Lunge & Liberty – Dressage Adventures

with Herman

Help your horse become supple and balanced whilst developing a beautiful partnership with this unique program combining lunge, liberty and groundwork. Unlike ‘conventional’ lungeing this technique is hugely beneficial as you will quickly see improvement in your horse’s performance and overall attitude to training.

with Herman

Help your horse become supple and balanced whilst developing a beautiful partnership.

Scroll through each season!

Spring Season

We begin this first season teaching you the 'hand signals' which become the basis for our communication on the lunge. You will be amazed how quickly your horse will read your cues!

Download our quick reference cards for each lesson to keep you and your horse on track!

Spring: Lesson 1

Targeting

Clear communication
Targeting
Three Agreements
Reward
Positive reinforcement
Foundation for lunge work

Develop a language your horse understands with this fun exercise.

Teaching your horse to target is not just a fun party trick, but rather an excellent way to teach your horse a 'language'. In this lesson Jenku teaches Herman how to 'target' a cone while safely behind the stable door. This exercise underpins the 'Three Agreements' which is a way to communicate clearly and effectively with your horse. The 'Three Agreements' are:

a clear way of saying 'YES, this is what I want'
a clear way of saying 'NO, this is not what I want'
a clear way of saying 'I will always set you up to find 'neutral' - a place where there is no pressure.

By only rewarding the behaviour that you want, your horse will quickly learn to eliminate unwanted behaviour. As Tracy, points out - successful targeting to the left and right is the foundation for lunge work. What better way to learn than with positive reinforcement and consistent rewards?

Spring: Lesson 2

Head Down

Long and low
Without gadgets
Targeting
Hand signals
Direct feedback
Relaxation
Working over back

Once your horse has learned to target you can train the 'cue' for stretching.

The simplest way to teach your horse to work long and low without gadgets is by using a target. In this lesson, Jenku builds on the previous targeting work done over the stable door, by taking the horse into the arena and getting him to target a cone on the ground. Herman quickly learns that interfering with the human gives him no reward, but that Jenku’s finger pointed to the ground is the cue he needs to follow.

If your horse gets stuck, lower your criteria and bring the cone up to him to remind him of the task at hand. Light downward pressure on the halter will also provide him with the direct feedback he needs to focus on the cone. Consistent and direct feedback sets the horse up for success and enables him to relax and learn at the same time. Long and low work will help Herman work through his back and carry himself more without relying on his rider.

Spring: Lesson 3

Lunge Buttons

Balance
Lightness
Suppleness
Buttons
No gadgets
No stress
Natural progression
Hand signals

These 'buttons' will set you and your horse up for success under saddle.

Herman is big-framed, with lovely loose paces - but he can lose his balance easily. Lunge work is a great way for him to learn to balance himself and figure out just where his limbs are. In this lesson, instead of just 'chasing him around' in a circle, Jenku teaches Herman 'lunge buttons' that will translate into ridden work.

The stick pointed at the shoulder means that he must move out on the circle; while the stick pointed to the hind quarter teaches the horse to engage his inside hind leg. No gadgets, no stress and a natural progression from all the targeting work that you’ve done – what could be more graceful? Teaching Herman these 'buttons' in hand means that he will already understand the cues from her hands and legs when he is ridden.

Spring: Lesson 4

Cruise Control

Sustaining canter
Self-carriage
Engagement
Balance
Lightness
Transitions
Relaxation and flexibility

Are you doing more work than your horse? You need to learn cruise control!

Teaching your horse to stay in canter by themselves without you working really hard is much easier than you think. In this lesson Jenku demonstrates how you can achieve 'cruise control' where your horse learns to stay in the canter. 'Cluck' once and your horse must respond, and then they must stay in the canter - don't keep clucking! Once you have this established you will learn there is so much more you can achieve on the lunge. Instead of lungeing for fitness, you will learn how to use it to:

teach your horse self-carriage
improve suppleness
encourage them to step under with the inside hind leg
come up in the poll and flex naturally without gadgets or draw reins

By teaching your horse skill sets, he will feel light in your hand and will be able to engage more behind. You can also have fun playing with transitions to increase relaxation and flexibility.

Downloadable Quick-Reference Cards

Lesson:Targeting

Your horse needs to be secured in a stable for this lesson (or small paddock / turn out pen). You will need a small cone or brightly coloured object.

Stand approximately 2m away from the door (or gate) so that your horse cannot touch you, instead of the cone.

