Teach your horse to bow… and other cool stuff!

Leading trainer Tina Fagan shows a young rider how to start liberty training. Images: Libby Law

Ever wanted to teach your horse or pony liberty work, or just develop a closer relationship through ground work? In this article, leading New Zealand trainer Tina Fagan takes a young handler through the steps involved.

OUR MODELS: Maddie Smith and Welsh Mountain pony Queen of the Night, known to her friends as ‘QT’

OUR TRAINER: Tina Fagan is the expert who talked Maddie through the moves for this story. Tina was the winner of the first Kaimanawa Stallion Challenge

1. The right gear

Anyone can teach their pony to bow and jump on a box, says Tina, but it helps if you have the right equipment before you start. A rope halter like this one will give you a better feel when doing groundwork with your pony – it’s as light as you need it to be, but it can also be as firm as you need it to be. A normal web halter has a wider surface area, so if your pony goes to pull away you won’t have much control. The whip Maddie is using in this story is a special training stick. If you don’t have one like this at home, a lunge whip will do, though it’s a bit floppy. A cheap alternative is to get a fibreglass stock stick from your local farm store and tape a bit of braid to the end of it.

2. Move away from pressure

Here Maddie is getting QT to move away from pressure and back out of her space. The more you can control your pony’s feet the better you’ll be able to problem-solve, says Tina. Maddie starts off with a very light pressure, basically just moving a finger, and builds up the movement of the rope until QT steps away. Once you can do everything with the lightest pressure possible, you’re ready to take the halter off and try liberty work, says Tina. Anything you can do with your pony on the end of the lead-line you can do at liberty – with lots of practice, of course!

3. Circling the horse

In this photo Maddie is getting QT to move in a circle around her. It’s not like lungeing, because she stands in one spot and passes the rope behind her back. It’s the horse’s job to maintain pace and direction, explains Tina. The key to this is body language – you direct the horse with your body and stick, which is an extension of your body. The horse’s shoulder is called ‘the driveline’ and if you are standing behind the driveline you’ll send your pony forwards or sideways. If you’re in front of the driveline you will stop your pony or turn them.

4. Friendly games

Maddie rubs QT with the stick before she sends her out on the circle. The stick should just be an extension of your body, NEVER a punishment. You don’t want your pony to fear the stick, explains Tina. Horses should move away from pressure because they’ve been directed, not because they are frightened. Stay safe! Some ponies tend to get a bit over-exuberant when playing these games. Be aware of your space and your pony’s space at all times. You definitely don’t want to get kicked by a pair of playful heels!

5. Tackling obstacles

Once you can direct your pony’s feet you can try all sorts of fun stuff – you are only limited by your imagination! Here Maddie sends QT over a wall, but you could use the same techniques for anything: sending your pony over a drain, into a horse float or up and down a big steep bank. Start with something really easy. It can be really helpful if your mum or trainer gives you a hand in the beginning, says Tina. Groundwork like this is brain gymnastics for your pony. If you can get your horse to stand on a box, fore example, it’s going to be much easier for you to get them on and off the float or walk across a spooky bridge. 

6. Box fun

Maddie directs QT on to this box and when she’s up there gives her a good rub with the whip for reassurance before she hops off again. It’s easiest to teach your pony by going up length-wise first. Once they’ve worked out the exercise, you can get adventurous and go across; they quickly learn to hop up and put their feet close together. The most important thing is your box is safe and non-slip – ponies are heavy! Tina says one of the best things to use is an old tractor tyre filled with dirt, which is really safe, because if your pony slips off the side, they won’t get hurt.

7. Teaching your horse to bow

To begin, pick up your pony’s leg and hold their foot. Use the opposite hand to the one you’d normally use, as you want to be facing forwards, not backwards. Place your other hand under your pony’s chest and use pressure to rock your pony backwards and forwards until they rock right down to the ground. Above, Tina shows Maddie how it’s done. 

As soon as your pony is on the ground, reward with a little treat of food (below). Tina doesn’t usually use treats for training, but bowing is hard work and deserves a reward! Don’t use the food to get them to the ground though – only reward once they are there. 

Next it’s Maddie’s turn to get QT to bow and she’s successful – even without a halter on (below). 

Eventually, Tina’s horses learn to bow with just a simple tap on the leg. “It’s feel and timing and practice,” explains Tina. “It’s more about you than your pony. Once you understand how to get your pony to move away from pressure and how much pressure to use, you can get all sorts of things to happen. Bowing is just one of the many things you can do!”

8. Liberty work

Liberty work is training your horse without any gear on. It takes a lot of practice, but it’s heaps of fun and anyone can learn to do it, says Tina. She gets Maddie to walk QT around the edge of the arena, playing a little driving game. When Maddie wants QT to move forward, she points with her arm in the direction of travel and holds her stick up and behind (above). When she wants QT to halt, she brings the carrot stick down in front and then gives her a rub (below). 

Maddie is soon able to repeat the exercise in trot (below). This is the first step in getting your pony to stay with you at liberty, explains Tina. 

You do need a safe, secure place for all of this, stresses Tina. Of course it helps in an arena like this one, with no grass to eat and a rail to stop QT wandering off!  However, you can still try it in the paddock – one of the best things about groundwork and liberty work is that anybody can do it and you don’t need special stuff.

  • This article was first published in the Winter 2015 issue of PONIES! magazine. To subscribe, click HERE
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