One of the major benefits of working with a horse at liberty within a choice based paradigm of training is that the horse is free to stop the training session, not engage with a particular activity it is not comfortable performing today and that the horse can be self-regulating in how he uses his body.

One of the major disadvantages of working a horse with restrictions (i.e. side reins or other training devices) is that the horse can not tell you when he has simply had enough, for whatever reason, which both predisposes him to injury and removes valuable information you might otherwise gain about strengths and weaknesses of the horse's posture and balance.

Of course, this type of training means that the trainer must inspire the horse to learn and that a whole new set of communication principles must be developed between the horse and the trainer, which is time consuming and challenging. However.. ..the benefits are that the horse can develop in a very pure way to become an athlete and gymnast; developing true self-carriage and natural collection.

As you work and teach the horse about exercises, stretches and movement you are able to work with an intimate knowledge of his capacity within his current stage of training. The emotional connection between you and your horse is enhanced beyond all measure and you are able to develop your individual personalities together.

For the retired or injured horse, who has to negotiate a series of aches and pains, this method of working with a horse can be deeply fulfilling and mutually developmental. Of course, there are many people who own horses that have been turned away or retired and would love to have a healthy engagement with those horses beyond the normal feeding and 'caring for' routine. This can be a fantastic route for such people to still have a viable working relationship with their horse without the need to ride or expect the horse to fulfill too great a physical exertion.

For the young horse the work can be highly stimulating and excellent preparation for stepping out into the world with trust, understanding and endless curiosity, whichever 'career' the horse ends up having.