The Most Humbling Discipline: Jessica Blair Fowlkes on Liberty Freestyle

In this episode of Life at Liberty, host Cinelle Claassens interviews Jessica Blair Fowlkes, a dynamic performer in the equine industry. Jessica shares the highs, the wipeouts, and the lessons that only Liberty horses can teach. She talks about the pressure of competing in front of judges who know exactly what they’re seeing, why partnership always comes before performance, and the advice she gives every aspiring freestyle competitor.

Highlights:

• How Jessica discovered Liberty Freestyle and why it humbled her as a trainer

• The challenges she faced building trust and communication without a bridle

• Behind-the-scenes of choreographing her 2025 Liberty Festival Invitational Freestyle

• Why she believes patience, observation, and mindset are the keys to success

• Tips for Liberty enthusiasts to improve connection and performance at home

Key Moments:

00:02:15 Discovering Liberty Freestyle and Its Humbling Nature
00:08:05 Building Trust and Communication Without a Bridle
00:15:42 Choreographing the Invitational Freestyle for the 2025 Liberty Festival
00:25:10 Working Through Mistakes and Learning From Horses
00:32:55 Jessica’s Approach to Mindset and Patience in Training
00:40:30 Practical Tips for Liberty Enthusiasts at Home
00:46:50 Closing Thoughts and Preview of Her Festival Performance

Summaries:

00:02:15 Discovering Liberty Freestyle and Its Humbling Nature
Jessica shares how she first encountered Liberty Freestyle, and how the discipline immediately challenged her assumptions about control, connection, and patience.

00:08:05 Building Trust and Communication Without a Bridle
She discusses the process of creating a partnership based entirely on trust, body language, and subtle cues, emphasizing how humbling it can be for even experienced trainers.

00:15:42 Choreographing the Invitational Freestyle for the 2025 Liberty Festival
Jessica takes listeners behind the scenes of designing her performance, from music selection to movement planning, highlighting the creativity and attention to detail required.

00:25:10 Working Through Mistakes and Learning From Horses
She opens up about setbacks and mistakes during training, sharing how horses provide honest feedback and force trainers to adapt and improve.

00:32:55 Jessica’s Approach to Mindset and Patience in Training
Jessica explains how a patient, observant mindset allows both horse and trainer to grow, and why mental approach is just as important as technique.

00:40:30 Practical Tips for Liberty Enthusiasts at Home
She offers actionable guidance for listeners, including exercises and strategies to strengthen trust, timing, and connection in their own Liberty practice.

00:46:50 Closing Thoughts and Preview of Her Festival Performance
Jessica leaves listeners with inspiration for their Liberty journeys and a sneak peek at her 2025 Invitational Freestyle, encouraging persistence and curiosity.