Natural Horsemanship Has Become an Oxymoron
May 5th, 2008 | by citizen.K | Print & Hang in the Barn
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The true definition of Natural Horsemanship has always been:
- the philosophy of working with horses by appealing to their instincts and herd mentality.
Today, there is a whole new definition.
Natural Horsemanship
1. A fantastic label to attach to your training method to secure high profits, a large following, and unlimited branding opportunities.
2. A group or method to follow that feeds your insecurities, while giving you false security through gimmicks and hype.
3. An excuse to play games with your horse instead of riding because of your inexperience, inadequacy, and fear of failure.
4. Ignorance of true horse care, horsemanship, and horse behavior.
5. A trendy systems to follow instead of working with a horse’s true instincts and mentality.
Horses are herd animals; in a herd there is a “boss”, the boss is not playing games with the rest of the herd.
So, with that out of the way, let me first congratulate all the natural horsemanship groups, methods, and personalities out there who have struck it rich by feeding these ignorant, fear driven horse owners by telling them exactly what they want to hear. Hats off to the genius marketing and those catering to the insecure woman in the horse world, you know who you are.
Above all, when I work with a horse, I always try to communicate effectively by using what I know is instinctual for them and easy for them to learn from. With that being said, I do not play games with my horses. I do not have an orange stick that I run around with, I do not have a ball (though one horse is a big fan of the jolly ball), and most importantly, I do not beat my horses.
If one of my horses were to bite me, I would smack them. If one of my horses tried to drag me while walking them, I would put a chain over their nose and use whatever force is necessary to correct unsafe, unruly, disrespectful behavior. If one of my horses were to be scared of something (legitimate), I would encourage them to be brave by being soft, but also not allow them to over-react by being firm. All of the above examples are pieces of true natural horsemanship.
Horses are herd animals; in a herd there is a “boss”, the boss is not playing games with the rest of the herd. The boss is setting guidelines, boundaries, and rules. If one of the herd oversteps these boundaries, disobeys a rule, or doesn’t follow a guideline, that particular herd member is punished. Herd punishment comes in the form of chases (ears pinned of course), bitings, kickings, or otherwise physical reprimand. True natural horsemanship creates a relationship with you and your horse that mimics a herd relationship with you being the “boss” and your horse being one of the herd.
‘Natural Horsemanship’ is a marketing gimmick. True Natural Horsemanship doesn’t involve games, balls, or orange sticks.
They may test you, and depending on your horse, that may be once ever, or 10 times a day. It’s okay; you are not abusing your horse if you reprimand them for already set rules, guidelines, or boundaries. Now, if there are new rules, guidelines, or boundaries, you must first teach your horse to understand them before you reprimand them for not following. It’s very simple, and there are no books, equipment, kits, videos, or other marketing propaganda to spend your money on.
Natural horsemanship is not anything besides common sense through respecting your horse while commanding respect from them. Your horse will like you more if you have rules that you expect them to follow with both positive and negative reinforcements. Horses like order and clear expectations; this is natural horsemanship.
If you are afraid of your horse, find someone to help you understand horses. Don’t fall for the trendy gimmicks that will only help you play games with your horse. Learn about horses; learn about how they communicate with each other. This is practically free. Watch a heard of horses outside for a few days. You will learn who the boss is and who is the low man on the totem pole. From observation and analysis of herd behavior, you can develop a relationship with your horse and be the “boss” without buying an orange stick.
Learning about how horses operate naturally isn’t a straightforward formula. Each horse is unique, every horse behaves differently, and not every horse reacts to situations the same. But, having a basic understanding of how an average herd of horses interacts is the first step to real natural horsemanship.
Fearing horses isn’t a bad thing. They are big, but you must understand that a horse knows if you fear them, another step to real natural horsemanship. An orange stick, a big ball, or watching a million videos is NOT going to help you gain confidence with your horse or be a natural horseman. You need help from experienced people and if you can’t find an experienced person as a mentor (non natural horsemanship propaganda group), then spend as much time with as many different horses as you can to gain a true understanding of horses and how to effectively handle them and work with them.
It’s the no gimmick, old school natural horsemanship.
