How To Start Liberty Training With Your Horse (Basic Exercises Part 1)

In this video I'll be showing a few exercises I use that help increase draw when I start teaching a horse liberty. I'm using my grey mustang Lynx (has liberty training) and a bay pony Oscar (my first time working with him/his first liberty session) to show how I start a horse with liberty. These exercises focus on 'draw' which is the most important part of liberty. For every horse I work with, I start the session with these basic exercises because they're good for getting your horse to tune in with you.
If you try these exercises with your horse(s) and have any questions I'd be glad to answer them.
Hopefully I'll be making more videos branching off of this series to show more advanced liberty or starting a new series- if there's something specific you want to see I'll try my best to either make a video or respond to you personally.
Liberty training... all training takes time, commitment, and dedication! Any improvement is good news! These first steps are the most important and mastering these makes the next step so much easier
Click here for PART 2 • How To Start Liberty T...
Facebook/Instagram:
@vanfleetmustangs

[@user-zc9zz3wn3c]

i love that she uses two different horse one with experience and one without

[@llamalady]

Im volunteering at a rescue, and theres 2 severely underfed and scared horses here that ive taken on as a 'project' to go back to health, strength and comfortable with people. A lot of these exersises will help so much!

[@Remy572]

I have watched this video probably 15 times!

[@JacquelineN777]

hannah hopeful same!!!😆😆me and my horse are trying our best to make it look this good.... hahaha

[@jesstiara4351]

Me too 😂

[@moolvera]

Thank you for the clear explanations, and showing both a seasoned horse and a new horse. I hope you continue to upload informative tutorials

[@dariaharruff7025]

i dont like horses cuz i suck at riding them

[@TYRA2821]

@@dariaharruff7025 that isn't a reason to hate horses

[@dariaharruff7025]

@@TYRA2821 I guess I don't need a horse to feel better I'll be stuck riding it with a bit no thanks

[@NaomiAngels]

@@dariaharruff7025 that sounds like a you problem.

[@dariaharruff7025]

@@NaomiAngels yes but I rather go to college than to be a horse rider and become an RDH

[@gerrycoleman7290]

You are wise. Most horse people have no understanding about pressure and release.

[@dariaharruff7025]

true

[@southafricanserviceshepher5014]

Pressure and release ia actually the most common training method as far as I know.

[@gerrycoleman7290]

@@southafricanserviceshepher5014 Few know how to do that process correctly. It takes very good timing, rhythm, and feel.

[@iamselena.x1879]

I got my horse, fully green. He's an export so I didn't do much with him in the start. Just basic things like walking on a lead rope, and teaching him not to pull. The rest of the time he just had the time to be a horse and explore his new location. He was so stressed about travelling here. To my surprise he was already a magnet after a view days. He knew me already after a week or so. He started trotting towards me when he was in the fielt and saw me. In the riding area he always sticks with me. It's the cutest thing! Trust is sooo important. This kind of things helps you bonding your horse. Thanks for your video, I'm definitely gonna start practicing this. ❤

[@rynnaorsak6283]

My horse has back problems and can't be ridden so I think this would be a great job for him!!

[@jamiepennock546]

Rynna Orsak that’s a great idea!

[@kamodelhorses7683]

I rlly like how you think, horses aren’t only riding animals.

[@carissaandrews6501]

@@kamodelhorses7683 jwiwiwiwjwjwjjjjwjjjjjjjjjijjiiiiwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiwiiiiwiiiiwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieiieiiieiiieieiieiueuukueueueueueueuueuueueueueuueiieiiiiiwiiiiiwww

[@kamodelhorses7683]

Carissa Johnson ?

[@lovelydreams5884]

I have my one horse who has EPM at the moment and this is what I’ve been doing with him!

[@ceewink5658]

Awesome! Thank you! I will refer back to this video, I'm 56, just bought my 1st horse, and you are very knowledgeable!!! I take lessons, but this really does help a lot!

[@SamVanFleet]

Thank you!