Allow your horse to touch the cone with their nose - ‘tsk’ & reward. Repeat until your horse consistently touches the target like a ‘button’ to get the reward.

Next reach arm out to your right side - ‘tsk’ & reward. Repeat until consistent.

Next reach arm out to your left side - ‘tsk’ & reward. Repeat until consistent.

REMEMBER:
Try not to collapse your body or drop your arm. Keep your posture consistent so that the ‘picture’ is clear.

Summer Season

In this season, your horse will learn to become beautifully light and responsive. Follow each step and you will start to see a huge improvement in their balance and engagement.

Summer: Lesson 1

Leading

Horse instinct to find neutral next to their leader
Calm and safe handling
Respecting the boundaries of the invisible box in preparation for ridden work
Ambidextrous horse and rider

This simple, but invaluable lesson will train 'lightness' into your horse.

Foals are hardwired to stick to their mum’s side like glue. In this lesson, Jenku overlays this instinct with training your horse to find neutral next to your shoulder when you are leading him. Most people don’t give leading their horse much thought - until it goes wrong and you’re either skiing behind or dragging them along. You can achieve so much by teaching your horse to lead calmly and correctly. Not only will it make walking to the paddock or stable safer, but it helps train your horse to find the 'invisible box' which correlates to your ridden work.

As we’ve seen from the other lessons, 'horses think in pictures' so Herman quickly learns that when Jenku’s hand is forward, he needs to walk on. When Jenku leans back slightly and brings his hand up, a bit like pulling up a hand brake, then Herman needs to slow down or stop. You can have such fun playing with this exercise and it’s a great way to get horses to learn to shift their balance towards their hind quarters effortlessly. You can easily integrate this into your daily routine.

Summer: Lesson 2

Rein Back

Relaxation
Lightness
Straightness
Collection
Engagement
Uncontracting back muscles
Using abdominal muscles

Did you know rein back improves engagement? Learn how in this lesson.

Relaxed, light and straight – these sound like the comments most riders would love to see in a dressage test. Dressage is all about collection and getting your horse’s hind legs forward and underneath the deepest part of the saddle where the rider’s weight is. A relaxed, light and straight rein back is just one of the exercises you can do to help your horse un-contract his back and get his abdominal muscles working effectively. This is gym work for horses!

Most people only think about rein back when they’re riding but training your horse to do a rein back in hand, in a halter makes absolute sense. In this lesson, Herman discovers that rein back is no big deal and a natural follow-on from leading within the invisible box. It starts with a cue to take a step backwards. Next Jenku works on making sure Herman is relaxed, then light in the halter and then straight. Lightness in hand makes for a nice polite horse to handle, but you’re looking for the same qualities when you ride.

Summer: Lesson 3

Long & Low

Complex biofeedback loops
Long and low position
Parasympathetic “rest and digest” state
Uncontracting back muscles
Using cones to help your horse learn to stretch

Play a game of 'seeking' out targets to train your horse to work 'long & low'.

The foundation of all training should be relaxation. You can’t train to Grand Prix level with tension and then miraculously expect it to disappear. Instead, it’s something you should build in from the very start. In this lesson, clever Herman remembers his targeting lesson over the stable door and takes it a step further by targeting cones on the ground.

The horse’s nervous system has complex biofeedback loops. If you can train your horse to opt for a long and low position, this taps into his parasympathetic or “rest and digest” state. In this grazing state his back will uncontract, and blood will rush to his digestive system rather than his muscles. This long and low position lets his brain know that it can relax. Next, by laying the cones out in a circle on the ground, Jenku trains Herman to complete a circle while totally calm. Ultimately, you can get rid of the cones. Like training wheels on your bicycle, you can ditch them once you’re confident, but they serve a purpose in the beginning.

Summer: Lesson 4

Invisible Horsebox

Shaping your horse’s body without force or manipulation
Heavy on forehand
Training the half halt in hand
Lightness and responsiveness
Suppleness
Engagement
Shifting weight behind
Training the answer before you ask the question

Learn to manoeuvre your horse in all directions and train the 'half halt'.

We know the story about the 'Emperor’s clothes', but what about the 'Emperor’s horse box'? In this lesson, Jenku shows you how to shape your horse’s body without force or manipulation. It all starts by encouraging your horse to step forwards and backwards using your piaffe whip at their shoulder. Once they’re doing this nicely, you’ll learn how to shift them to the left and the right. Because you don’t want your horse heavy on the forehand, next up is the 'in-hand half halt'.

