| If you have anything to do with horses, or know | | | | horse moves and which horse moves out of the |
| someone who does, chances are you've heard the | | | | way? How little does it take for one horse to move |
| term "natural horsemanship". To some it's the latest | | | | another horse out its space?o Nipping & Biting: Is it |
| and greatest method of horse training. Others see it as | | | | play or fighting?o Individual Horses: Which horse is lying |
| meaningless hype built up by the marketing efforts of | | | | down? Which horse leads the herd to the next grazing |
| well known 'natural horseman'. Still others view natural | | | | spot? Which horse brings up the rear? |
| horsemanship as the way back to the roots of 'original' | | | | All these seemingly insignificant movements and |
| horse training. Whether your particular view of natural | | | | gestures make up the language of the horse and allow |
| horsemanship is one of the three mentioned above, | | | | them to live and play and communicate with one |
| some combination thereof, or not even close to what | | | | another. Discover and learn the movements and |
| I've described, there's no denying it - natural | | | | signals horses use and you can start "moving" in a |
| horsemanship is here to stay... at least until the next | | | | language they will understand. |
| 'new' thing comes along. | | | | Natural Horsemanship Makes Sense |
| If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em | | | | If we can agree that the premise behind natural |
| There is never going to be a single best way to train a | | | | horsemanship is to enhance our ability to communicate |
| horse. Why? Because each trainer and each horse | | | | more effectively with the horse, in the horse's |
| has its own unique personality and its own unique life | | | | language, then doesn't it make sense that natural |
| experiences. To put horse training into a black and | | | | horsemanship is the correct approach to use? That |
| white book of exact instructions will never work. Ask | | | | depends. I've already discussed the sensitive nature of |
| any training question, from how to pick up a hoof to | | | | horses. That sensitivity means they can be easily |
| how to perform a complicated dressage maneuver | | | | intimidated and threatened into doing what you ask. |
| the answer will be the same: it depends. Since the logic | | | | There are also countless devices and gadgets that |
| behind natural horsemanship is using the horse's natural | | | | can force a horse into a position you want without |
| instincts and tendencies to train them to do what you | | | | having to spend the time to learn to ask for what you |
| ask, the answer will change for each different horse. | | | | want in horse language. And there's a learning curve |
| So, let's give natural horsemanship a chance and see if | | | | involved. If what you are doing right now is working for |
| even the biggest critics can find some good in it. No | | | | you, why spend the time learning another way? Three |
| hype, no hoopla, no cheesy lingo; just a broad | | | | reasons: |
| discussion on the premise behind this 'new' | | | | 1. Humans have the ability to feel empathy. Put |
| phenomenon. | | | | yourself in your horse's shoes. Or better yet, get a job |
| Learn to "Speak" Horse | | | | in a country where you don't speak the language and |
| As humans, we have the distinct advantage over | | | | see how it feels to be asked to perform when you |
| horses in that we have the ability to learn different | | | | don't understand the question. How does it feel to be |
| languages. And it isn't all verbal - think of sign language | | | | shoved around, yelled at from a frustrated boss, and |
| for the hearing impaired and Braille for the sight | | | | unable to do what is being asked of you? This could |
| impaired. If we think about our ability to communicate | | | | be how your horse is feeling every time you take him |
| beyond the spoken word we can begin to imagine the | | | | out of the pasture. |
| possibilities of learning to communicate with another | | | | 2. In the long term, it's easier and faster to accomplish |
| species in their language. Since horses don't have the | | | | your goals. Think of when you first learned to ride a |
| ability to learn to speak our language, our only choice is | | | | bicycle. For a while, I'm sure it would have been a lot |
| to learn theirs in order to achieve the highest level of | | | | faster and easier to get from point A to point B by just |
| communication possible. | | | | walking. But, you kept at it and pretty soon you were |
| While you'll often hear them whinny or nicker to each | | | | flying where ever you wanted to go in quick time. The |
| other, horses generally use non-verbal methods of | | | | same thing is true with natural horse training. The first |
| communicating with each other. In other words, they | | | | horse you attempt this new methodology with will |
| use body language. Being prey animals, horses are | | | | probably be pretty slow going. But, once you develop |
| ultra-sensitive to the world around them. They have to | | | | the skills to communicate with the horse in a language |
| be or they would be extinct by now. They feel things | | | | he understands, what once took you weeks to |
| as small as a fly landing on their hip; they see the | | | | accomplish will soon be achieved in days. |
| slightest flicker of movement in the distance; they | | | | 3. Lastly, and most importantly, is safety. If you learn to |
| sense pressure coming from a change in body | | | | communicate on your horse's level, if you truly become |
| language by another horse or human around them. | | | | a partner with him, you will learn to anticipate his |
| The good news is horses are very sensitive and we | | | | reactions and you will know when, and what to do, if |
| can use this in natural horse training. The bad new is | | | | things go wrong. Horses are living, breathing creatures |
| also that horses are that sensitive and the | | | | with minds and ideas all of their own. There is no |
| inexperienced trainer can get in trouble in a hurry | | | | 'broke' horse. At any time, your faithful trail partner |
| without having any idea what went wrong. | | | | could decide to react in a completely unexpected |
| How to Learn the Language | | | | manner. Gaining just the smallest insight into your |
| There are countless books, DVD's, videos, clinics, | | | | horses psyche can only improve your chances of |
| expos and demonstrations that can tell you the | | | | surviving the incident, keeping you - and your horse - |
| presenter's method of learning how to communicate | | | | safer. |
| with horses naturally. As with learning any new skill, | | | | It's Your Call |
| you'll serve yourself best to get your information from | | | | I admit it - I'm a natural horsemanship student and I'm |
| multiple sources, sort out what to take with you and | | | | proud of it. I'm even more proud of what I've been able |
| what to leave behind, and then put it all together in a | | | | to accomplish with my horses because of it. Yes, I do |
| manner that makes sense for you. But, one of the | | | | get weary of the 'hype' surrounding natural |
| best ways to learn the horse language, which also | | | | horsemanship, but never the premise behind it, or the |
| happens to be the most economical and convenient, is | | | | results from it. So, if you can't see yourself 'jumping on |
| to watch them in a herd environment. Grab a bucket | | | | the bandwagon' that's ok. You can learn and live |
| or your favorite lawn chair; take it out to the pasture | | | | natural horsemanship just sitting in your lawn chair in |
| and just watch. Here are some things to look for:o Tail | | | | the pasture. I only hope you'll take the time to give it |
| Swishing: When is it to shoo off a fly and when does it | | | | some thought before you discount the principles as |
| mean something to another horse?o Ears: Are they | | | | merely marketing ploys to sell products. And no, you |
| back, alert or floppy? When they change position what | | | | don't have to tell anyone you 'converted'. |
| happens in the herd?o Moving Among the Herd: Which | | | | |