For years, I was immersed in the world of Western Dressage and traditional horsemanship with my Andalusian mare, Chulita who I have had since she was less than a year old. We spend most of our time together focusing on training and competition. But everything changed for me when I discovered liberty horsemanship. The moment that shifted my entire perspective came during a clinic with Carolyn Resnick. I arrived with Chulita, feeling confident in our bond and friendship we shared. She was obedient on the halter and line, and I assumed liberty training would be a breeze. I was eager to learn how to “dance” with her, certain we’d thrive even without tack.
But when we entered the arena, the clinician asked me to remove Chulita’s halter. As I slid it off her nose, something unexpected happened—she bolted to the other end of the arena. My heart sank; without the halter and line, she didn’t choose to stay with me. In that moment, she revealed something I hadn’t been able to see: Chulita had been with me because of the halter, not because she wanted to be. She was compliant, but not truly connected. Her freedom showed me that she felt shut down, and that newfound independence made her choice unmistakable.
That experience forced me to reconsider the kind of relationship I wanted with my horse. Did I want a bond based solely on obedience, where I gave commands and she followed? Or did I want a connection where both our voices mattered—a mutual understanding and dialogue? More than anything, I wanted Chulita to be with me purely out of genuine connection.
Even though initially liberty horsemanship was a challenge for me, I felt compelled to dive deeper, despite my fears. As I began exploring liberty training, I realized how often I approached Chulita with a “gotcha” mentality, as if I were catching her or claiming her as mine. Horses are incredibly sensitive animals; they can sense our underlying intentions before we’re even aware of them. That’s when I understood I needed to work on myself—to confront my own fears, anxieties, and assumptions. Only then could Chulita begin to feel truly safe with me, seeing me as both a friend and a leader.
At that point in my life, things were hectic. I was raising three children and navigating the day-to-day challenges of life. Liberty training forced me to look inward and become more aware of who I am, what I feel, and how I act. The entire process deepened my self-awareness, compassion, and confidence. I wouldn’t trade the relationship I now have with my horses for anything. Chulita, in particular, reflects the transformation we’ve experienced together. She used to avoid me in the pasture, making it a challenge to “catch” her. Now, when I call her name, she comes running, The halter is now simply a symbol of our trust, not control.
As part of this journey, I began a simple but transformative exercise: sitting with my horses in a chair in the pasture. When I first committed to it, I was frustrated. I was studying intensely under Carolyn Resnick, working toward certification, but my horses, especially Chulita, weren’t giving me any connection. Sitting in a chair with them was one of the foundational exercises in the program, a basic approach, so I thought, I need to go back to basics because my horses aren’t responding to me at all.
The first day, Chulita didn’t pay me any attention. But I stayed there, sitting with my journal and meditating. When I finished, I realized that, for the first time in a long while, I didn’t feel frustrated. Instead, I felt good—calm, grounded, and accomplished. The next morning, I woke up excited to do it again. Each day, I looked forward to sitting quietly. By the end of 21 days, something profound had shifted. I found myself focusing on what was working rather than on what I thought needed fixing. My mindset had changed.
I came to understand that it wasn’t Chulita who needed to change—I needed to do some internal work. I had to recognize what I was bringing with me into the pasture. Was I carrying my worries about dishes, family, laundry (all metaphorically speaking)? When I learned to let those concerns go, to focus on the quiet meditation, Chulita began coming to me, sensing my openness and peace.
This simple act of sitting with my horses changed everything. It’s as if we’ve developed a new language, a deep communication that has transformed our relationship. Our bond has strengthened, and I’ve found a greater sense of peace in other areas of my life. Through liberty training, I learned that horses constantly look to us for leadership and reassurance. They read our body language, our energy, and our intentions to understand if they’re truly safe. This depth of connection is what makes the experience with them feel so magical.
Looking back, I see how much I’ve grown, thanks to my horses’ guidance. Each moment with them feels like a step into a beautiful, shared dance—one that has truly become life-changing. My horses have become my greatest teachers, guiding me toward a new understanding of connection, trust, and authentic leadership.
With Love,
Eva Jones