Free work: how to build a genuine connection

What exactly is free work?

In free work, you move together with your horse in an enclosed space — usually a round pen of 15 to 18 metres in diameter — without any fixed connection. You communicate solely through your posture, position, and direction of movement. The horse chooses voluntarily to stay with you or to move alongside you. This is what distinguishes free work from lungeing: you ask for something, but you do not enforce it. Natural horsemanship methods such as those of Pat Parelli or Mark Rashid build on this principle. The core idea is that you learn to think from the horse's natural behavioural patterns, such as flight instinct, herd hierarchy, and social bonding.

Why does it deliver so much?

Horses accustomed to fixed control via rein pressure or a lunge line sometimes never truly learn to respond to subtle signals. Free work challenges you to become clearer in your body language and challenges your horse to respond more actively to small cues. Trainers who regularly practise free work report that horses afterwards respond noticeably more relaxed under saddle — some riders see a difference in the response to leg and weight aids after just 4 to 6 sessions of 20 minutes. It also gives you direct feedback: if your horse walks away or does not stay with you, that says something about your own posture and timing.

What do you need to get started?

• A round pen or enclosed arena of at least 15 metres in diameter
• Soft, sturdy shoes — not riding boots with a heel, as you will be moving a lot
• A carrot stick or long whip as an extension of your arm (not for hitting)
• Basic knowledge of horse behaviour: flight zone, drive zone, and relaxation signals
• Patience: allow several weeks before you see consistent results

The first session step by step

Start calmly. First let your horse move around freely and observe its mood. Then step into the pen and adopt a neutral posture: shoulders sideways, eye contact indirect. Send your horse away with a step towards its shoulder and light pressure from your carrot stick. Let it walk a few laps, change direction by stepping in front of it and shifting your body weight. As soon as your horse shows signs of relaxation — inner lip drooping, head slightly lowered, chewing movement — turn away and wait. A curious horse will then walk towards you. That moment is your first genuine connection. Keep sessions short: 15 to 20 minutes is enough.

• Sending away: pressure on the shoulder, not on the hindquarters
• Changing direction: walk in front of the horse, never from behind
• Recognising relaxation signals: chewing movement, inner lip drooping, nose lowered
• Inviting: turn away and wait until the horse approaches on its own
• Finishing: always end on a calm moment, not in the middle of a requested movement

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is continuing while the horse is already stressed. You can see this in a high neck posture, tense nostrils, or persistent snorting. Stop the session or lower the intensity at that point. A second pitfall is wanting results too quickly: some owners expect their horse to follow them after just two sessions. A realistic expectation is 8 to 12 sessions for a horse with no experience of free work. Record your progress in the horse profile in EquiSight, including behavioural notes per session — this way you will spot patterns you would otherwise miss.

Combining free work with your daily training

Free work does not need to be a separate programme. Five minutes of groundwork without any equipment before a riding lesson can be enough to check the connection and mentally prepare your horse. Plan this via the EquiSight agenda so you do not skip it when things get busy. Use EquiCoach if you are unsure about behaviour you observe during a session — describe what happened and you will receive targeted guidance based on your own input and your horse's stored data.