| While natural horsemanship training is based on one- | | | | you'll need to train your foal. It is a very effective |
| using your horse's own language and natural instincts | | | | approach, and many top competition and race horses |
| to understand it and communicate with it - there are | | | | have been imprinted, but it only works if you can get to |
| several different methods you can use. Because of | | | | your horse as a foal, in those first hours. |
| the popularity of natural horsemanship, is known for its | | | | Another popular technique is single-rein riding, most |
| gentleness and effectiveness, many trainers have | | | | associated with Pat Parelli and his system of 'Natural |
| developed new and creative approaches based on | | | | Horse-Man-Ship'. With this technique, you ride in the |
| this principle. | | | | round pen, or an oval arena, with a halter and one lead |
| Other trainers are still experimenting, and new ideas | | | | rope instead of a bridle and reins. Working on the |
| appear every day. This is one of the real virtues of | | | | principle that a horse moves away from pressure, you |
| natural horse training - once you understand and can | | | | press the lead rope against the horse's neck to control |
| use your 'horse language' you can be as innovative as | | | | its direction. |
| you like in how you apply it. | | | | When you want to change sides, you lean forward |
| Round pen training is one of the most established | | | | and swing the rope in front of the horse's nose so it |
| natural horsemanship techniques. The round pen is | | | | ends up on the other side. You slow your horse using |
| used because the horse cannot turn away from you, | | | | the degree of turn and your body weight, rather than |
| or get 'stuck' in the corner of an arena. That means | | | | pulling back on the rope. Most horses trained with |
| you can keep your horse moving forward, without the | | | | natural horsemanship accept this method very willingly |
| restrictions of a lunge line, and you can maintain eye | | | | - they are not at all spooked by the rope in front of |
| contact with your horse. | | | | their face as you would be a traditionally trained horse! |
| Having a round pen, or a similar structure, and knowing | | | | Many other trainers have products, equipment, and |
| how to use it is essential to natural horse training - if | | | | instructional materials to support all kinds of natural |
| you invest in one tool for training, it should be a round | | | | horsemanship techniques. Some are designed for |
| pen. | | | | general training, others for training for specific disciplines |
| Training foals with imprinting is another popular and | | | | (like barrel racing or jumping), and still others are |
| well-established technique. With imprinting, you take | | | | developed to help with particular problem behaviors. |
| advantage of the heightened senses of a newborn | | | | It's worth experimenting with different concepts and |
| foal to expose it touch and other sensations it needs | | | | approaches, and trying out new equipment. You can |
| to accept throughout its life. | | | | even make your own training tools to use with your |
| You desensitize it to certain sounds, smells, and | | | | own ideas. As you learn more, and work with more |
| feelings according to the level of imprinting you think | | | | horses, you will start to develop your own methods. |