Natural Horsemanship Basic Principles
- Horses are social, herd animals with natural survival/flight instincts
- Horses have natural communication system & this is understood & utilised in order to work with them
- Horses do not learn through fear or pain
- Horses do learn from ‘pressure and release’
- That a ‘Reaction’ is Unfavourable (Negative) – A ‘Response’ is Favourable (Positive)
- There is an emphasis on Timing, Feel & Consistency in any interactions between the Handler & Horse
Benefits of Natural Horsemanship Methods
Whatever your Age or Experience with Ponies & Horses, using Natural Horsemanship Methods our aims include helping you to either develop or enhance:
- your communication with your horse
- develop your understanding of both your horses and your needs in your Partnership
- explore ways of improving your mental, emotional and physical health
Natural Horsemanship is for You if You:
- Are looking at establishing or refining your Relationship
- Want to develop a lasting, trusting Partnership
- Are having Communication Issues
- Are struggling, no matter how much you ‘ride’ you cannot create or maintain that ‘magic, true connection’
- Have tried more traditional methods
- Believe there is another way
Many children and adults say they don’t ‘do’ groundwork because its ‘boring’ or ‘unnecessary’ – this is simply untrue!
Whether you class yourself as a novice or experienced horse person, Natural Horsemanship Approaches are a cast iron way of:
- improving your bond between you and your horse
- working through and overcoming challenges together
- forcing you to ‘slow down’ and improve or refine your communication and signals
- forming a solid friendship through trust and respect
- allowing you and your horse to learn to read each other and the nuances of your horses body language (which you can’t see in the saddle)
- learning to control your horses movement, intent and speed of your horses body and behaviours
- earn your horses respect by teaching your horse to listen and respond to your voice, body language and energy cues
- reduces fear by exposure and practice! Eg spooky objects to safely introduce and desensitise
- Practice Handling and Teaching your Horse safely
- By Bonding with our horses, we initiate a ‘conversation’ with them and encourage them to make the choices in their behaviours we wish to see
- By being in an understanding Partnership on the ground, moving onto riding is a much smoother and collaborative process which continues the conversation & choices
- Your Journey is your own – be it Saddle & Bridle or Bitless & Barefoot – Whichever works best for you & your horse
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss your & your horses needs.