✨ What to do when your horse walks away at liberty ✨
THIS moment is one of the most IMPORTANT and POWERFUL moments in developing your connection at liberty with your horse. This moment is EVERYTHING.
This is the moment you can:
🌟 Reaffirm to your horse that they DO have the choice to leave whenever they feel the need to.
🌟 Prove to your horse that you are NOT going to punish him, make him uncomfortable, or work him hard for leaving (particularly important for horses that have experienced this in the past).
🌟 Allow your horse to feel seen and heard, thereby letting him know you feel safer with you and opening up the doors to social engagement, deeper connection, learning, curiosity, and play!
🌟 Allow your horse processing time.
🌟 Allow the release of tension.
The most common reaction when the horse disconnects at liberty is to try to cause the horse to reconnect again.
But what I encourage you to do is to take this as a prime opportunity to nurture the relationship. It is the perfect moment to just hold space for your horse. See him, hear him, and let him be for a moment. Horses don't do things just to spite us, and their reactions are always perfect for their previous experience and current situation. Ask yourself what happened and what caused him to leave. Was it that he:
🌟 Felt uncomfortable or overwhelmed by your interaction (pressure, tools, too much too soon)?
🌟 Did not see enough value in the interaction?
🌟 Felt that what you were asking was too difficult mentally or physically?
🌟 Did not understand your guidance?
Then give him a little time and see if he returns when he is ready. Most often they will reconnect after taking a moment. If he doesn't, gently invite him back in through the "initiation of contact" exercise, which we discuss in Module 2. When he reconnects, generously reward him and nurture the relationship!! ❤️❤️
Video below is an excerpt from the Essence of Liberty Academy Module 3 🕊
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