[@dariaharruff7025]

im too old to ride horses

[@wendybergsma6116]

@@dariaharruff7025 if you don’t mind me asking: how old are you ma’am? I know it’s not that of an appropriate question too ask, and since were on social media you don’t have to share😁

[@dariaharruff7025]

@@wendybergsma6116 I'm 29 so I'm old enough to have internet is that okay with u

[@Miss-Laine]

Lol I'm 42 and I just got my first horse. She is only 4 years young but so smart. We’re learning something new every day :)

[@paytonanthony9251]

My horse is very good at following when I walk backwards, and I personally think she will like liberty so I think I’m gonna start her training soon! Edit: I’ve started training her and she’s doing so well. She freely follows me in the paddock and understands my body language! Thank you for this!

[@Nadia..J]

No bits! Thank you. You are gentle on the horse. Great video.

[@300tdavis]

Carolyn Resnick's Waterhole Rituals teaches the language of equus and liberty starting with no tack. She grew up with wild horses, learned their habits and communication, even moved up the ranks of a herd and was able to ride a lead mare!!! She's the pioneer of liberty training and still alive today to teach it! Brilliant lady! Keep up the good work Sam!

[@anglebear7861]

I’ve been looking for a video like this for so long thank you so much I can’t wait to try this with my horse!! I’m so existed😁

[@Java3rggs]

Same my horse knows a little bit of liberty

[@joeharris1717]

Excellent. Relaxed. Gentle. Effective.

[@arielviotti8097]

This is the best and most clear video for starting liberty. Thank you for your awesome work!!!

[@TexasHorseGirlSF]

I love your training method

[@aimeepearn9991]

I got my first (and only) horse at age 45. Your calm energy is an inspiration to me. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@elizabethowen3678]

Thanks, lovely simple clear advice, great work ❤

[@arielviotti8097]

Great video. Finally someone explains properly how to start liberty. Great also that you showed both horses. Thanks much!

[@melissashaffer7140]

Thank you for the video. I am going to start next week. Looking forward to it.

[@ktchaosdesigns]

What a smart girl! I wish I had done Liberty training with my thoroughbred! Definitely will be subscribing for future reference for my next horse!

[@tigersunruss]

You can teach a horse new things at any time. My 22 year horse (then 21) was taught how to back up without touching her for the first time. Obviously I don't know how old yours is but thought I'd help if I could.

[@ceewink5658]

We're doing these exercises! We haven't done all yet, but Levi catches on quick and you make it easier for me to begin with him! We'll keep going, too!

[@simplyblue2375]

That grey mustang is BEAUTIFUL😍😍😍

[@madisonandamira2723]

I have been waiting for one of these for so long....thank you!!!!!

[@ellee.9404]

this is a great and informative video wonderful job, will be using these techniques !

[@leslielehman2040]

I so enjoy your clarity and simplicity in your approach to the horse and even more to the viewer. Thank you so much!

[@justbeadaydreamer]

Great video! Simple, clearly explained. It’s exactly what I was looking for. I hope there’s gonna be more!

[@baileyfaith1773]

Absolutely love this, It has been helping me build a stronger bond as well as establish the leadership with my new young horse who hasn't had much experience, He is straight from the breeders farm so he is quite a fresh big boy. ❤

[@belladingdong3396]

I absolutely love your training style and videos. Thank you.

[@Smithriver1]

So glad I found you. Thanks for such clear explanations and showing what we should do and what we can accomplish

[@angelarumbaugh9489]

Great explanation I can follow!!

[@gracevanilla]

Awesome video hun, love this!

[@meganloewen8533]

thanx so much and i agree if u want to be successful its not the pressure its the release

[@poniesinthemist]

Lovely video. Thanks

[@brendaacton9723]

great video lots of good info

[@nicolesawyer-jm6ir]

Great work !

[@isabellacarter6284]

love this so much, i tried this today and worked really well!

[@reckkerranch]

excellent video, thank you for sharing !

[@terrytoy8965]

Wonderful video. Can’t wait to start this with my horse, thank you for sharing!

