has had enough of an exercise by stopping/turning towards me and giving me the look, but I make her do it once or twice more so it looks like it's not her in charge :D.
 
[deleted user] said:
Let me start by saying freeschooling is not letting a horse tear round an arena being made to go fast and being chased over jumps with a lunge whip! Nor is it a way tks let off steam! As you can tell it's a real bugbear of mine!!!
I taught my lad my making sure he was absolutely solid to voice commands on the lunge.
One session I did about 10 mins on the lunge then took off the line and just asked him to walk on. We did some walk halt transitions on both reins and that was all. I've gradually built it up and he does everything loose now the same and with the same amount of control off line as on line.
Let me tell you it's one of the most rewarding things I do with him. Having him respond to just my voice is an amazing feeling.
Click to expand...

Agree!! I can do everything off the lunge with my 2 that I can on, and yes it is a brilliant feeling when your horse responds to you :) Also doesn't happen overnight!! If you don't have an arena just fence off an area :)
 
I like to do it to build up trust and confidence. It is very useful for training a horse to understand and trust your voice so great for a horse that is new to you. It is also really good for gaining confidence over jumps as it allows the horse to figure out what to do with his feet without the rider interference.

I have to admit though there are times that I don't have the energy to ride and will loose school as a substitute - only occasionally and I see it that it brings in variety into their routine and gives you a break!
 
Thanks for all the replies, it sounds really good fun for people and horses :D So how would you go about teaching your horse to loose school?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top