Once your horse is light and responsive, you can put him on a circle and help him shape his body by pointing your whip where your leg would be. You’re looking for a nice, soft bend through the whole body with the inside hind leg stepping through and under. Horses think in pictures, so your hand and body up means your horse must lighten in front and shift his weight behind. Tracy points out that this 'in-hand' mastery translates into ridden work. She knows that when Herman’s weight is back, he’s able to move his feet better for movements like leg yield, shoulder in or half-pass.

Downloadable Quick-Reference Cards

Lesson:Leading

Tie a knot in the lead rope approx 30cm from the halter. This is where you hold the lead rope. Hold the whip in your outside hand.

To walk forward, put your hand forward.

To stop and back up, lean back slightly and bring your hand up.

The rope should never feel ‘heavy’. If your horse is dragging behind you, tap behind you with the whip to bring them up to speed.

If your horse is running through you, wave the whip in front of your horse like a window wiper to block them.

REMEMBER:
Foals are hardwired to stick to their mum’s side like glue. The aim is to overlay this instinct to train your horse to ‘ find neutral’ next to you.

Autumn Season

In this season you will gain a fascinating insight into 'horse biomechanics' as we progress with more complex lunge skills. Suddenly it will all make sense to you - and your horse!

Autumn: Lesson 1

Long & Low Canter

Old masters
Long and low
Relaxed back
Body language
Spacing your rewards
Understanding how muscles work in pairs
Abdominal muscles
Engagement

Learn the benefits of training your horse 'long & low' in canter.

The Old Masters used to say; ‘Train in a walk, establish in a trot, test in the canter’. In this lesson Jenku encourages Herman to stretch his frame and work 'long and low'. Herman has already learned to target a plastic cone on the ground in the previous seasons. Now that he has that figured out, Jenku shows us how to use our body language to train your horse to relax and lower his head.

Once Herman is consistently walking with his head lowered, Jenku ups the criteria and asks him to trot. Herman lifts his head, but because he doesn’t get rewarded for this, he quickly realises that the treats only come when his head is lowered. You can now start spacing your rewards and instead of rewarding him every time he lowers his head, you can reward when he has lowered his head twice in a row. This is how you’ll train your horse to stay down for longer periods of time. But what’s the point? Muscles work in pairs, so the abdominal muscles can only work properly and get the hind legs swinging when the back is relaxed. The back muscles are only able to relax when the horse has his head lowered.

Autumn: Lesson 2

Vertical Flexion

Vertical flexion
Gadgets and gizmos
Redirecting food motivation
Neck shape
Balance
Shift weight
Rotating pelvis
Contracting abdominals
Sheep on a shoebox
Collection

A fascinating insight into 'collection' you won't ever have seen before!

There’s nothing in conventional training that gives you the tools to teach your horse how to come into 'vertical flexion' without gadgets and gizmos. If your horse is food motivated, you can redirect his energy into something useful for dressage and train a cue for vertical flexion. This is also a great exercise for rainy days, as you can train this in the stable. A horse’s neck acts as a balancing pole. If you can train the neck to go into different positions, then you can influence his body and shift his weight around.

In this lesson Jenku initially lures Herman into the correct position using food. Jenku clicks and rewards when Herman flexes at his poll. As Herman gets more familiar with this shape, Jenku only needs a hand signal to cue vertical flexion, and it doesn’t take Herman long to figure out what he needs to do. The next phase of the exercise is to help Herman tuck his pelvis under so that his abdominals contract. He looks like a ‘sheep on a shoebox’, and helps him redistribute his weight for optimal movement. Add vertical flexion to this and - without reins or other aids - you’re able to condition your horse’s body and get him fit and ready for collected work.

Autumn: Lesson 3

Direct Canter

Focus
Accurate feedback
Clear communication
Weight shift to hind quarters
Canter strike off
Forehand
Disunited
Try
Fail
Improve
Repeat
Incremental gains
Rewarding with rest

Learn how to set up transitions and shift your horse's weight to the hind.

This exercise is not for beginners, but rather for those who have watched and learned from the previous lessons and already have built some 'buttons' into their horses. The aids for the direct canter are clear. Herman needs to rein back one deliberate footstep at a time. When his weight has shifted towards his hind quarters, Jenku raises his hand so that he lifts his poll, the whip is at Herman’s inside shoulder and with one cluck, he strikes off in canter.

