31/03/2026
It is very common to see methods being marketed as ‘liberty’, while they have nothing to do with freedom. True liberty by definition has choice as its foundation.
This means that when the horse wants to do something else, we let them. We respect their choice and let them explore and look around. As trainers I don’t think we should use any pressure in those moments. The only thing to do is wait, and then ask for their attention back by walking softly walking.
I don’t believe in using whips or ropes during liberty training, or even as a preparation. Liberty should be tackless from the start.
Personally I do use food rewards and positive reinforcement, but I do make sure there is some other food source available. It might be grass, some hay, or a bucket of food, as long as they can choose. If we are the only source of food, that isn’t much of a choice.
Lastly and most importantly, the horse should be free to leave, or giving you a signal when they want to end. If you are the one deciding when you are done, the horse is not at true liberty. It is basically spending their time in an enclosed space, until you decide to leave.
For me it was hard to learn these lessons. They might seem harsh, but without the horse being able to choose I don’t think we can speak of liberty. Liberty is more than just the lack of a rope, it is a way of training, and something that I try to apply in everything I do with horses.
So remember: when the horse is in a roundpen, and the trainer only puts pressure on the horse when they walk away, this is not liberty. It is using negative reinforcement to make the wrong thing hard (in other words uncomfortable), until they obey.
