Body Language: Copying

Walk: My forward lean signals Brandy to walk with me

The goal is to use body language that makes intuitive sense to horses so they don't have to learn multiple cues. They learn one concept: copy your handler. Many people do this intuitively. When our signals are clear and our relationship is solid, we have the foundation of liberty work.
My lead is loose so there is no pressure; Brandy must watch me for cues. Pointing with the leading hand becomes a cue you can later use to tell the horse to walk on without walking with him. Handler should be at horse's head, not shoulder.

Halt: My body leans back

Halt must be decisive while the horse is first learning to watch the handler. I lean back and stamp my feet - left /right - to emphasize that I am stopping. Signals are exaggerated at first until the horse develops the habit of watching the handler.

Trotting in sync through an obstacle

Brandy is right in step with my granddaughter as they trot through a bottle field obstacle. Once Brandy reliably tuned in to my body language, she watched anyone else who handled her, making her safer for children and novices to handle.

Brandy synchronized with me at trot

Brandy's lead is draped over her neck, showing that she is cueing entirely from my body language as we trot through a left turn. She understands that it is her responsibility to keep her head at my shoulder.

How to step over poles

My granddaughter demonstrates how to step over a pole: lift your feet high. Dartmoor pony Shadow has observed and is copying her. She keeps her lead loose, and gives him time to think through what she is asking.

Take a Bow

Brandy and my granddaughter demonstrate that once horses get the hang of copying us, there are all sorts of things we can teach and cue without pressure.
Resources:
The Horse Agility Handbook by Vanessa Bee. All Horse Agility is done on a loose lead or at liberty. Vanessa explains how to develop signals based on Body Language instead of pressure. This was my reference guide as I trained Brandy.
What Horses Really Want by Lynn Acton. My chapter on Friendly Body Language also gives instructions on using body language that encourages horses to stay with us, explains why it works so well, and shows how to teach your horse to come when called.