Add to this almost perfect environment, 2 1/2 to 3 foot of the finest equine footing possible and you can "hang it out there" when it comes to training a liberty act. With this setup you have eliminated one of the most difficult things about working a horse at liberty, keeping them inside the ring. It is the same deal as understanding the pistons and camshafts that are inside an animal that we can't see.
Friday, July 11, 2008
A Living Round Pen
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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3 comments:
Well it all goes back to Americas obsession with one day stands as well. How could you lay down a ring surface like that every day and clean it up afterwards.
In the Knie video, not only were the dozens of stallions they carried housed in straw filled box stalls, but the horses were regularly ridden out innto the countryside for excersize. So saddles were also carried for all the liberty horses. Those beautiful rounded and muscular bodies were mainted by rigorous daily exersize.
There was also a nice bit in the video of all the stallions (I'd say about 20) being exersized together at liberty around the elongated training barn in winterquarters.
Reading on the other blog a while back about trainers at Ringling quarters having to make rings out of bales of hay to work in, it is no wonder American trainers haven't lived up to their European counterparts. And another thing I noticed in the video was that when Freddie was putting an act together, each horse was on a lunge held by assistants. They even had a smaller version of the circus orchestra playing alongside the ring to accustom the animals to the sound of the band. I guess when the show owners are also the trainers, it's a lot easier to round up all the personel to make all that happen.
Ian
Ian,
Most all liberty acts are stallions. That's why Arabian are so popular as liberty animals. You get beauty plus a good temperament with the stallions. There is a sense of pride with "most" of the horses over in Europe, as they are such an important part of the show. In America if they whinnied and had 4 legs, "most" of the time they went in an act. I know a show act that purchased special 4in thick rubber mats at great expense for the horses, and the act is as horrid today as it was when it opened. It is about individuals, Ian. The "hay bale" tale was a "bit" exaggerated. If you recall it was posted by a "public relations director/friend/admirer" of Sasha Houckes in an effort to point out his already great(spent a lot of time with Knies) ability. If you want to get started, and don't want to wait for the ring curb to be set, a ring of hay, or other improvisation is a good place to start lunging and conditioning them.
Wade
Wade,
Just wanted to say thanks for all the pics the last few days. They have been awesome...
Although I've not been fortunate to actually see these acts in person it's nice to know that somewhere in the world they are still giving the circus horses/liberty the respect they deserve.
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