-
- SOME BASIC TENETS
OF
- NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP
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- The long way is the short way. This
axiom is about taking the time to fix the inside
of the horse, addressing emotional issues, before
expecting the outside of the horse to act accordingly.
From the surface, it might look like this
method takes a little longer, but, in the end,
it does not, because what is learned REMAINS
learned, as you build a more trusting horse
from the foundation up, and what needs fixing REMAINS fixed. Forever.
Going slow is the quickest way to get there.
Don't hurry; allow the horse the time to
find the right routes.
- Know where you are going before you go.
If you don't know, then the horse
will feel the pressure to decide for himself
something different.
- Visualize approaching the horse with
an attitude of total acceptance, no matter
what that action or response from the
horse is, and meet those actions with understanding.
- Listen to the horse and learn to
perceive when the horse needs support.
- Learn to do less to get more. Baby
steps. Allow the horse the opportunity to find
what you want with the smallest amount of pressure.
Don't try to get it all the first time. Trust
that the horse will find what you want with
less pressure, not more. This route: try to
use less and less pressure for the horse to
get doing more and more.
- Bond with the horse before asking anything
of him. Developing a nurturing relationship,
bonding on the horse physically and emotionally
before
each training or riding session places the horse in a
more willing-to-please, trusting spot.
- Bond with the horse and create a loving
relationship before expecting anything of the horse
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- The horse learns from the release of
pressure, not the pressure itself. The horse
will naturally steer into doing what is easiest
for them, since they are energy-conserving creatures.
The release of pressure feels more comfortable
to them than the pressure, so they naturally
steer in
the direction of yielding to pressure if they
know that will reap the instant release of pressure.
- Timing of the release of pressure is
everything! Since horses only learn the
behavior wanted via the release of pressure,
it's crucial to get that release timing so split-second
refined yourself when the horse does a proper
"give," and it's also important to
take the try, releasing that pressure there,
as well, so that the horse better discovers
that "window" you are opening up for
him to find with the release.
- Do not release pressure when the horse
is "hard," but only when he is "soft."
If you release the pressure when the horse is
fighting against it ("hard"), he will
only learn to remain hard. If you release
when he's soft, then that's what he learns:
to be soft.
- However, resistance will be met with
resistance. This does not mean punishment,
but it does mean that when a horse resists,
he will be met with resistance so that
he can find the "easier window" to
steer into. You do not increase the pressure
at such times necessarily; the horse simply
is pressuring himself when not yielding.
Then, when he yields, it becomes his
idea, not yours.
- Do not release the pressure when
a horse is "hard," but only when soft,
- and
resistance is met with resistance to help the horse find
the softer spot
- But "Take the Try" and you'll get there faster.
Allow the horse to find the route to learning a new behavior
in broken-down baby steps, rewarding each try
as the horse discovers the right way with your
guidance. Rewarding even the baby-step
efforts the horse makes along the way is what
"taking the try" (releasing the pressure
with even the smallest try) is all about.
- Reward for the Smallest Try, the
Slightest Change and the horse will
achieve what you want far faster, far softer,
and build confidence far quicker.
- You must lay down a foundation in training
on the ground first before a horse will
understand what is being asked of him later
in the saddle. Nearly all training of horses
is best done on the ground first so that later
cues will make sense in the saddle. Most horse
problems an owner is struggling with in the
saddle can be traced back to a weak on-the-ground-first
foundation. Just as with building a house, the
foundation of a horse's training needs
to be strong, thorough and secure before expecting
further training to stand up well upon it.
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- WHAT IS NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP:
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What Is Natural Horsemanship?