| If you have been in the horse world for at least | | | | We really don't have time for real 'natural' horse |
| the past 15 years, then I know you have heard all | | | | training, now do we, in our fast paced world. |
| about the "Natural Horsemanship" training. If you | | | | In the real horse world, another horse does not |
| look up the word 'natural', which I did for | | | | run a horse around in a circle to get that horse to |
| arguments sake, (in the American Heritage | | | | join him. |
| Dictionary) it says, and I quote: "Present in or | | | | I could go on and on. You have to use common |
| produced by nature; not artificial; of, relation to, or | | | | sense when training any animal. Talk to some of |
| concerning nature; conforming to the usual course | | | | the people who train wild tigers, bears, etc. They |
| of nature. | | | | don't run them around until they join up, if they |
| Now please, I beg you to be honest, don't be | | | | tried that, they would be the ones running around |
| embarrassed, I fell for the natural 'bull', I mean | | | | to avoid being eaten! |
| horse stuff too! Now, what do you see that is so | | | | They build a relationship first and foremost! They |
| 'natural' about it? Any of it? I have tried them all! I | | | | show the animal that they care and they are not |
| am sure that some of the trainers I have tried, | | | | going to hurt them and they teach them by |
| people have never even heard of them. So you | | | | feeding them TREATS! OH NO, I JUST SAID THE |
| know what I found out in the process? If you | | | | WRONG WORD!! Anyway, they build a relationship |
| have never even met a horse in your life, you | | | | and it is done with food and training. |
| could, if you wanted to, call yourself a trainer! | | | | I have trained dogs and groomed dogs for a living |
| Now, I am not! I repeat, Not! putting these | | | | (then came horses)and I was the one who |
| trainers down. I just feel that what they call their | | | | always took the 'problem' animal because the |
| training method 'natural horsemanship' is misleading! | | | | other people didn't have the time (which would |
| But it gets a lot of people's attention especially in | | | | cost them making money) to help the animal just |
| the era of everyone wanting things more 'natural'. | | | | fix the handling problem with muzzles and |
| If you want something that is even close to | | | | restraints for dogs, stronger bits and restraints |
| natural training and it still isn't totally natural | | | | for horses! And of course the next step is to |
| because you are not out in the wild fields with the | | | | drug them. Yes I worked with groomers who told |
| wild horses trying to befriend them 'naturally'. If | | | | their clients with problem dogs to have their vet |
| you want to really, I mean really try to get as | | | | drug them before they bring them for grooming! I |
| close to 'natural' as you can get with training | | | | actually knew people who would drug their horses |
| horses, then go do LIBERTY TRAINING! BUT! This | | | | before they ride them because they were to |
| is not for the timid, or the 'hurry up' person but it | | | | 'hyper'. Now I know people who drug their kids |
| is FOR THE REAL HORSE PERSON WHO WANTS | | | | because they think they are to hyper! |
| A 'REAL' CONNECTION, A REAL RELATIONSHIP | | | | The one guy who does 'join up' actually has a |
| THAT TURNS INTO REAL RIDING! | | | | timer on his video to show you he can do this in |
| NO HALTER, NO LEAD ROPE, NO SADDLE!! JUST | | | | so many minutes! Who cares how long it takes! |
| YOU AND THE HORSE, NATURALLY! The only | | | | We need to care about the stress of the horse!!! |
| thing that is not natural is the arena you are in. | | | | We need to care about the relationship and taking |
| With some of these so called natural | | | | the time to build that bond! Yes this could take |
| horsemanship training, you have someone who | | | | weeks, even months and for an awesome bond, |
| runs the poor horse around and around in a circle, | | | | it takes years! |
| in a round pen for 'join up' and FORCES, YES | | | | So you want good, exceptional riding? Then build a |
| FORCES the horse to comply. | | | | relationship! I promise only then will you have good |
| Just let the horse be and lets see if the horse | | | | riding. |
| WANTS TO, YES WANTS to join you. Let him be | | | | Be blessed building that relationship that will in turn |
| able to walk away, not walk away in a circle but if | | | | make for good riding that definitely makes an |
| the horse wants to really walk away! But you | | | | exceptional horse! |
| know that saying, 'Time is money' and time is | | | | Please remember this:relationship=good riding it is |
| running out, we need to get that horse trained! | | | | not good riding=relationship. |