| Natural Horsemanship is a philosophy of training and | | | | professionals alike to connect with others. |
| working with horses by communicating in the same | | | | Discover the Method that Works best for You and |
| language of the horse. Horses use body language to | | | | Your Horse |
| communicate with each other, and thus the foundation | | | | Natural horsemanship techniques all point toward a |
| of natural horsemanship technique is based on body | | | | better relationship between horse and human. To |
| language. | | | | decide what works the best for you and your horse, |
| History of Natural Horsemanship | | | | try different techniques. Read books by different |
| Many say that natural horsemanship has been | | | | trainers, and read online forums for tips and tools. |
| practiced in one form or another from the beginning of | | | | Learn from those with more experience, and ask lots |
| man's relationship with horses. Classic dressage training | | | | of questions. Then, try what you have learned. If |
| focuses on principles of natural horsemanship. There | | | | something does not work, try something different, or |
| are several "modern" practitioners of natural | | | | relate your experience to your fellow horsemen and |
| horsemanship, each with their own techniques. The | | | | see what they have to say. |
| recent movement toward training with natural | | | | Find a Mentor |
| horsemanship developed in the Pacific Northwest and | | | | The journey of natural horse training can be bumpy, |
| Rocky Mountain regions. Trainers included Tom and Bill | | | | exhilarating, frustrating and rewarding-all in one |
| Dorrance, and Buck Brannamen. Another prolific | | | | afternoon! To have the best experience possible, find |
| practitioner is Pat Parelli. He has founded schools and | | | | a mentor to help you along the way. Your mentor |
| clinics all over the world to disseminate his methods. | | | | could live in your hometown, or they could live half a |
| Get Started | | | | world away. Again, by using online communities and |
| Each of the trainers mentioned above practices their | | | | forums, you can connect with people all over the world |
| own techniques, many of which overlap. To get | | | | from which to learn. A great mentor is someone who |
| started practicing natural horsemanship, first find a | | | | will let you ask a lot of questions, and who has the |
| community of like-minded horse owners, riders and | | | | time to devote some personal attention to your cause. |
| trainers. Natural horsemanship techniques are many | | | | Keep it Up |
| and varied; however, though the techniques have been | | | | Consider the practice of natural horsemanship as a |
| practiced for literally ages, the idea is still new to some | | | | lifestyle and not a one-and-done solution. The journey |
| people. With the rise of the internet, it is easier than | | | | on which you embark with your horse is one that will |
| ever to connect with others walking the same journey | | | | last your lifetime, and provide continual learning |
| with their horse. The American Association of Natural | | | | opportunities. Enjoy the journey, as it is just as |
| Horsemen is a great resource for beginners and | | | | rewarding as the results. |