Liberty work

[Cob Life]

I did a bit of liberty with the (mostly) retired TB mare today, she loved it!
she was so much more in tune to me and much more willing than she’s ever been on the lunge or under saddle.

She turns really well, will circle both ways.

Does anyone else do liberty?
any ideas of things I can do with her?

I‘ve never seen her so chilled out and happy.

 

[BBP]

I do loads with mine. I work on transitions and bend the same as on lunge or under saddle. Also transitions within the pace. I’ve taught shoulder in and traverse at liberty, shoulders towards and away from me, quarters towards and away from me, then side pass towards and away from me. Rein back and Spanish walk at a distance. The draw towards me on a whistle. Trotting and Cantering next to me, keeping him whichever side of me I want him to be on. Changing the rein. Figure of eights around barrels at walk trot and canter. Working on the foundations of piaffe at liberty (he won’t be able to do proper piaffe as not strong enough to really sit behind due to injuries but he understands lifting hinds to a touch on the croup, and working diagonal pairs). We recently started to rear as well, which I said I wouldn’t ever do but this year seemed to come together to make it ok.

I used to just faff around with it and think I was doing liberty but it was chaotic and often completely coincidental if something ‘proper’ happened, but this year I went to a Ben Atkinson weekend and took a lot away from it, and my horse and I have progressed so much from where we were.

 

[Cob Life]

I do loads with mine. I work on transitions and bend the same as on lunge or under saddle. Also transitions within the pace. I’ve taught shoulder in and traverse at liberty, shoulders towards and away from me, quarters towards and away from me, then side pass towards and away from me. Rein back and Spanish walk at a distance. The draw towards me on a whistle. Trotting and Cantering next to me, keeping him whichever side of me I want him to be on. Changing the rein. Figure of eights around barrels at walk trot and canter. Working on the foundations of piaffe at liberty (he won’t be able to do proper piaffe as not strong enough to really sit behind due to injuries but he understands lifting hinds to a touch on the croup, and working diagonal pairs). We recently started to rear as well, which I said I wouldn’t ever do but this year seemed to come together to make it ok.

I used to just faff around with it and think I was doing liberty but it was chaotic and often completely coincidental if something ‘proper’ happened, but this year I went to a Ben Atkinson weekend and took a lot away from it, and my horse and I have progressed so much from where we were.

I’d love to go to a Ben Atkinson weekend!

We literally just had a play today for fun and I was really surprised how responsive she was, we definitely need to work on coming back to me when I call but considering I’ve never asked it of her before if I turned my shoulders she’d run up and park herself beside me. I’d also like to work on being able to vary the size of circles she’s working on.

She loves to work and loves to learn but doesn’t love being ridden so this seems like it might be perfect for her, I just need to not put pressure on myself as that’s when it all goes wrong.

 

[Caol Ila]

My 'catching training' with the Highland seems to be morphing into some basic liberty work. Moving with me on either side, backing when I step back. That's as far as we've got.

And he still doesn't let the yard staff catch him when he's not in the mood.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I dabble in it.

I've had semi-regular lessons so can walk, trot, canter with them at my side, rein back, circling and coming to me from a cue - we're working on upping the distance.

I'd love to learn fancier stuff like BPP but at the moment ridden exercise is my priority & I only have so much time! We're beginning to learn fancier stuff in hand (well, fancy to us ?) so hopefully can transfer this to longlines & liberty in the future.

 

[Cob Life]

I dabble in it.

I've had semi-regular lessons so can walk, trot, canter with them at my side, rein back, circling and coming to me from a cue - we're working on upping the distance.

I'd love to learn fancier stuff like BPP but at the moment ridden exercise is my priority & I only have so much time! We're beginning to learn fancier stuff in hand (well, fancy to us ?) so hopefully can transfer this to longlines & liberty in the future.

I’d love lessons but that’s not on the cards at the moment really

if anyone has any good videos that they can point me toward that would be helpful?

 

[BBP]

I dabble in it.

I've had semi-regular lessons so can walk, trot, canter with them at my side, rein back, circling and coming to me from a cue - we're working on upping the distance.

I'd love to learn fancier stuff like BPP but at the moment ridden exercise is my priority & I only have so much time! We're beginning to learn fancier stuff in hand (well, fancy to us ?) so hopefully can transfer this to longlines & liberty in the future.

Think you got the nail on the head, bbp has spent more time on the sick list than not, so we have spent a lot of time on liberty work when not ridden, and now he’s retired from ridden work it’s all we really do barring hacks out in hand and the odd bit of in hand work where we have maybe got a little stuck with something like lateral work. So it’s easier to progress faster.

 

[BBP]

I’d love lessons but that’s not on the cards at the moment really

if anyone has any good videos that they can point me toward that would be helpful?

Ben has some videos to get you started (paid for). Once you master sending away, coming in, stop, go, move shoulders and quarters, everything else more fancy is much more simple.

What you said about not putting pressure on yourself if it goes wrong is really key. I just keep in mind that it isn’t going wrong, he isn’t trying to be disobedient, he just hasn’t read the books and watched the videos on liberty training so if it’s not working it means I’m asking the question wrong ? I start most things on a rope/in hand so it’s easier to help him figure it out, and will happily revert back to that if we hit a bump. I’m still very much learning, but it’s been a super fun year!

 

[Cob Life]

Ben has some videos to get you started (paid for). Once you master sending away, coming in, stop, go, move shoulders and quarters, everything else more fancy is much more simple.

What you said about not putting pressure on yourself if it goes wrong is really key. I just keep in mind that it isn’t going wrong, he isn’t trying to be disobedient, he just hasn’t read the books and watched the videos on liberty training so if it’s not working it means I’m asking the question wrong ? I start most things on a rope/in hand so it’s easier to help him figure it out, and will happily revert back to that if we hit a bump. I’m still very much learning, but it’s been a super fun year!

I’ve always connected with her much more and much easier than I ever have with turbo cob. But today highlighted just how in tune with me she is, and the fact that when I stopped she would Immediately canter up to me and stop right at my shoulder and was choosing to be with me was amazing.

She’s really sensitive which is both a blessing and a curse.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I was looking at something else when I stumbled across the British Horse Liberty Association https://britishlibertyhorse.co.uk/ if that helps OP?