What is Natural Horsemanship?

"Chip and Marshmallow enjoying a Roll" 
 

     Natural Horsemanship is considered the foundation for contemporary working partnerships between human and horse. It is not confined to any one style of riding or riding discipline. It is the study of equine language and behavior and the subsequent development of communication between humans and horses based on the simulation of horse to horse communication by the human partner. As in any other language course of study, progress is incremental. One starts with the alphabet, adds simple words, building to sentences, paragraphs etc. Fluency takes a lifetime.

     The purpose of Natural Horsemanship is to build relationships with equines, whether or not the specific relationship leads to riding (i.e. in some cases an animal is too small or too elderly for riding, or is in distress and requires simple physical maintenance - the process of communication remains the same regardless of the task required of the animal). Because horses are prey animals and biologically programed to read the intentions of predators (humans) they provide natural "biofeedback" for people in therapeutic situations - able in all cases to react to the person's actual emotional state and therefor help affect startling emotional breakthroughs for humans during the person's journey through a Natural Horsemanship program. While helping a horse achieve trust in a person, the person discovers as much or more about them self in the process.

     This is made particularly clear when a horse has a "negative" reaction to a person or situation (in fact there is not negative response from a horse's point of view, his only concern is for survival). People going through a Natural Horsemanship program learn to accept total responsibility for any response they get from the animal. A "no" answer from a horse can be a buck, a rear, refusal to be haltered, mounted, have his feet handled, move forward, or to be touched at all and so on. In all cases the person has not yet developed enough relationship and language to be heard, understood, trusted and respected as a herd leader would be in the wild. People engaged in a Natural Horsemanship program learn to leave their own agendas at the gate in order to objectively, effectively and safely participate in the horse's universe which is the universe of herd dynamics. 

     Labrador Hill's Horsemanship program is built from a compilation of master natural horse people's work - Monty Roberts, Pat and Linda Parelli, Tom Dorrance, Klaus Ferdinand Hemphling, John St. Ryan, Brad Cameron (mules), John Lyons and Meredith Hodges (donkeys) and my own experience in the field with our extremely varied herd. The program is completely dependent on the natural living environment we maintain for the herd. Virtually all of the animals who arrive here with behavioral "vices" have improved dramatically in their ability to socialize with humans by leaving them out (unconfined to stalls) and securely placed in the herd. My goals for the program are twofold - helping animals become successful in their connections to humans and helping humans become successful in their connections to animals.

Sarah Rabinowitz Mognoni   © 2009

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