[@almadriesel1645]

Thank you great video . I love it .

[@janinetollot209]

Beautiful. Thank you

[@crazycanuck8120]

Found your video quite by accident and so glad I did! Thank you so much for sharing some of the basics at the very beginning of training a horse new to Liberty. It was great to watch the different reactions between the one who knows Liberty versus the one who is just learning. 👍👍👏👏🐴

[@venturedoggie7434]

Wow! Thank you so much for your clear explanations it is so great to watch someone train so fluidly and with so much compassion, beautiful work!! I loved the magnet comparison ❤️

[@ninaleuvelingtjeenk887]

I love love love love love your videos!! I have been looking for training horse videos for months and just now came across your channel, i love your way with horses and i am going to try out your techniques❤

[@meimei99320]

Very helpful! Thanks! I don't have a horse but may be applying these methods to lesson horses.

[@redshorse]

Informative, well explained and good sound. Excellent.

[@emmaoncesaid]

Your training method is very similliar to mine! I really enjoy these videos. Thank you so kuch for uploading these! Could you do a video on how to get your horse to chase you without ropes or how to bow?

[@nualac.galbari6527]

Thank you for the wonderful videos; they are extremely helpful.

[@debbiespringer5154]

Your exercises are helping me transform a rescue horse who was herd sour to the point where it was dangerous to ride him. After trying some of your exercises, I was able to ride him away from the herd/barn and all over adjacent property without issue for the first time. He must have attached to me as he didn't run back to the herd when we were done for the first time. A million thanks and please keep posting. You are extraordinarily gifted! I only wish I had discovered you sooner.

[@SamVanFleet]

Thank you for sharing!

[@meredithtaylor3578]

thank you this helped me alot

[@conniechristopher3449]

Thank u for making this simple without an over explanation. 😊

[@karroten]

Thank you for providing this content. It’s like a moving meditation and your explanations are so clear and presented in chunks that are the perfect amount to process and learn!

[@that.-.horserider7299]

Your amazing liberty trainer ..

[@bellini834]

You have a amazing understanding of horses and this will really help with my mare Missy. ♥️♥️♥️Thank you so much

[@edithgracia1324]

Love all your videos your a great trainer 👌👌

[@Mytworoans]

I have a liberty horse thanks for theese videos they help

[@carolynbridges2839]

So much talent you have girl! An amazing horsewomen right here. Keep going! And, you need way more subscribers! Like, cmon, you do. 😅❤️

[@paulkramer8490]

Great Video thanks!

[@AgentKnopf]

Wonderful video! I'm just getting started on training a horse and this is super helpful!!!

[@almadriesel1645]

You have the best video explaining how to start liberty training and your easy to follow .You are awesome ,and your gray mare is beautiful. Thank you very much !

[@lelecadey7385]

Thank you sis ❤❤

[@perfectpartnersequine5698]

Working at liberty is so much fun. The grey is really cute!

[@ivjo19]

This video is so so good! Please do more of these, they are so useful and clear! Did this with my young mare and she really enjoyed it, though we didn't have to spend much time whip desensitizing as she kept on trying to eat it 🤦😹

[@jessmelgey4531]

Great video! You make the concepts really easy to understand and I love that you use two horses with different levels of experience. Lynx is so pretty - I love a dark grey!

[@havenbrandt7396]

I did this with my horse today! Thank you for the easy steps, I can’t wait to see how my horse does in the next few weeks:)

[@Katerina_Alexandra]

This is so helpful on where to start! I'm going to lease a horse soon and I want to try out some liberty training. The owner is keen on giving me some natural horsemanship lessons so I think it will go hand-in-hand!

[@WestCoastLusitanos]

I'm impressed by your awareness and sensitivity to your training especially at a young age. You also are very clear with your explanations. Well done!

[@donnajohnson9324]

Everything you are doing is what Steven Young does love how he trains the horse 😊

[@tigersunruss]

Thanks for the video this is the next thing I want my horse to do and she is ready for liberty training so this shouldn't take to long.

