A Guide to Natural Horsemanship for New Horse Owners
Have you heard the term natural horsemanship and wondered what on earth it is?
Well, wonder no more, because we aim to provide you with a comprehensive overview.
We’ll explain the techniques, the essential skills required, and those you’ll develop.
That way, the next time someone tells you they use ‘natural horsemanship’ with their horse, you’ll know exactly what it means!
By understanding the principles of natural horsemanship, you can develop a strong bond with your horse and establish a foundation for a harmonious and mutually respectful relationship.
What is the Natural Horsemanship technique?
‘Natural horsemanship’ is an umbrella name for horse training techniques, or philosophies, that aim to establish a deep understanding and communication between humans and horses.
The term ‘natural’ comes from the emphasis these techniques put on working with a horse’s ‘natural’ instincts and behaviours to develop a partnership based on mutual trust, co-operation, respect, and clear communication.
They also eschew the use of force, dominance, and fear to achieve these ends.
What Are The Benefits Of Natural Horsemanship
Natural horsemanship training techniques benefit both horses and handlers in a number of ways. In particular, they allow you to…
Build a strong bond based on trust and respect.
Develop a deeper understanding of your horse’s needs and behaviour.
Communicate more effectively with your horse.
Improve your horsemanship skills and become a more effective horse handler.
Enhance your horse’s confidence and willingness to cooperate.
Resolve behavioural issues kindly and gently in a way the horse understands and respects
What Are Good Horsemanship Skills In General?
If you want to deal safely and efficiently with horses, you must have a basic understanding of their natural instincts and behaviours as a prey species.
In particular, of the fact that their flight response is their primary defence mechanism when threatened followed by aggression if they find themselves cornered without an escape route.
By learning about these natural tendencies, and how to recognise the warning signs, you can work with their instincts, rather than against them, to create a positive training experience.
Understand The Nature of Horses
Horses evolved as herd animals so are most comfortable living in a group. There’s safety in numbers!
Unfortunately, modern horse keeping being what it is, it’s not always possible to provide this, and understanding the implications of this for their mental and emotional well-being is important.
They also rely very heavily on body language communication and are incredibly adept at it.
Research in the UK shows they can remember human facial expressions from photographs and then connect those with the human concerned when they meet in person.
Horses also have a hierarchical social structure.
There is always a dominant horse in a herd; in the wild, this is the head or alpha mare. The stallion merely serves as protector (and procreator).
Understanding how this hierarchy works, and using it to your advantage, is key to dealing safely with horses.
What Are The Steps of Natural Horsemanship
If you’re interested in the benefits of pursuing principles of natural horsemanship with your horse, or indeed in handling and working with your horse in general, it typically involves:
Building a Connection
This step is about establishing trust and forming a bond with your horse through groundwork exercises and non-verbal communication.
Developing Leadership and Respect
Understanding herd dynamics and hierarchical structure will help you understand where you need to ‘fit’ into this hierarchy in order to become the ‘alpha’ mare AKA leader in the relationship between you and your horse while also respecting their boundaries and individuality.
Effective Communication and Language
Horses communicate extensively through body language and developing a common language with your horse that he or she understands is key to an effective relationship. You do this through cues, voice commands, and simple body language that all convey specific meanings or intent. In return, you learn to understand your horse’s responses.
Desensitisation and Confidence Building
Desensitisation is a key part of safety with horses. By building their confidence in new situations, unusual objects, and different stimuli, you reduce the risks of fear-induced flight response reactions and aggressive behaviours.
Riding and Progression
Chances are your horse is an experienced riding horse, especially if you’re new to owning a horse.
Therefore, a lot of the groundwork in this regard has already been done. However, you can still adopt a transitional approach to riding him or her that allows you to develop all the above aspects prior to climbing on board.
They will set you up for a riding partnership based on softness, balance, and mutual understanding.
Key Takeaways About Natural Horsemanship
‘Natural horsemanship’ is associated with some quite famous equine practitioners but is actually a philosophy that many horse owners, famous or otherwise, use to work with their horse.
It involves understanding the ‘natural’ behaviours and instincts of this incredible animal and working with those to develop mutual trust and respect.
