| Natural Horsemanship is based on working with your | | | | your horse learns to wait eagerly for the next |
| horse's natural instincts, not against them. Using natural | | | | command. It learns to pay attention to you, and not let |
| equestrian skill, you learn the laws of nature that | | | | its mind wander off or make decisions on its own. |
| motivate your horse - as a herd animal, a prey animal, | | | | Horses trained with natural equestrian skills don't |
| and a domesticated working animal. You respect that | | | | anticipate commands, and don't need spurs, whips, or |
| your horse is motivated by survival, comfort, play and | | | | give their riders tired legs. They learn a simple lesson - |
| you use those motivators to control - and reward - | | | | go forward until you are told to do something different. |
| your horse. | | | | They are alert, and can change pace or direction |
| You learn to use horse psychology, rather than force | | | | instantly, because they are always waiting for the next |
| or fear to control and train your horse. Most of all, you | | | | instruction, and they are eager to please. |
| are always thinking about your horse's point of view - | | | | Natural horsemanship doesn't rely on gadgets for |
| what it sees, hears, feels - especially what it feels | | | | training; you won't need a lot of expensive equipment. |
| about you! | | | | You'll need a circular space to work your horse, ideally |
| So, what are the benefits of training with natural | | | | a round pen, where you horse can move freely but |
| horsemanship? | | | | where you can maintain eye contact with your horse. |
| First of all, natural horsemanship training is gentle, and | | | | You'll need a long rope, and you might want to use |
| kind. You will not only be training your horse, you will be | | | | long reins or other tools for ground work later on. Most |
| establishing a relationship with it; one built on trust and | | | | of all, you will need patience, understanding, and |
| respect. Your horse will learn to look to you for safety | | | | empathy. |
| and comfort, and that means when you are confront | | | | Natural horse training techniques can be a very quick |
| obstacles - such as a scary object, a big jump, or a | | | | way to train a horse, or correct a problem, but not |
| water crossing - your horse will trust you and face up | | | | always. Because it is based on your horse's |
| to the challenge. Horses trained with natural skills trust | | | | perceptions, behaviors, and feelings, every animal is |
| their riders - they make confident cross country | | | | different. Some horses, especially young stock, usually |
| jumpers, brave trail horses, and relaxed riding horses. | | | | enjoy natural horsemanship training and respond to it |
| Second, natural horsemanship lays the foundations for | | | | well, and natural horse training is known to be effective |
| athleticism in horses. It teaches them to move forward | | | | for horse breaking. |
| freely and confidently, and to balance themselves. | | | | If your horse already has problems, has developed |
| Right from the start you have been driving your horse | | | | resistant behavior, or if your relationship with your |
| forward, encouraging it to engage its quarters to | | | | horse has already broken down, you can expect it to |
| propel itself, turn, and stop. You haven't unbalanced it | | | | take longer. Whatever you situation with your horse, |
| by pulling on its mouth. Your horse won't have learned | | | | you can be sure that natural horsemanship offers a |
| to raise its head to avoid pain in its mouth, so it will | | | | gentle and effective solution, and best of all, it helps |
| have a natural, balanced head carriage that will | | | | you establish a strong relationship based on trust and |
| improve its agility. | | | | respect! |
| Third, natural horsemanship teaches responsiveness - | | | | |