What is Natural Horsemanship?

This seems to be the big question out there in the horse world today. The definition also seems to be very misunderstood by many horse enthusiasts and trainers today. A natural horseman is someone that knows, and knows how, to apply the concept that horses learn faster and more effectively through understanding and psychology than they do through fear, mechanics and aggression. They understand that you have to have a clear vision of the differences between horses and humans to be able to create a true lasting prey-predator relationship. Natural horsemanship is fun! It encompasses all the fun you ever dreamed of having with horses and more. It's embodied by your being as much fun for your horse, if not more, than you ever hoped the horse could be for you. Natural horsemanship is respect, your respect for the horse and your horse's respect for you. Neither will contain one bit of fear for the other for there is no element of fear in respect. Natural horsemanship is a relationship between a horse and a human where the communication is so incredibly clear and consistent, the environment so phenomenally forgiving and loving, so undeniably willing, that the pair may achieve true unity. That is the point at which two opposites think, act, feel, respond and relax as one. Natural horsemanship is all of this plus one more deeply committed element, a goal, to continuously become smarter, braver, calmer and more athletic for your horse and to allow your horse the opportunity to become smarter, braver, calmer and more athletic with you. A goal that starts today and moves forward without end, as long as you're together, one step at a time. That is natural horsemanship.

This I write with special thanks to two of the brightest stars in my horsemanship sky, Pat and Linda Parelli.

Thomas Chip Harris
Harris Horsemanship

What Natural Horsemanship is Not

Just a few more words to help any of you that still may not be quite sure what natural horsemanship is.

If a horse trainer expects a horse to perform a task in a manner that causes the horse to have fear or fear any of the tools he/she is using for communication, it's not natural horsemanship. If a trainer puts the horse into any kind of mechanical or manipulative contraption, whether it's on the horse's head or any other part of its body, to achieve a result, it's not natural horsemanship. If a trainer uses a technique of trapping a horse at any time to achieve a result, it's not natural horsemanship. If a trainer becomes angry or violent during the training process, it's not natural horsemanship. If the trainer uses any kind of blunt contact without first offering warning phrases and allowing the horse to respond prior to the contact, it's not natural horsemanship. If the trainer does not allow the horse time to think through a situation during a request or digest the consequences of its actions prior to proceeding, it's not natural horsemanship. If the horse is unable to relax in the presence of the trainer or any of the trainer's tools, it's not natural horsemanship. This is what natural horsemanship is not. And remember, if you own a horse, you're one of its trainers.