What exactly is Liberty?

[DJ EndurancE]

Can someone tell me exactly what Liberty is? I've heard some people say it's a kind of cross-country exercise, and others say it's some kind of performance done to music. I don't know who to believe! :eek: I think it might mean something different in the UK than it does in the USA - I'm not sure. (Btw, I'm from USA)

Please help me get straight on this! Thanks! :)

[LindaAd]

It used to be the work that circus horses did in the ring without a rider - they were known as liberty horses. And, yes, there would have been music.

I've never heard of any other use for the word.

Linda


Can someone tell me exactly what Liberty is? I've heard some people say it's a kind of cross-country exercise, and others say it's some kind of performance done to music. I don't know who to believe! :eek: I think it might mean something different in the UK than it does in the USA - I'm not sure. (Btw, I'm from USA)

Please help me get straight on this! Thanks! :)

[Just.Jump]

"Liberty" is an act in circus'. It's actually referred to as horses performing at liberty. It generally features 8 or more horses performing with music and no rider. They are controlled by a ring master who usually, but not always, uses voice commands. The formation is generally a carousel kind of thing, basically they circle round and round in shapes either in a single line or all in a line side by side.

http://www.schumann.dk/real/historie/pic/o_15Bennyspanskfrihed.jpg

[virtuallyhorses]

Liberty is any free work- not just circus acts. Any time you work with your horse without physical connection. So you may see ads for horses jumping at liberty at a particular height - usually these horses are sent down a 'chute' and then jump without rider etc This is taken as a sign of natural ability as the horse could refuse, run out (demolishing the chute which is generally just poles) or could make a shambles of the jumps.

Other liberty work may include natural horsemanship type exercises and training, I also work with my horse at liberty in a number of ways including 'lunging' without ropes, where you simply ask the horse to work in a circle around you at walk, trot, canter , change directions etc by cues or simple groundwork where the horse must co-operate completely rather than being able to fallback to using leadrope pressure and control.

[DJ EndurancE]

I also work with my horse at liberty in a number of ways including 'lunging' without ropes, where you simply ask the horse to work in a circle around you at walk, trot, canter , change directions etc by cues or simple groundwork where the horse must co-operate completely rather than being able to fallback to using leadrope pressure and control.

Now I understand. I've done some of that myself. Cool! I guess I was doing Liberty and didn't know it! Thanks for clearing that up for me! :)