Free Work
Free work can be used throughout any horse's training. It is
mainly a tool of psychological communication with a number of physiological advantages
:
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The horse learns to understand and thus to give
consenting obedience to the trainer's bidding.
-
The horse learns to balance and handle himself
without the added complication of a rider's weight and possible hand interference,
thus becomes more supple and calm.
-
The horse can be conditioned while learning new
skills, thus preparing him for the greater efforts required of mounted work without
the physical trauma.
-
The horse will understand more easily what is
required of him and therefore submit more readily to the trainer's will and requests.
-
From the benefit of direct observation, the trainer
will gain a better impression of the horse's attitude and how he is actually working.
If this work is carried out correctly, the horse should become
more willing to the trainer's bidding, should become calmer and more accepting
of requests made of him, and should become physically more attractive as the work
progresses.
Requirements of Free work
Free work does not signify that a horse is "chased" around without appropriate
guidance. He/she must at all times remain under the direction of the trainer.
If problems arise, they must be corrected with quiet persistence. Sometimes, at
the beginning of a working session, an over exuberant or excited horse must be
permitted the time that is necessary to de-energize. Attempting to work a horse
that is not yet prepared to listen, or not calm, is non productive and could be
damaging to future training. Only once the horse begins to pay full attention
to the trainer should the actual work begin.
Areas for Free Work
-
The ideal is an enclosed area of about 25 X 12
metres. This size allows one person to make himself understood and obeyed by the
horse, and still leaves lots of room should an aid be required.
- An enclosed (covered) arena no larger than 20 X 40 metres.
Larger rings can be divided to render them a more workable size.
- A small, round, well enclosed longeing circle
- Longeing Ovals, with or without removable obstacles :
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