A little bit of liberty

"When the halter off comes off, what you have is the truth" (Pat Parelli and others). Meaning that you will find out whether your horse wants to be with you or leaves as soon as he has the choice. This will usually happen the first time you test your connection, but if you have done your teaching well, on line, at different distances, and you continue to use the same cues at liberty, then you should have the same connection and responses.

The first few times I tried with Fina was in the round pen. She would stay connected for a while but as soon as she felt too much pressure or lack of confidence, she left me and either wandered around or cantered circles on the limit of the round pen. It was easy enough to get her back, no chasing but waiting until the right moment to yield the hindquarters, which brought her to face me and she was only too happy to rejoin me.

Jo Bates coaching us, reminding me to cue as if we are still online

Today, she is as connected to me off line as on line. We don't need the restriction of the round pen. We play in the paddock, with Lucie and the shed and an open gate to the next field. Sometimes we go out into the big field. Building up to bigger distances and faster paces!

Meanwhile here is a bit of video of a little bit of liberty at the end of our play sessions for Equifeel training; it felt right to finish off line with some free style patterns. A work in progress but she never left me, mostly she was relaxed and connected, at one point I was able to bring her emotions up and obtain a bit more effort and impulsion, and at the end I asked her to lower her head,something we have been working on which helps relaxation and tempo if she gets a bit excited.

Equifeel (1)

Remember the Parelli games, which were showcased on Horse & Country TV? Now we have Equifeel, the French version; apparently initiated by Andy Booth in France. This discipline, which is basically playing with your horse online or at liberty with obstacles, is becoming popular in France and the FFE, Federation Francaise d'Equitation, has officialised it and established rules for competitions which can be found on their website.

All you need is a basic knowledge of how to play the 7 games, a horse, and some equipment (tarp, cones or markers, poles, something to make a small jump; and the usual kit, halter and 4m and 7m ropes, a stick if you use one, carrot or dressage).

And if like me, you don't have transport, there's no excuse for not joining in because you can video yourself and enter online competitions through Equifeel-Partage.

So no excuse!

I went to observe a competition recently in the Dordogne, at Ecuries de la H.A. near Sainte Foy de Longas; here are a few photos:

Obstacles in the sand school

The tests

Transitions in the round pen

Tamzin and Voodoo, the eventual winners of two classes

Suitably inspired, I gave it a try at home; see next post!