I was asked, “Why do you see so many horses while performing liberty work have their ears laid back? They don’t look aggressive, but the body language is confusing.”
Just before the American revolution Patrick Henry (1736-1799) is credited with saying, “Give me liberty, or give me death.” However, it’s a little-known fact of history that it was actually Henry’s horse that said it first.
There is no such thing as liberty training. It’s a myth. All training imposes limits on a horse’s freedom to do whatever it chooses. True liberty training, where there are no restrictions on a horse’s choices, does not exist.
I am far more impressed by a trainer who can ask a horse to offer a relaxed and balanced trot or canter irrespective if the horse is wearing gear or not than I am of a trainer who has taught a horse fancy movements that are incorrect and accompanied by worry, but with no gear.