This can’t be done if Herman is heavy on the forehand or slow to respond to the canter cue. Jenku clicks and rewards him as soon as he strikes off. If he makes a mistake – such as striking off disunited, Jenku provides feedback and Herman tries again. This mindset is focussed on success and incremental gains. It assumes you will try, fail, try, improve. Repeat. While food is the most obvious reward, when your horse is working and lactic acid is building up in his muscles, by inviting him in to rest, you’re also rewarding him. He’ll soon realise that being with you, is a good place to be and that training is rewarding rather than punishing.

Autumn: Lesson 4

Poll Up

Poll up
True flexion
False frame
Engagement
Abdominals
Lifting back
Withers rising
Base of neck coming up
Suppleness
Lateral bend
Calm and relaxed

Understand your horse's biomechanics and everything suddenly makes sense.

Horses 'think in pictures', so if you’ve watched the previous lessons you will have learned that pointing down means 'long and low', your arm extended away from you means move forward or extend your neck while your finger pointing skywards means, poll up. It’s important to remember, however, that true flexion doesn’t happen by holding your horse in a false frame in front.

In this lesson Jenku really explains the horse biomechanics so that finally we understand what is meant by ‘riding the horse from ‘back to front’. He demonstrates how it is the result of the hind legs swinging forward and under to where the rider would be sitting. Then the abdominals kick in and the horse is able to lift his back, his withers rise, the base of the neck comes up, the poll lifts and his head falls into place naturally at the end of his neck. Finally it all makes sense when Jenku explains it! Don’t worry if you get stuck. Slow down, go back a stage and start again. The set up is really important and you need to make sure your horse is supple through his body with a good lateral bend. Practising a little every day is the key to improvement.

Downloadable Quick-Reference Cards

Lesson:Long & Low Canter

Start by revisiting the hand cues: pointing down means ‘head down’, pointing out to the side, ‘like a good traffic cop’ means ‘go this way’.

In walk on the lunge, point downward and mark the moment your horse lowers their head - ‘tsk’ and reward. Repeat on both reins.

Next progress to trot on the lunge, point downward and mark the moment your horse lowers their head - ‘tsk’ and reward. Repeat on both reins.

Now start spacing your rewards - ignore the 1st time the head is lowered and reward the 2nd time, and then the 3rd until your horse sustains the frame.

Finally progress to canter, rewarding the ‘smallest try’ to begin with and then gradually spacing your rewards. Repeat on both reins.

REMEMBER:
Muscles work in pairs. The abdominal muscles can only work when the back is relaxed - and the back can only relax when the head is lowered!

Winter Season

Finally, this is where it all comes together. In this season, you will learn how to train your horse, in beautiful balance with lateral bend and flexion, without any ropes or gadgets in liberty!

Winter: Lesson 1

Lateral Bend

Lateral bend
Suppleness
Balance
Engagement
Self carriage
Good form
Communication
Halter knots
Facial nerves
Whip aid
Influencing the shoulder

We're always being told we need more suppleness. This lesson explains why.

While it’s important for horses to stay relaxed and work 'long and low', this can make them heavy on the forehand. So, to lighten the fore we need to train them to come up in the poll, and then also ask them for 'lateral bend' through their bodies, stretching one half of their body while the other half is contracted, like a banana.

In this lesson, you’ll see good balance and good form as Herman is getting set up for more advanced work. To help communicate with Herman we have a few buttons. The pressure halter knots touch on the facial nerves and the whip directs Herman’s shoulder. When you touch deliberately just behind the wither, you want him to bend his body. You’ll notice that as Herman finds more suppleness, his hind leg swings under more and he then lifts his torso. Next up is the canter. As Herman relaxes into the movement, his body swings and he discovers what self carriage feels like - all by himself. As Tracy points out, 'this is so much more than just lungeing - it’s much more beneficial. It’s teaching your horse to manage their own body without constraints'. Herman! You’re a machine.

Winter: Lesson 2

Rapid Transitions

Rapport
Set up
Up in the poll
Sitting behind
Rapid transitions
Lightness
Responsiveness
Balance
Body language
Consistent cues
Self carriage
Learning to wait in canter

Learn how lungeing becomes a beautiful dance - mesmerising!

