What IS “Natural Horsemanship”?

Natural horsemanship is a method of horse training that emphasizes communication, trust, and mutual respect between the horse and the trainer. The goal of natural horsemanship is to develop a strong, positive relationship between the horse and the trainer, based on understanding and cooperation rather than force or coercion.

Natural horsemanship is based on the idea that horses are intelligent, social animals that communicate with each other using body language and subtle cues. Trainers who practice natural horsemanship seek to understand and communicate with horses using these same methods of communication.

Some key principles of natural horsemanship include:

Understanding the horse’s natural behavior and instincts.

Building trust and respect through consistent and clear communication.

Using positive reinforcement to reward good behavior.

Encouraging the horse to make its own decisions and learn from its mistakes.

Using gentle, non-punitive methods to correct unwanted behavior.

Natural horsemanship has become increasingly popular in recent years as an alternative to traditional horse training methods, which can be more forceful and less focused on building a strong relationship between the horse and trainer.