Natural Horsemanship

I hear many different versions of what natural horsemanship is suppose to be yet most fall short of a complete understanding. The term itself is all over the place when it comes to those who claim to be using it. I have seen too many people say they apply natural horsemanship principles yet have witnessed these same people be very brutal to horses in their training methods.

So I would like to offer you an explanation from a behavioural and scientific standpoint instead of the marketing one often seen.

The nuts and bolts of Natural Horsemanship

A person would first study a horse’s lifestyle that is conducive and natural to their species, not what the human wishes to just get accomplished. They would take the time to learn and understand horse psychology and horse behavior under natures setting in the wild where no human contact is needed. Then taking these lessons back to a domesticated environment and applying everything they can for the horse would be the first step toward something natural.

Here are a few examples: Horses are social herd animals and in order to feel safe they need the presents of each other in a group setting therefore separating a horse is not conducive to their well being. Yet we can help them through this transition when times of separation are necessary but we should never ask or expect a horse to live alone.

Horses are not cave dwellers, we are! So extensive confinement to a place like a stall only brings about emotional upset where stereotypies (obsessive behaviors) such as weaving, cribbing, aggression and many other negative behaviors get created.

Horses don't wear steel shoes in the wild. Their hooves become conditioned in the environment adding self trimming because of many miles they move in a day and over different terrains (20 -35 miles per day). Humans created steel shoes out of our own needs not for the benefit of the horses. With the invention of Hoof boots, there is no longer an excuse to nail steal and invade the hoof capsule anymore.

It is not as complicated as many want to make of it. Just look at a horse living in complete harmony with life in an open free environment. They are happiest there.

The Technique of Natural Horsemanship

The original concept was to encourage a horse to be motivated with the least amount of force and have them decide that a human can become and be their leader, (having your idea become their idea). That way they would allow and reciprocate an agreeable relationship. Sounds great in theory yet as time and explanations got passed on the good parts of the concept have been overused and mutated. The most common example is what happens in the chasing of a horse in a round pen, hoping that the horses natural instinct of being chastised like another horse would send them away to gain leadership has become misunderstood, overused and now should be placed aside because we have found much better means to accomplish this.

Natural Horsemanship can be defined under two categories: Pressure and the Release of Pressure and Negative Reinforcement. (they are the same thing)

Using pressure and release is very prominent since we do need to touch our horses to indicate a cue or request. But what is most important to learn is that it is in the RELEASE when a horse learns, not while pressure is being applied. The other main point is learning how to release the pressure very, very quickly and to learn that we don't need to increase or apply painful pressure very high to obtain results. Horses are highly sensitive animals and do not respond well to highly painful or highly stressful situations. There is always a residual negative effect using this method.

Negative Reinforcement is when you apply some stimulus that is uncomfortable, unpleasant (or even painful but I would never do that!) to encourage a change in behaviour. You want the horse to do something in order for the uncomfortable pressure to be removed or stopped.

For a further look into natural horsemanship and how we would define it click here.

How to take Natural Horsemanship to a Higher Place.

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