During the month of August, I began working with Harley at liberty, without even a halter on. Since I don't really like round pens, we worked in a very large riding ring. Although Harley could have gone anywhere he wanted in the ring, he chose to stay near me, walking and trotting a circle around me as though he were on a lunge line. He has never charged me, or tried to run me over (a sure sign of a lack of trust and respect). Sometimes he canters on his own, but calmly, and I let him as it is good for his back and works those muscles. He responds to voice commands to walk, trot and halt. When I ask him if he is "all done" he walks to me, follows me to the gate, and waits quietly while I put his halter on, and then walks calmly and happily back to his stall.
The liberty work has cemented the bond and relationship we have to the point where he is now doing extremely well under saddle, and we recently went over a jump. Although unplanned and a result of Harley being distracted by people walking by carrying a jump rail, he handled it beautifully, and the canter after the jump was awesome. We are going to start working over ground poles, which he very much enjoys. We still do a lot of road work, and he is always completely relaxed and happy trotting around the ranch, visiting his friends, taking in the sights and stopping at everyone he sees to beg for treats.
I've learned that you have to meet a horse wherever they happen to be, and work with them at that point until they are ready to move forward. It has paid off tremendously with Harley, and I am looking forward to the time when he is ready to jump and even trailer to a local cross country course to have some fun!
