What is Natural Horsemanship?

♦ Natural Horsemanship is communicating with the horse using body language.

♦ Can also be called “Horse Whispering”

♦ Uses a “softness” approach

♦ Involves learning to listen to what the horse is saying in body language, otherwise know as Equus, a language all horses are born already knowing and that they use with each other.

♦ Involves how to use your eyes, how to place your body and parts of your body, your tone of voice or lack of voice, how to use pressure and release of pressure to reap a desired response, and what to use as tools to enhance effective communication.

♦ The art of working, training and riding with horses in a manner which works with the horse’s behavior, instincts and personality, not against it, and in an easy and kind manner.

♦ Using gentle guidance rather than force or mechanical devices.

♦ Using pressure and release (of that pressure) to guide the horse to learn, and understanding that the horse learns from the release of that pressure, not the pressure itself.

Why is the history of Natural Horsemanship and where did it come from?

♦ Modern movement developed in Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain regions.

♦ Early trainers included Tom and Bill Dorrance, and Buck Brannamen (all three have websites) www.tomdorrance.com , www.billdorrance.net , www.brannaman.com

♦ Term “Natural Horsemanship” has only been widely used since the 1990’s

♦ Gained popularity in the last two decades, many videos, books, and tapes available for interested horse trainers.

♦ Gentle training methods have had to compete with harsher methods, which often obtain faster, less predictable results.

Why do you want your horse to give to pressure?

• Natural Horsemanship uses operant conditioning through pressure and release. The basic technique is to apply a pressure of some kind to the horse as a “cue” for an action and then release the pressure as soon as the horse responds, either by doing what was asked for, or by doing something that could be understood as a step towards the requested action, a “try”.
• Timing is important!
• The horse learns not from the pressure itself, but rather from the release of that pressure.
• Based on the principle of reinforcement, rather than physical force.

Who does it help? How can it help me?

♦ Benefits both the rider and horse

♦ Gains the respect and trust of the horse

♦ There is a reduction in injuries when horses are respected and trusted.

♦ Concepts and principles you apply to your horsemanship skills will transfer to many other areas of your life.

♦ You will become more mentally, emotionally and physically fit.

♦ You may also find your attitudes toward horses and life in general changing.

♦ Things which used to unsettle you are now no big deal, and it will reflect in your personal and business life too.

♦ Your creativity, confidence, communication, leadership, and problem solving skills will increase.

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