Each year with Drifter I liked to set myself goals. When we first started it was simple: This year I'd like to get on Drifter at least once without falling off.. A slight exaggeration but hey, that kind of thing. This year I want to jump a course away from home, stop him freaking out over rugs, overcome his fear of different shades of grass.
Then the more I began to learn about how horses think, the more I began to question what we did. I wanted Drift to feel happy with what we were doing, not to just do it because he had to. So my goal that year, I wanted to ride Drifter without a bridle. Now it seems so simple. You just take the bridle off and ride. But then it didn't. I was going to offer Drifter ultimate control, and a choice... if you don't want to, you don't have to. And if you don't want me up here, there aint nothing I can do to stop you hitting the eject button, with that classic rodeo bronc you have polished to perfection.
But then one day, we just did it. And no Drift didn't tank off like I imagined, or do anything silly. He just stood there and waited for his cue. Now he wasn't very responsive to start with, he got confused and wasn't sure, so we worked on it, and we still work on it now. But he was letting me be there, and offering me the chance to work with him, as partners, not a leader and follower. The two most important things I've found with riding at liberty is respect and trust. He must respect and trust you and you must respect and trust him. With these two I think anything is possible.
The first job, was to get Drift to listen completely to my seat, so that when I stopped riding he stopped moving. Essentially our emergency stop!
The second slightly harder job, was to get Drifter to turn when I moved my body weight. Now, I'd been practising with my bridle on, so he knew what I wanted. But he also had a choice, so I had to ask... and keep asking nicely until he cooperated, and then reward him!
The goals in subsequent years then became to ride at liberty in an open field, to jump, to stand up!
Riding at liberty has taught me so much about myself and Drifter. There is no place for losing your temper in the saddle and when you have no bridle- it has to be 100% teamwork. And if they say no to something, then you have to accept this, and respect their choice, and you know what, that's okay.
We have two more on the bucket list... cross country and beach riding. I can't wait!