Let’s do this thing! By now Herman and Jenku have developed 'rapport' and it’s wonderful to watch. It looks as though they are dancing. In this lesson, they progress to 'rapid transitions'. You can only do this when your horse is light and responsive and able to find their 'best balance'. To test this, Jenku runs through a few movements; can Herman move softly forwards and backwards? Can you move him sideways on both reins? Is he attentive and eager to participate? If you’re ticking these boxes, then you’re good to go!

Keep your own body language slow and deliberate. If your set up is good, he will read you, and he will transition through the paces with ease. When you progress to canter, just do a few strides before you bring him back. Teaching your horse to wait is important, otherwise you’ll end up pulling in his mouth which will make him feel trapped. Then oppositional reflex kicks in and… oh dear! It’s much better if your horse learns the answers on the ground before you start asking the questions under saddle. Come on Herman – one, two, three cha, cha, cha!

Winter: Lesson 3

Basic Liberty

Don’t be afraid to try!
Freestyle training
Basic liberty
Visceral learning
Tuned in
Connection
No halter
No rope
Maintain direction
Control pace
Blind spot
Eye contact

Herman is naked! This lesson is an introduction to working in 'liberty'.

Don’t be afraid to try! We all learn by a process of trial and success. In this lesson, Jenku and Herman start playing with 'liberty' training where the horse is totally free - there’s no halter, and no rope! Learning is visceral for horses. To begin with, 'check in' with your horse. You need to start small, so that you can gauge just how tuned-in your horse is. Your priority at this stage is to maintain the connection and check that it’s all making sense to him. It should, because you’ve done it all before, and your cues are exactly the same.

At first, if your horse decides to leave - it’s OK. They are testing their boundaries. You can stay in control of the situation by maintaining the direction he’s going in, by controlling his pace, and moving into his blind spot which will encourage him to turn and make eye contact. Herman is huffing and puffing after all that cantering and finally decides that hanging out with Jenku is the best place to find neutral. Tracy can’t believe that it’s her Herman doing these moves. She’s always been impressed by 'liberty' displays but didn’t know where to start. Now they are well on their way to exploring all that 'liberty' has to offer.

Winter: Lesson 4

Liberty Canter

Advanced freestyle
Liberty
Lateral bend
Vertical flexion
Reward with oxygen
Maintaining collection
Balance
Beautiful relationship
Magical

This is impressive. Learn to connect with your horse and work in liberty.

In this lesson, Jenku is excited to showcase what has been achieved with Herman over the last couple of months. For Jenku, it feels as though Christmas comes twice a year! Not only is Herman off the rope at the walk, trot and canter but he’s also now showing off his lateral bend and vertical flexion. Way to go, Herman!

When training your horse, remember to stick to the deal. First, he gives you what you want, and then you give him what he wants. Be patient. It’s important not to suddenly expect three circles from your horse. Start with a few strides, then a quarter circle, then half and then a full circle. It’s amazing to see Herman’s progress. He’s on a nice-sized circle, which enables him to maintain the collection and - with no ropes attached - Herman works through his paces offering a good shoulder in and nice vertical flexion. The only thing keeping him with Jenku is his mind and the relationship they have. For Tracy, this is pure magic. Footage from Spring shows a very different Herman to the one chilling with Jenku on this beautiful winter’s morning. Merry Christmas, Herman, you clever boy!

Downloadable Quick-Reference Cards

Lesson:Lateral Bend

In this lesson your horse will be working with lateral bend through their bodies. As the hind leg swings under, their torso lifts and they learn ’self carriage’.

Start in walk on a short rope. The whip directs the shoulder. Tap deliberately just behind the withers - ‘tsk’ and reward when your horse bends their body.

Progress to trot, just a few circles at a time. As the inside hind leg swings under with lateral bend through the body - ‘tsk’ and reward. Repeat on both reins.

Next lengthen the rope and warm up in a basic canter - point downwards for ‘long and low’ (as learned in Summer season). Then shorten the rope.

Set up fi rst by shifting weight to the hind, and canter. Notice as your horse finds more suppleness, the hind leg swings under more and they lift the torso.

REMEMBER:
This is so much more than ‘conventional’ lungeing - it’s much more beneficial. It’s teaching your horse to manage their own body without constraints.

with Herman

with Herman

Scroll through each season!

Spring Season

Targeting

Head Down

Lunge Buttons

Cruise Control

Downloadable Quick-Reference Cards

Lesson:Targeting

Leading

Rein Back

Long & Low