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Natural Horsemanship 101
Hawks Hollow Farm
promotes the practice of Natural Horsemanship on the ground and under saddle. You’ve probably heard the term before, but
what does Natural Horsemanship really mean?
What is Natural Horsemanship?
"Natural horsemanship is an excellent foundation upon which to build any
riding discipline; dressage, jumping, barrel racing, trail riding, etc. It is a
philosophy of horse-training and horse-handling that is based on the fundamental
goal of fostering a relationship between horse and human. This
relationship is achieved through communication and body language based on the
horse’s natural instincts as a
prey animal. Horse and human work together as active participants
without the use of force or fear. This way, more goals can
be accomplished in any riding discipline. The horse becomes more
reliable and more willing to acknowledge the human as a leader. A
healthy relationship between horse and human will result in greater achievements
and a safer environment for both partners."
What methods does Natural Horsemanship employ?
Many natural horsemanship instructors vary in their exact
methods, but every one of them works to create and foster the communication
between horses and humans. All Natural
Horsemanship instructors use methods that encompass these basic principles:
Horses’ Natural
Instincts:
Horses are herd animals, and also
prey animals. They communicate and
behave according with these characteristics.
Their first priority is self-preservation, and then the preservation of
their herd. Have you ever watched a
horse in his field with other pasture-mates?
They communicate with each other using body language, pressure, and yes—the
occasional kick or bite. The herd has a
“pecking order”—a hierarchy that ranks each herd member starting at the top
with the “Alpha”, or leader.
Natural horsemanship simulates a
herd environment between horse and human; as prey animals, horses look for a
strong and confident leader who can protect the herd as well as provide order
and clear communication. This is the
human’s role in the Natural Horsemanship formula: to be the leader, not the
aggressor or the dominator. The horse
becomes the follower and an active participant . These are roles that the horse can understand;
roles that are clear, safe and familiar to the horse.
Pressure and Release:
Natural Horsemanship avoids the use
of force and fear when handling horses.
Instead, pressure and release is used to encourage horses, and to reward
them for participating. Pressure
encompasses a wide variety of actions.
It may include touching the horse with your fingertips and gradually
increasing the pressure until the horse moves away. ‘Pressure’ may also encompass body language
to ask the horse to move or yield. As a
handler becomes more adept at natural horsemanship, their cues get more and
more subtle, or “softer”, so eventually a horse will respond to just the
slightest touch or the smallest shift in body language. When a horse or a human
is “soft”, they can communicate using just the slightest hint of pressure.
Timing:
It is important to release the
horse from pressure, so he knows he has performed well and has done a good
job. This builds confidence and the
horse will understand what the human is asking of him. Under instruction, humans can learn exactly
when to release the pressure and reward their horses for participating. Natural horsemanship will teach you how to
perfect timing: when to apply pressure, and when to release.
How is Natural Horsemanship different from traditional
training and “breaking”?
Natural Horsemanship contrasts sharply with the traditional
methods of training in these fundamental ways:
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No force or fear. Traditional methods do not consider the
horse as an active participator or as a partner. The horse is expected to submit and
obey, instead of actively participate, in any activity. Humans become the “Dominators” and
“Dictators”. Natural horsemanship
can achieve the same results as traditional methods, but in safer, more
agreeable ways for the horse and human.
With natural horsemanship, the human becomes the “Leader”, and the
horse becomes an active and willing participator. This way, the horse assumes more
responsibility and then becomes more reliable.
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Groundwork. Every trainer is different; but all
work begins on the ground. Natural
horsemanship places tremendous emphasis on groundwork, first and foremost
before riding. Only when the horse and
human can communicate safely and effectively on the ground, will they be ready
to ride. The fundamentals of natural
horsemanship are built on the ground and then later transfer into the
saddle. This make take a little more
time and seem more difficult than
traditional horsemansh
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Difficulty. Natural horsemanship philosophy considers the horse’s
perspective, and forces the rider to think, act and communicate with their
horse. It rejects the reliance on
artificial aids such as harsh bits, tie-downs, martingale, and side reins. Natural horsemanship takes time and
patience; it does not provide instant-remedies to problems with horses,
but instead over time, will revolutionize the relationship between horse
and rider and allow for more accomplishment in any discipline.
How can I inquire more about these safe and effectivemethods?
Natural Horsemanship is promoted all over Hawks Hollow Farm. We offer group and individual lessons.
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