Tags: hoax, john lyons, monty roberts, natural, pat parelli, retards
13 Responses to “Natural Horsemanship Has Become an Oxymoron”
By eddie-joe young on May 5, 2008 | Reply
I have never understood what is natural about a horse rolling a beach ball. i met The parelli’s once seven years ago and i must have offended Mr.Pat because i said, “I just dont think that the divine plan for my gifts were to teach rich people’s horses to roll beach balls,oh yeah and get very wealthy doing it.” The funny thing is he used to be a real cowboy, my dad rodeo’d on the same curcuit years ago and cowboys don’t get their panties in a wad because someone called em out.
By Kay on May 6, 2008 | Reply
Again, citizen horse has spoken the words I have thought in my head for years. Natural Horsemanship is definitely just a bunch of pussies. My region is wroght with these people and they are definitely ALL afraid of their horses. They also all can’t control their horses at all. And then I get on them and show them exactly what their horse’s potential is. They think I’m some sort of magician but there’s no magic in my method. The only difference between them and me is that I ride a horse with direction. I am always thinking “this is what we are doing. This is what I want you to look like. We are not quitting until you do THIS.” The owners I ride for ride like “O.K., big horsie. I LOVE YOU! Don’t hurt me! oh please, don’t hurt me pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasedon’thurtme!” As with humans, love does not earn respect. I do not respect people who give me undeserved and constant praise. Neither does the horse.
By Kay on May 6, 2008 | Reply
Also, when you get right down to it, most of riding has nothing to do with equipment. A lot of times, all you really need is a basic saddle and bridle and a good pair of hands and a good pair of legs. Sometimes the right piece of equipment can give you that little extra push, but it won’t make up for a person with ineffective riding skills. I had a horse once that I was convinced needed one of those fancy Myler bits. I was completely convinced that, once I put that bit in his mouth, he would magically move forward and come on the bit and be light in my hand. Well, I bought the fancy bit for over $100 and it did absolutely NOTHING. It wasn’t until I learned to work hard to drive him forward with my leg and up into my hand that he actually came on the bit. And it was in a basic loose ring snaffle I got at a garage sale for $5. The myler bit hasn’t seen the light of day since then. Lol.
By mrs mom on May 6, 2008 | Reply
Thank you. This has been an all around rough day, and this post made me laugh out loud. It brought back memories of two FORMER clients who titles themselves “Horse Whisperers” and Natuarl Horsemanship Triners…. Gah. Their horses were the WORST ones to trim and handle.
So a simple, thank you, again, for making me laugh today. I needed that. On target there, and enjoyable.
By Pony on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Much of this is true, but some isn’t necessarily always correct.
I personally have no interest in screwing around with my horse all day every day instead of riding, but for some people who have a lot of fear, something like a game can really help them connect with their horse and become more comfortable in general around him. Something like that varies from person to person.
But so heavily relying on specific equipment and refusing to hit your horse for anything are just plain silly. I mean some people way overdo the hitting thing, but obviously most know that all they do is make their horses afraid of them rather than simply disciplining when necessary. Just basic understanding of the horse.
By Suzanne on May 11, 2008 | Reply
Yes, Natural Horsmanship has gotten so distorted most people don’t even know what it started out to be, which is, as you said, working with horses in a way that they can understand as horses. Now days, it’s something so complicated, equipment driven and expensive I would probably never even try it.
Years ago I saw one John Lyons video, and it changed my entire relationship with my horses. No special equipment, nothing but allowing my understanding of horses - my horses in particular - guide me, and a new understanding of what patience really meant.
As Lyons once told me: “Equipment doesn’t train horses.”
By HorseLover2007 on May 13, 2008 | Reply
Wow…. How is running around with a orange stick worse than running around with lunging whip? This artical bothers me becase it’s really narrow minded! I’m not saying that I haven’t meet those so called “natural horsemen” that are a crock and just trying to make money but it is not fair to put all “natural horseman” into this catagory.
One thing that I think that most people forget is that training is a BUSINESS so of course trainers are trying to make money. Also tack is now and always has been expensive “natural” or not.
I always enjoy learning new ways to work with my horse and for all the equiptment that is offered within “natural” training method there is also information offered to help riders get a better understand their horse, which I see as a posstive thing because I have had worked with too many horses that had past owners that would hit and generally “cowboy up” on them and abused thier horses because the horse was inexperence on the trail or not used to being in a new place and I hate to see that. I have smacked me mare from time to time for EXTREME bad behavor (anything that put me or other horses and riders in the situation of possible getting hurt) and I completely back anyone who does what is needed to stop any behavor that is potentially dangorus but too many people take that too far in my opinion.
