What is Natural Horsemanship-PDF

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WHAT IS NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP?

By Sylvia Scott

Natural Horsemanship Trainer

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.naturalhorsetraining.com

Natural Horsemanship (NH), sometimes referred to as "Horse Whispering," reallyhas nothing to do with literal whispering , though it's probably still a good representation

of what NH is all about, because "whispering" connotes a "softness" approach, and that

indeed is what NH is all about. But, it's also more than that.

Natural Horsemanship also involves the following:

• Communicating with the horse using body language, sometimes referred to as

"Equus," a language all horses are born already knowing and that they use witheach other. A mother horse reinforces this language with the foal from the

moment it is born, and so does the rest of the herd. This language involves (for

humans):

1. How to use your eyes.

2. How to place your body and parts of your body.

3. Your tone of voice or lack of voice. 4. How to use pressure and release of pressure to reap a desired

response.

5. What to use as tools to enhance effective communication. 6. How to listen to what the horse is saying in body language.

• The art of working, training and riding with horses in a manner which works with

the horse's behavior, instincts and personality, not against it, and in an easy

and kind manner.

• Using gentle guidance rather than force or mechanical devices.

• Using pressure and release (of that pressure) to guide the horse to learn, and

understanding that the horse learns from the release of that pressure, not the

pressure itself. • A refined sense of timing of the release of pressure along with a sense of "feel."

Copyright © 2002-2004 by Sylvia Scott. All rights reserved.

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/

http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/

mailto:[email protected]



What is NH? 2

• Understanding that this training approach requires of the human:

1. Time – a "taking off your watch" mindset. Horses have no real concept of "time" as we humans do. It's important to resist our human tendency to

"get things done NOW, all at once" and instead, follow a horse's natural,

individual learning curve.

2. Patience – each horse is an individual, therefore, each learns at a differentrate of speed, and each has unique issues to get past, so patience always, in

order to flow with a horse's natural learning curve rhythm!

3. Compassion – to help nurture the horse through any fears they may haveor that get flushed out as you go along.

4. A sense of playfulness – working or training a horse is more about

"playing with" a horse positively, but in a productive manner.5. A sense of humor – which helps one remain maintaining the previous

requirements.

The above emotions are the ONLY emotions that should enter the training

arena with you!

• A deep understanding of Prey Animal Psychology.

• Cultivating the inner of the horse first and understand that the outer will

later follow. • Helping the horse to trust us and to do what we want out of friendliness, not fear,

and having them trust us without reservation as our ultimate goal.

• Being dependable to the horse, not dominating (there is a difference).

• Giving the horse time to think about what you are asking them to do, allowing

them time to try to figure it out, helping them, instead of forcing, to get there,

which helps them to learn to think rationally as opposed to react irrationally.

•

Being quiet and consistent with the horse.• Doing what is right for the horse at all times, in all situations, sticking up for

them when needed (with vets, with farriers, with other riders of them,

with anyone).

WHAT IS PREY ANIMAL PSYCHOLOGY?

To start with, man is a predator (we "hunt," we eat meat). We even smell like meat.

And we behave psychologically like predators. Also, our eyes are placed together, in the

front of our heads, so that we have greater binocular vision, allowing us greater depth

perception and to better gauge distances (set up that way for our survival, so man canhunt and gauge how far a prey or enemy is from us). Horses sense all this and treat us

accordingly as predators, unless we gently convince them otherwise.

The horse, on the other hand is a prey animal. This means: other animals eat horses.Horses don't hunt down other animals. They are designed to be herbivores, eating

primarily grass and other vegetation, depending upon their local environment. Their eyes

are set on the sides for their heads so that they can better see around them, watching for a




What is NH? 3

potential attack from a predator. Furthermore, this allows them greater monocular vision,

which means they can focus on and fully process two different scenes at one time.

A horse's eyes are on the sides of their heads allowing them to process two different scenes on

each side of them, at the same time, and to see a wider range around themselves in general, to

protect themselves from predators.

