The Magic of Liberty By (C) 2004 Allen Pogue
Everyone who loves horses is always impressed with a circus-style Liberty act. The effect of seeing gaily-festooned horses executing a sophisticated sorting routine can be quite mesmerizing. Often one star performer is called from the troupe to display a special talent while the other horses pose on their home base pedestals. When set to music the total effect is quite theatrical in nature, while the reality is that the horses are simply replicating their basic training in costume.
This is where we are going to pick up on this month's topic. The most useful effect of Liberty schooling young horses is that they learn early on the difference in right and wrong and they become more responsible for their own actions. Anytime we have a lead rope attached to a horse they are in effect leaning on a mental crutch that allows the handler to do most of the thinking. The horse simply follows along doing as they told because they have no real choice in the matter.
When Liberty schooling in addition to voice commands we use body posture and proximity cues delivered with two whips to convey our intent. One whip has a long flexible drop and snap equal in length or longer than the shaft; it is called a ?ering whip' and is similar to a lunge type. The other is a somewhat stiff, straight whip that can have a snap or in my particular style of schooling equipped with a highly visible ball. Since I seldom use the actual touch of the whip, the brightly colored yellow ball is much more effective as a visual cue. When I do touch the horse, the ball acts like a caressing hand and is easily accepted by even the most nervous of horses.
The creation of a Liberty act begins in the confines of either a stall, the aisle way of the barn or a very small paddock with square corners. The choice of schooling area depends on the age and temperament of the horse. Older/larger horses or those whose manners are not 100% trustworthy need more space for handler safety reasons. Younger and smaller horses do better in small spaces, which limit the possible, escape options. Horses are hard-wired to look for and size-up every possible avenue of escape and so it is only when you eliminate all these distractions that you will begin to get close to having their full attention. A normal round pen is 360 degrees of escape possibilities, while a relatively small pen with square corners affords the handler the option of using the corners and straight walls advantageously.
One of the first useful tricks you can teach a Liberty is what circus style animal trainers call home base. This usually takes the form of a circensic pose on a pedestal. The way this is introduced and then confirmed is by first leading a horse up onto the pedestal and then praising and perhaps rewarding with a food treat. The second step is to teach the horse to remain posed until released and the third part of the complete action is to teach the horse to gracefully step off. Leading a horse along the wall and up onto a pedestal placed close to the wall is the easiest first step. The wall limits the escape options and if the pedestal is placed near a corner so that there is not enough room for the horse to step up and over they are more likely to simply step up and remain in place.
Once this initial familiarization is complete it is time to step back and use body posture and proximity along with the two whips be the cues. The ring whip is used in a way that encourages forward movement while the long guider limits too much forward motion or speed and is used to turn the horse inward towards the handler or to indicate a complete inward turnabout to reverse directions.
The pedestal should be placed in the middle of the stall wall or along a fence of a very small paddock. By action and word the horse is encouraged to step briskly forward and up onto the pedestal. Some horses learn easily and quickly others need to be taught that the only place in the schooling area where they can stand still is on the pedestal. The pedestal becomes a ?esafe zone' (not that they were ever in any real danger). It is just that they need to learn that you will be relentless in keeping them moving until they comply with a very simple request. The form this kind of schooling takes will depend on the handler's ability to convey intent and whether or not you have taught your horse to walk, trot and halt on cue. If you have not done this as of yet, then now is a perfect time to begin to add these actions to your horse's repertoire of responses to vocal commands. The apparent reason that horses learn this trick so well is that the use of a stage prop (the pedestal) makes the required action very logical and clear. Either the horse walks toward and steps up on the pedestal, or they do not. There is NO ambiguity and so the horse is able to reason out your cues, because they actually make sense.
Once the horse has found out that being on the pedestal gains them nothing but praise and reward they soon learn to love it. At times with some horses it becomes like the opposite poles of magnets, they are drawn to the pedestal and there they confidently stay. When this is the case, it is time to ask for variations on the basic pose. One of the most useful tricks is rotating the rear end around the front. The horse has their front feet grounded on the pedestal and they have learned not to step off so now stepping the hind feet in rotation becomes quite easy. This is an excellent way of teaching a horse of any age to yield the hindquarters. Teaching a horse to salute and extend the front leg is likewise quite easy. Usually just a touch behind the cannon is all it takes to begin to shape this action. Use a specific vocal and tactile cue for each leg in within a week or so you can teach your horse the difference between right and left, as well as right from wrong.
Horsemanship in the 21st century should be grounded in the classics yet moderated by recognition of the horse as a sentient being. Liberty schooling is a near perfect method for establishing an undeniable bond between horse and handler that has no real limits save those of your own powers of imagination.
Last month the article was about my young Lusitano/Arabian filly Sombra who decided that she no longer wanted to sit down. In that case her home base was a beanbag cushion. Once she decided that sitting was going to be her only option, she has become the best sit down horse I have trained to date. Sombra learned to scamper up the plywood and carpet covered steps of a haystack and to turn around and sit down. This was done by linking the two behaviors together seamlessly; and she now does it in less than five seconds.
Horsemanship in the 21st century should be grounded in the classics yet moderated by recognition of the horse as a sentient companion. Liberty schooling is a near perfect method for establishing an undeniable bond between horse and handler that has no real limits save those of your own powers of imagination.
Allen lives near Austin where he raises Hispano-Arabs (Lusitano/Arabian crosses) and is available for individual and group training, clinics and exhibitions. You may reach at 512-243-0758 or visit his website: www.imagineahorse.com. Be sure to see Allen Pogue and "Hasan" at the Austin Wranglers Arena Football in Austin at the Frank Erwin center this season. For details and schedule check austinwranglers.com.