[@marys1011]

Echoing what has already been said but thank you for the clear directions on this. I have been interested in getting started with liberty with my new OTTB and have been overwhelmed with where to start. Subscribed!

[@miatreadwell1874]

Definitely the most helpful video I’ve seen, Thankyou for showing a horse that hasn’t done groundwork

[@dutchsingerxx491]

very good video! nice expanaition, great footage and you are a great horsewoman!

[@user-qu2vx9tp1q]

I love this video

[@jessiesalazar9776]

Thank you God bless

[@laurenw1168]

This is an awesome tutorial :-) I've realized that I've already trained my horse to do most of these, so I think now I'm going to fill in the gaps and go through your tutorials. This should be fun :-)

[@karencusterthurstonthewoma9252]

Thank you for sharing your hard work. After hunting my horses, I'm wanting to begin a different relationship with them by this kind of study.

[@thedeadlysin7984]

Im trying to train one of my grandparents horses and sort of prove to them that I'm good at training! Thank you

[@suecessna5989]

I love how calm and concise you are. Great video! Are there many re to come?

[@ayanamackenzie2927]

hi, this helped me so much as I'm starting a cob and I as well am learning.

[@xdotxdotxdotx]

So excited to start this with my green arab :) she’s so smart im sure she will succeed! I have made notes, thank you!

[@LuLu-yc8qe]

This is a lot of help I'm getting a Mustang and she can rear up on command. And I really want to teacher liberty work.

[@navytackedbay]

I’ve outgrown my old pony- but we’re working on liberty now so this was very helpful :)

[@martindowling3745]

The bay is gorgeous

[@ingridl321]

Excellent video. Looking forward to more videos!

[@jamiecotney5304]

During Corona virus and 68 years old, I’ve decided it’s too dangerous to ride & risk a fall causing trip to ER with Corona virus likely present there. I found your Liberty instructions & started doing them . My horse and I are loving the exercises. I have subscribed. Please keep instructional videos coming to help us get through this difficult time. You have remarkable gifts - teaching horses and people (horses probably easier to teach). Thanks!!!!!

[@dariaharruff7025]

nice video great job

[@BarbaraManor]

This is great work with the horses and also fantastic videos! Well done! Compliments from Germany! :-)

[@SamVanFleet]

Thank you!

[@sallimayfield8425]

Thank you for this :)

[@oreides]

this is great, your body language is amazing

[@keriboehm740]

I plan on combining liberty training with natural horsemanship training, because I am one who loves having deep & true connections with horses. I will definitely be coming back to look at these videos.

[@RonPaulyGirl]

Brilliant, Sam!

[@SamVanFleet]

Thank you!

[@Conny226]

Very nice thank u 🙏 I am getting a horse tomorrow and I want to do liberty work with him

[@micheleholi9920]

Hello Sam ...I am in Australia...and already do some liberty...and just found you...congratulations who really understand the mind and how to connect to horses and I have learnt some things from you..I am 71 years old and it is never too late to learn from someone as young as you..thank you

[@PercheronAppLVR]

Great videos! Looking forward to more :) I'm the 1000th subscriber . yay!!

[@SamVanFleet]

Thank you so much :)

[@tamra.coulter-realtor]

Love this.. Are you still doing videos? You are very good at explaining and I love that you used two different types of horses. Great job.

[@OddityAutopsy]

THANK YOU! jedi is eager to learn, so he started catching on after 5 min. he's still fresh though

[@onegoodturngetsmostofthebl7499]

Nice video girl. You are doing a great job.

[@cintiamarcos1003]

Thank you :)

[@nsunderman8854]

These videos are awesome!!

[@SamVanFleet]

Thank you!

[@laurathoudahl2505]

I really like your training method:) I try to train a little miniature, and it's hard to hold his consentration, because he's fast getting bored. But thanks for the good explanation, compliments from Denmark.

[@evelynvandre3933]

omg this is awesome definitely going to try this out to bond with my horse thank you so much

[@kimmieb8376]

Lynx is such a sweet boy.