Other horse traits as prey animals:

• They can see in the dark. • Their skin is so sensitive that the mere lighting of a fly on their skin can

cause the body to shake it off.

• Their nostrils and taste glands are so connected with one another that a

stallion (especially when he curls his lip up) can actually smell and taste

the mare's scent when she is in season up to 5 miles away.

• Their hearing sense is extremely sensitive.

• They are designed as "flight animals," to escape (run away) when afraid.

They have to move their feet when afraid. They generally only will fight

when cornered and much more prefer flight as their escape route.However, if they cannot move their feet when afraid, they will

automatically go into fight mode in order to survive.

• Horses naturally prefer to live in wide-open spaces so they can see a potential threat from afar and be ready to flee if needed.

• Horses' knees are designed to lock when sleeping in order to sleep while

standing up, allowing for instant flight whenever needed for survival.

• Horses prefer to conserve their energy, saving most of their energy for

if/when it is needed for flight. By not using up their energy unnecessarily,

they will be able to use the stored energy in case of a more seriousemergency.




What is NH? 4

• Horses as herd animals are naturally gentle creatures that seek the

most comfortable spot in life. Unless they feel extremely threatened, theyare non-aggressive animals that just want to get along in life.

• Horses not only like company, they seek it out; they feel safer with other

non-threatening animals and need companionship for their survival

instinct.• Horses are herd animals, live in herds, each one looking out for the other.

• In each herd there is a pecking order hierarchy at all times. That

hierarchy in each herd and subheads (in the wild and in domestic pastures,herds can be made up of several sub herds) contains: a leader (or alpha)

mare and a dominant stallion (even a gelding can play that stallion role).

The alpha is always a mare, with the exception of the "Bachelor Bands"where all members of that band are young stallions (more common in the

wild than in our domestic breeds, where nonbreeding males are commonly

gelded early). Here are the roles of each herd member:

The alpha mare's duty is to tend to the safety and well being of the entire herd. It is this alpha mare's job to signal the entire herd

as to when to move, sleep, eat, drink, or run for safety; she also

frequently takes on the task of disciplining any unruly youngsterswho may need to be put in line, which is why all young

domesticated horses should be raised within a herd; the lead mare

can do a splendid job of putting a spoiled or too-spunky youngster in its place, instilling more respectful, dutiful behavior!

The stallion, on the other hand, has the main duty of protecting the

herd from predators or from other stallions that try to invade andtake over his herd.

In each herd or sub herds,the lower ranking horse will alwaysfollow the higher ranking horse, but even the lead mare in that

sub herd will always follow dutifully the alpha mare of the entireherd. It is the job of each lead mare in each sub herd to watch for

the alpha mare and then notify her small herd what the alpha has

dictated. And, it is the job of all the rest of the horses in the

herd to pay attention to the alpha and follow her anywhere

when she gives the signals. There is also another member of the herd who plays an important

role and that is: the "passive leader." Unlike the alpha leader

(who generally forces her position upon the herd via whatever-it-

takes dominance), the passive leader is a horse who is somewhere

in the middle of the hierarchy pecking order, usually an older,wiser horse, and is chosen voluntarily by other members of the

herd for their kinder, gentler natures and even often for their

wisdom and patience; these passive leaders are followed willingly.

Passive leaders lead by example, not by brute force, and as a

result, begin to gain the confidence of the other members of theherd. Passive leaders are generally quiet and consistent in their




What is NH? 5

daily behavior and don't act as though they have much ambition to

move up the alpha ladder, therefore they don't have to use force todeclare their position in a herd. Because the alpha mare takes far

more energy out of a subservient horse (in order to obey her,

staying on their toes, so to speak), horses will naturally (energy

conservers, remember, and passive and quiet by nature) migrate tohang out with the passive leader, following willingly, and

existing where they can be more relaxed and yet still surviving as a

group.

• Those are a typical herd makeup, be it in the wild or in our own

domesticated pastures. The alpha or leader position is a stressful spot, with

lots of decisions that have to be made, and little time for relaxation, somost horses are not comfortable in that position. Most horses

simply instinctively desire a good and competent leader to take the

pressure off of them to have to make decisions themselves. Period.

