Create understanding
Boost motivation
Do more with less
Liberty
From doing the exercises to your horse wanting to do them
Why liberty matters
Liberty shows the true partnership between you and your horse.
At liberty, everything becomes honest.
There is no cavesson.
No reins.
No line.
You cannot make your horse do anything.
So two things become clear:
- Does your horse understands what you want?
- And is your horse motivated to work with you?
This is why liberty is not just training your horse.
It is also training yourself.
What is liberty
Liberty is not just letting your horse run free, or follow you.
In Straightness Training, you still do the same gymnastic exercises:
- circles
- lateral movements
- in walk, trot, and canter
But now without physical aids and guidance.
This way, your horse needs to understand the exercises and be willing to do them, otherwise nothing happens.
Why liberty works
Every horse is naturally asymmetrical.
So if you don't address this means, also at liberty:
- one side is more supple
- one front leg carries more
- one hind leg pushes more
But at liberty, something extra becomes visible: the mind of the horse.
You will see:
- does your horse stay with you?
- does your horse understand?
- does your horse want to cooperate?
When you are able to do all the Straightness Training exercises easily at liberty, your horse will be in balance, both in body and mind.
And as a result, all the other training pillars will become so much easier.
What you develop in liberty
- Better communication with your horse
- More motivation
- More focus and attention
- Better timing and feeling
- More awareness of your own energy
And most important:
You learn to do more with less.
How liberty fits into Straightness Training
Liberty is one of the five training pillars of Straightness Training. Together, the pillars create a logical system that develops your horse step by step.
Groundwork
Longeing
Work in Hand
Riding
Liberty
Each pillar builds on the previous one. By being successful at liberty you can do more with less in all the other training pillars.
What changes when you do liberty
Before
Before
- Your horse needs guidance all the time
- Your horse loses focus easily
- Exercises only work with support
- Connection is not always there
After
- Your horse choses to stay with you
- Your horse takes responsibility for the exercises
- Your horse is motivated and eager to perform
- You feel connection and harmony
Basic liberty exercises
You will practice all the basic exercises at liberty
- Circle
- Shoulder-in
- Haunches-in
Advanced liberty
Once the basics are established, you'll master gymnastic exercises such as:
- Renvers
- Half pass
- Pirouette
- Piaffe
- Levade
These exercises improve strength, coordination, and collection.
How to start
You can approach liberty in two ways:
1. Start with the body first
You begin with groundwork. Then you move to liberty.
Now your horse already understands the exercises.
So at liberty, you focus more on motivation and connection.
After that, you bring both together, body and mind working as one.
2. Start with the mind first
You begin with liberty. Then you move to groundwork.
Your horse learns to stay with you and respond to your energy.
Now your horse alread is motivated to work with you.
So in groundwork, you focus more on balance and suppleness in the body.
After that, you bring both together, body and mind working as one.
There is no right or wrong way
Some horses need more work on the body first.
Some horses need more connection first.
Do what is best for your horse. And stay flexible in your approach.
See liberty in practice
FAQ about liberty
1. What makes liberty training different in Straightness Training?
Liberty training is not just working with your horse without ropes or reins. It also includes gymnastic exercises, allowing you to see whether your horse truly understands them.
2. Is liberty only for advanced riders?
No. Liberty is for every rider. It helps you improve your timing, your feel, and your ability to do more with less. Like all training pillars, it can be developed step by step.
3. What is the goal of liberty training?
The goal is to see whether your horse understands what you ask and is motivated to respond. You can observe whether your horse takes responsibility for balance, shape, direction, and gait.
4. How do I start with liberty?
You start by building a strong foundation in groundwork. There, you develop balance, coordination, and understanding, aand teach your horse the exercises. At liberty, you refine the communication.
5. Can I start with liberty and then do all the other training pillars?
You can, but it is not always the most effective place to start. When your horse is very crooked or out of balance, it often becomes harder for your horse to understand and develop correctly.
Finally understand why your horse struggles
What most riders completely miss, and how it's affecting your horse.
In this free guide, you’ll discover:
- The strategies that never work - yet riders keep trying them.
- Three things you can start doing right away to turn things around.
- Why making your horse "listen" isn't working, and what to do instead.
- How to end your struggle and make it possible with your horse