But how does all this relate to…?
…dressage, cutting, jumping, reining, cow working, camp drafting, polo, gymkhana, roping, barrel racing, eventing, driving etc.
This is one of the most common questions we get now that natural horsemanship is starting to attract people involved in competitive endeavours with horses.
Natural horsemanship is not something you do instead of a horse sport, it’s just a more natural way of achieving your goals with horses.
Let’s put it this way: what has kindergarten, school and university got to do with becoming a doctor? What you learn in this program is like going to school and university to become a horseman, its Horseman’s U! It doesn’t matter what you’ll end up specialising in, first you have to get very good at medicine.
This program teaches you to get so good with horses that whatever you choose as you ultimate specialisation is an easy extension of what you and your horse already know. It’s easy because you know how to communicate with your horse in an intricate way, with feel, with finesse, mentally and emotionally, not just physically. You know how to teach your horse whatever you need him to know no matter what “costume” you end up wearing.
Mental and emotional wrecks
The problem with modern horsemanship is that many people competing out on a strong focus can almost do nothing else. Their horses have resistances and problems that are so common they are accepted as normal, and they don’t know how to fix them. Grinding teeth, switching tails, they’re dead giveaways. If most competition horses were people, they’d be in mental institutions. Those horses are mental and emotional wrecks but people don’t notice it. They think its disobedience and they just resort to more force, more discipline, more of the same. If it doesn’t work the horse is ruined, sold or destroyed. They don’t realise he’s had a mental and emotional break down.
What does “no resistance” feel like?
Once you reach Level 3(4), you can’t believe what your horse is going to feel like. He’ll feel like pushing a toy boat around on water. That’s what “no resistance” feels like in you hands and to your seat and legs. He’ll have so much respect and trust he won’t question your requests. And he’ll have impulsion. You’ll be able to elect any gait with the smallest of squeezes, and reach an impressive stop just by relaxing a little and tightening your fingers on the reins. Turns will be fluid because every “wheel” is balanced. You’ll be able to do simple and flying lead changes with ease and accuracy. And finally, you’ll be able to carry vertical flexion and a soft feel through all gaits and manoeuvres with your horse never putting more than 4 oz of pressure on the bit. You’re now any trainer’s dream. You’ve got your horsemanship act together.
The mistake we all make is thing that unless we are roping everyday, riding circles and shoulder-ins, running barrels, cutting cows, jumping jumps, hitting polo balls… we’re not training for our sport! There is no greater misconception and no better way to ruin a horse. What you are learning in this program is dressage, it is polo, it is cow working. Its just no the conventional way to start it! You are training yourself and your horse to a hight degree.
Cross Training
You’ve probably heard Pat say this before, if you want to excel, just look at what everyone else is doing… and then do the opposite! What you’re watching is a way to ruin more horses than you’ll ever make into superstars and to achieve less with more stress and injury than is necessary.
Pat’s world class cutting horses jumps, works cows, ropes and even does dressage. Pat’s young trakehner warmblood works cows, ropes, does dressage, plays polo and jumps Olympic cross country courses with ease…. are you getting the picture? Even though you want to specialise, the best thing you can do is “cross train” your horse. He needs it mentally, emotionally and physically. What ever you do, keep you horse’s needs in mind.
With cross training you horse becomes more mentally and emotionally strong, it takes the stress and boredom away from training drills, he gets his sparkle and enthusiasm back and he becomes so much more athletic. How many horses have you seen go totally sour on the arena, on a cow, the polo field, the barrels? It happens all the time because people are over-focused and they forget about what the horse is going through.
Pat’s dream is that many of you will one day excel in competition at the highest level, and have a horse that enjoys it as much as you do. That at 15 he is better than he was at 7. There are now some PNH students doing just that. They’re winning in the cutting, dressage, camp drafting, endurance, reining and trail classes with horses that are calm, smart, brave and athletic because they’ve been developed to reach excellence, naturally.
Here’s the formula:
Horsemanship first, sportsmanship second. If there are cows involved, then its horsemanship first, cowmanship second and sportsmanship third.
You can’t fail if you practice perfectly and if your horse is your true partner. Whatever you do, keep it natural for the horse.
Summary
Natural horsemanship is not something you do instead of a horse sport, its just a more natural way of achieving you goals with horses.
This Program teaches you to get so good with horses that whatever you choose to do in the end is an easy extension. Costume is irrelevant.
No resistance feels like pushing a toy boat around on water.
With respect, impulsion and flexion you can do anything you want.
After Level 3(4) you are a trainer’s dream!
What you are learning in PNH is dressage, it is polo, it is cow working…it’s just a more natural approach.
You don’t get better at practicing the outcome, you get better by getting the ingredients better.
The current train approach to competition ruins more horses and achieves less with more stress and injury than is necessary.
A horse needs cross training to keep mentally emotionally and physically balance…even if he is a “specialist”.
How many competition horses have you seen go sour because their riders and trainers are over-focused and forget about what the horse is going through?
PNH can help you reach the heights of competition excellence.
The secret formula:
Horsemanship first. Sportsmanship second.
Or:
Horsemanship first. Cowmanship second. Sportmanship third.
Keep it natural for the horse.
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