(Something to remember when working with horses!)

Horses are most comfortable when they perceive you are a competent leader worthy of following

Individual personalities, of course, will dictate who will consistently be striving to attain

the various rankings within a herd. This jostling for dominance position usually goes on

nonstop, both in the wild, and in our domesticated, pastured herds. All of this isinstinctual behavior that correlates with the instinct for survival in the horse as a

prey animal. And there is good reason nature instilled all these herd behaviors for

survival purposes! One horse left behind if/when the herd moves, risks losing his life to predators. A horse alone simply cannot survive. Therefore, the worst place a horse can

be in his mind is: ostracized, banned, "sent away from the herd" ALONE, for improper behavior, or any other reason, and he will know instinctively that he is in

serious danger when not part of the social herd. He will work very hard if "sent




What is NH? 6

away," ostracized like that, to work his way back into the social order, generally using

more subservient, cooperate behavior in order to be accepted in again. The alpha mareand sub leaders use this form of "sending away" pressure, disciplining thus quite often

when it is needed, in order to keep a herd orderly, obedient and safe. The passive leader

will do the same, but much less forcefully.

Tossing a rope toward the rear of the horse to "send" her away when she's not

cooperating, or even if she doesn't want to be caught, is a language used within a herd

every day, and something horses fully understand as alpha mare language for: if you act

up, you must leave; horses are far more comfortable in the join-up spot than the"banished" spot, and will think harder about coming back to join and cooperate with you

willingly.

All of this natural, instinctive, prey animal behavior is what Natural Horsemanship

training takes advantage of. We become the "lead mare," but one who embraces morethe passive leadership role in the herd, not one to fear, when training a horse using NH.

We adopt the precise body language that a lead mare uses, but when doing so, we also become more of a gentle, passive lead horse who is a respectful, trusting leader, not anoverly aggressive or unreasonable one, patiently allowing the horse-in-training the

opportunities to learn to make the right decisions, to be accepted into our own "herd"

expectations. Leading by example, not brute force, and by being as consistent as

possible from one day to the next with prey animal psychology know-how, is what

Natural Horsemanship is all about.




What is NH? 7

Passive, "softer" leadership invites the horse to follow

MORE PREY ANIMAL PSYCHOLOGY THAT

NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP TAKES INTO ACCOUNT

• All horses are driven with an instinct to procreate, especially the stallion, but

mares, too. All mutual grooming, play, even fighting amongst themselves is all a part of their drive to procreate.

• A horse's system is designed for constant movement, even as they also conserve

energy. Movement in the horse is something the horse requires in order to be mosthealthy. Movement affects the entire physiological system from circulation, to

hoof health, to mental stability. For example (just one of many): each hoof has a

circulatory pump that if not given adequate movement, it fails to keep the blood

pumping thoroughly through the body from the hooves up. In the wild, a horsewill travel up to 20 miles a day! This not only helps to keep the horse healthy,

but it also ensures food and water, as well as a wider variety of forage for

optimum health. Therefore, it is much healthier to pasture a horse than it is to

stall the horse. Horses were not designed for stalling, but for freedom of

movement in pastures to keep them mentally and physically most sound. They are

extremely hardy creatures and survive well in the open, under all weather conditions.

• Just as with humans, each horse is a unique individual, each with a unique

personality. Some are shy, some are extroverts. Some are natural followers, some prefer to lead. It's important when training the horse to ascertain what that

individual horse's personality is and where he fits on that hierarchy.• Horses have survived for thousands of years with all these above traits, so

their prey animal instincts have served them well!

If something we, the human, do triggers the horse's prey instincts, the horse

will revert to its prey-animal instincts, regardless of training.




What is NH? 8

SOME BASIC TENETS OF

NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP

• 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 takesa 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 getthere. 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, notmore. 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 nurturingrelationship, 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

• The horse learns from the release of pressure, not the pressure itself. Thehorse will naturally steer into doing what is easiest for them, since they are




What is NH? 9

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 alsoimportant 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 helearns: 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 withresistance 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 pressuringhimself 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 tryas 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.




