Introduction to Liberty

This Intro to Liberty clinic helps establish boundaries by teaching basic ground manners as well as relationship building skills for the handler to help create a connection with their horse. By learning to have better awareness of their horse and interpret their horse’s behavior, handlers learn how to create a deeper connection with their horses from the groundwork to the round pen and in the Liberty work. These building blocks create a foundation for a long lasting relationship at liberty.

About the clinician: Naomi Rutter learned about Liberty while training her mustang Bravo. She fell in love with the discipline because of how it created a deeper connection between her and Bravo. Naomi has since then thoroughly explored the discipline by working with some of the finest liberty trainers in the county include Hannah Catalino and Luke Gingerich. She has performed at Liberty at Equine Affair, the ILHA Liberty Festival and the Michigan Horse Expo. Naomi feels that Liberty is the ultimate lie detector as it allows the horse to show how they truly feel and it challenges the handler to become more aware of not only their horse but themselves as well. Naomi runs her training facility in Chatham, Mi where she incorporates Liberty into her daily training programs.

This is a 3 day clinic that will run from 9am-4pm each day. This clinic will be a small group environment with only 6 participants. Participants do not need to have liberty experience but good horse handling skills are appreciated. No horses under the age of 2 and no stallions. Horses must have decent handling. Participants must be ages 15 and up.

Participants will need a Lunge whip and a Carriage whip. Horses will need to be outfitted with a halter and 6-10 ft lead rope.

Day 1 will consist of a group chat and learning the 6 Foundational Liberty Exercises.

Day 2 will be a 1 on 1 experience in the round pen creating a connection at liberty.

Day 3 we will put together all the pieces. Each participant will complete an obstacle course at liberty using the tools you and your horse have gathered over the past 2 days.

Camping is $50 for the weekend and Stalls are $50 for the weekend. 

If you are in need of directions to the facility, facility lay out, camping or a stall, please contact Megan Bachman via email at praire.island.farm@gmail.com

For questions concerning clinic content, please contact the clinician, Naomi Rutter at 2692210005 or email at spintowinhorsemanship@gmail.com