Like just about everything else in this world there is no black and white but shades of gray. I just take a little bit of everything that I have had the oppertunity to learn and put it together into something that works for me, and just because it works for me does not mean that it will work for anyone else, but as long as the horse is not being harmed I like to give others the right to choose whats right for them without criticizing them for their choice.
By Cara on May 14, 2008 | Reply
Thank you for saying everything i cant say outloud to the nut jobs running around my barn speaking in some sort of sign language with their horses! I laughed and understood the feelings the whole way through this! Thanks for the bright spot in my day today!
By Teresa on May 18, 2008 | Reply
Ok first of which I do agree that natural horsemanship has become the hottest new way to con horse owners. However, if used correctly, it works. Not everyone has the know it all or the savvy to have what you concern true natural horsemanship, but that doesn’t make them a bad horsemen, theres just more than one way to communicate with your horse. For example, look at the dressage olmypic riders. Do you see them using natural horsemanship? No, but can you use natural horsemanship to get your horse to do that?
You mention that horses are herd animals and the boss horse communicates with the other horses using body language, but I’m sorry when was the last time you where able to punish your horse by penning your ears back? I personally believe that if a person can communicate with their horse with the modern horsemanship, then at least that person has something positive going for them. I was always taught that the basic to ANY horsemanship was communication and if a person uses a carrot stick to communicate with their horse than so be it.
By LuckEyApp on May 22, 2008 | Reply
Wow, this article just took everything I thought about this particular “Natural Horsmanship” and published it! My horse LuckEy went to different trainers before he came to me, apparently he was so thick headed nobody could really work with him. Somebody told me to try “N.H.”, and so I did…..you want to know where that got me? face down in the mud on several occassions with NO sign of improvement. I thought there was a better way, and there was. Three years with no round pen, no arena, with just a plain snaffle and a good old saddle, I have him practically doing sliding stops for me now! I can now ride him with confidence without the fear of him running away, or cutting off into the woods/rails! I like to dedicate my success to hardwork, dedication, and a little elbow greese! I do have little games I play with giant balls and stuff like that, but that is to entertain children when he goes and does the “pony party” thing.
By Theresa on May 24, 2008 | Reply
I did get a few problems turned around with a couple of key tips from John Lyons (I don’t know if he’s being “lumped” in here, because I think his results are very good). I realized that despite my dressage instructor’s admonition of more leg (whip if necessary)it wasn’t working because my horse really truly didn’t know “giving to the bit” and spending half an hour one day with Lyons’ technique of teaching the horse to reach to the ground with bit pressure by releasing everytime he made a move in the right direction–that lesson flipped a light on for me–about never assuming the horse knows something definitely, how to break your goal into incremental steps that the horse can comprehend, the importance of teaching one thing at a time. His concept of the “release of pressure” (both leg and hand) being the horse’s reward made light years of improvement in my horse’s forward movement and sensitivity to leg–I quit carrying a dressage whip altogether . . . and his seeming “laziness” went away…
That said, I’ve noticed whatever the discipline, when you read or see what a really good horse master says or does, there seems to be a common understanding of the horse’s mind and respect for the horse’s sense of well-being that comes across that just resonates. I get that feeling reading Nuno Oliveira, Alois Podhajsky or Tom Dorrance.
Btw, you can’t pen your ears back, but you can scream (or the human equivalent) like an outraged mare and sort of charge your horse and back him up for biting (for three seconds act like you have lost your mind and he’s going to die for the infraction) –I got that from John Lyons– it’s so much more effective than the people you see slap at the horse with the lead only to have the horse think you’re playing like colts and he’s just going to be more sneaky with a nip next time. You give the very dramatic impression that you’re the mare “who don’t play that s . .”
By Bonnie on Jun 9, 2008 | Reply
Well said Theresa. Turning to any system in times of need is good horsemanship. Following the crowd and not seeing past the system is ignorant!
And yes, people can pin their ears back. Every horse knows when a persons ears are back and you don’t have to hit them for it to resonate!
By lovemylongears on Aug 15, 2008 | Reply
i love learning from different people thoughts so i have watched and listened to several nh trainers.this is like any 12 step program take what you need a leave the rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!i play with my horse iride my horse and sometimes we just hangout in the field.i enjoy all of theses.enjoy your horses,respect them and be safe!