One of the coolest things about horse training, for me, is getting to build a unique language between yourself and the horse.
It's a language that is continuously expanding and developing over time. The more your vocabulary grows, the greater your shared understanding is and the closer your connection becomes. It really is a beautifully dynamic relationship.
Every horse speaks their own dialect
No two horses learn the same way. Rahni likes clarity and precision; Tiamat wants to discuss everything at length, preferably with hand gestures. Building a language with each of them has meant listening as much as asking.
How to grow your shared vocabulary
- Be consistent. The same cue should always mean the same thing.
- Make "words" small. A shift of weight, a breath out, a turn of the shoulder. Horses notice everything.
- Listen back. An ear flick, a lick and chew or a head turn is your horse talking to you.
- Reward the try. A horse who feels heard keeps offering more.
One ear facing the world, and one ear facing me.
This is the heart of liberty horsemanship. When the ropes come off, communication is all you have, and it turns out it's all you need. Read more in our beginner's guide to liberty horse training.
