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Q: Charles, I
have heard so much about Natural Horsemanship, but I am not sure
exactly what it is. Can you explain?
A: I have noticed
that there seem to be many mis-conceptions and confusion about what
Natural Horsemanship means.
It is not a
discipline or a riding style. Natural Horsemanship can be used with
any discipline, riding or training style from dressage to reining,
endurance or any other method. It is not a Western method, as many
people seem to think. Natural Horsemanship has been in use and
evolved for hundreds of years by trainers that work with the horse
by being in tune with the animal. They have the ability to perceive
the horse and see it as it behaves naturally; to recognize its
natural instincts and understand what motivates it. The Natural
Horseman knows that it is a herd animal and understands and uses
those natural behaviors to train the horse. Being a herd animal
there is a pecking order and horses use pressure and release to
motivate other horses to establish their place in the herd. The
pecking order is established in the herd usually through some kind
of confrontation and horses are always willing to move away from
pressure if given the chance. Another part of herd dynamics is
control of the horse’s space. We can establish rank and ask the
horse to go right, left, back or forward through control of his
space. Natural horsemanship is being able to control the horse from
the inside out.
Natural
Horsemanship is not the “look” or the equipment. It is common to use
a twelve foot line and a string halter, now that may give the
appearance of being a Natural Horseman but without using the
principals, they become just another training device. You can be a
Natural Horseman and use a web halter and any length line if you are
using the principals of Natural Horsemanship. It is what we
do with equipment and how we use timing and feel.
Another principle
of Natural Horsemanship is always giving the horse a way out. There
has to be a exit door, otherwise the horse feels trapped and
confined and the results can be bucking, rearing or bolting. If we
stay consistent and release when he finds the open door, he thinks
it is his idea. The more we get his mind to engage, then the more we
are able to work with the horse.
Natural
Horsemanship simply understands horses for the animals they are and
using that knowledge to motivate the horse in a language that they
understand to create a willing partner. It is the principals, the
timing and feel and the consistent use of pressure/release that make
a Natural Horseman not the tools or the appearance.
Charles Wilhelm |