What is NH? 10

• 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 saddlecan 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.

The horse learns through the release of pressure to give a head yield – on the ground

FIRST – so that he understands what reins mean in the saddle later

• A high head is a tense, on-alert horse; a low head is a relaxed horse, so teach

the horse to relax and lower his head; the mind follows his body.

Teach the horse to relax through a lowered head




What is NH? 11

• Don't push horses over fear thresholds, but instead read the horse well and

compassionately, and perceive the tolerance threshold ahead of time, backing

up and returning to where the horse was comfortable. Then and only then,

slowly work your way back up to the threshold area, retreating before the horsereacts, and you'll get past the fear threshold more quickly and easily. Our jobs arenot to frighten horses, but to empathetically guide them in the directions of

building confidence to overcome their fears.

• Return to bonding whenever the horse is afraid to nurture him through hisfears, and he will glide through fears, regaining confidence, far more quickly.

• Horses as a rule will try to do things right, so don't constantly be reprimanding

them for things done wrong. Reward successes, don't punish failures and you'llget there faster.

• Let the horse use his own mind. Present the task at hand, and then let him figure

out how to get there, and he will learn far faster; he will also develop into a more

rational, less fearful horse because he's learning to use his mind.• Make the right thing easy, the wrong thing hard. Since horses naturally,

instinctively, steer into the direction of what is easiest, then set it up so that what

you want him to do is easiest, and what he wants to do that is wrong, harder.

• When teaching a horse a new behavior, stop while it is working! What this

means is, stop while the horse is cooperating, "getting it," and the next time you

come back to it, even days later, the horse will be farther along on that learningcurve.

• Rub, don't pat. To reward a horse, stroke it; don't pat it. Unlike a dog, horse's

don't understand patting, nor appreciate it much, though they do learn to tolerateit. Stroking simulates a mother horse licking the foal and is rewarding behavior

they not only understand, but also greatly appreciate and enjoy. Plus, they have

very sensitive skin and rubbing simply feels better to them than patting!

• There are generally no truly bad horses, only confused horses. Try toremember that one when working with them to learn a new behavior. They are not

intentionally being "bad," they usually simply don't understand what is being

requested of them. Progress (and reward!) in baby steps, smaller digestiblelessons, and they will get there quicker and happier.

• The horse is the best teacher there is. Pay attention and learn from every horse

you work with, and you'll be surprised what each one teaches you!

• Always end a horse session leaving the horse in a good spot! Horses have a

tendency to remember most what happened at the very last in a previous session,

so always leave on a positive, even if this means manufacturing a positive at the

end of a particularly difficult session or ride, in order to make sure the horse is left

on a positive, and he will be more willing to try again later.




What is NH?


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Always leave a horse in a good spot before walking away from a day's lesson or ride, and he will be much more willing the next time around

• The greatest gift you can give your horse is the gift of your time. Spend timewith your horse, lots of it, and he'll make it worth your while. The more time you

spend with your horse, the deeper and more bonded your partnership will grow.

• Finally ... There really are no horse problems, only people problems. This oneis sometimes the hardest for people to hear or to understand and maybe accept.

The truth is, without man, horses do just fine! Most horse problems are man-made

problems. Horses have survived for thousands of years splendidly on their own.

When man steps into the picture, not fully understanding prey animal psychologyand how to work with it, not against it, and instead, institutes predator

psychology, problems arise. Learn and institute prey animal psychology and

speak the language the horse already understands (as opposed to expecting the

horse to learn the language of man) and you'll create a quiet, willing partner.

Natural Horsemanship is a lifelong learning skill. The day you think you've

learned it all is: 1) the day you simply stopped learning, and 2) the day you

should probably stop training! Stay open, stay learning from all the best

Natural Horsemanship masters "out there," and working with your horse will

be a rewarding adventure where truly it can be said: "the journey is the reward."

We can all learn from each other!

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