The Eight Principles of Natural Horsemanship
Here they are again to help you get more and more in touch with what they really mean. I find they really help me to keep in touch with what Natural Horsemanship is all about. Get to know them in order and by number.
Principle #1
Horsemanship is natural
Man and horse were made to be together. The horse is the only prey animal that is shaped in such a way to accommodate man on his back. He is also willing to become a partner and is capable of making incredible changes.
And if you become a horseman, not just a rider, but someone who is skilled with horses in four areas of savvy, can teach a horse by understanding his nature, the horse will be willing to accept you as his alpha, his leader.
With a horseman, a horse can get calmer, smarter, braver and more athletic. With a horse, the horseman can be fleet of foot, more powerful and more preceptive to whatever’s going on all around him. And he can learn to get more in touch with himself, to develop all the qualities of a leader: endless patience, to become more assertive and less aggressive or wimp-like, to have emotional stability, to be responsible for the consequence of their decisions.
Principle # 2
Make no assumptions
People assume all the time. They assume that horses are safe and simple. They assume that if a horse has been ridden, he’s ridable no matter what. They assume that the same training technique will work for every horse. They assume it’s the horse’s fault whenever something doesn’t go right. They assume that if the horse did it one day, he’ll automatically do it the next. They assume that horses think the same way as they do, value the same things. They assume a prey animal will not do whatever it takes to save himself.
They also teach horses to make assumptions, good and bad. They’ll trot home to the barn three or four days in a row and then expect the horse to walk back in a relaxed way the next time. They teach horses to assume they will be fed at 6am and 5pm every day and cause all kinds of mental and emotional stress in the horse when they are late. They teach horses to assume that they can run over people, invade their space and behave disrespectfully.
Principle #3
Communication is two or more individuals sharing and understanding an idea.
If you just give a horse orders without listening to him express himself first, this is not communication. If you can’t listen to a horse, if the horse won’t listen to you, you don’t have communication. If you are both “shouting” at each other you don’t have communication.
In order for horses to listen you have to learn how to read them, how to play with them and observe their behaviour and expressions. You also have to allow them to express themselves.
In order for horses to listen to you, you have to earn their respect by becoming their alpha. Then you have to know how to communicate with horses the way other horses communicate with them.
Principle #4
The eight responsibilities of a partnership
There are four responsibilities for the human:
- Don’t act like a predator. Become more mentally, emotionally and physically fit.
- Have an independent seat.
- Think like a horse-man.
- Use the natural Power of focus.
And four for the horse:
- Don’t act like a prey animal. Become more mentally, emotionally and physically fit.
- Don’t change gaits.
- Don’t change directions.
- Look where you are going.
When you are taking over the horse’s responsibilities, instead of teaching him to uphold them and when you don’t take care of your own…there can be no partnership. it will be something more like master and slave.
Principle #5
The attitude of justice is effective
The four phases is what helps you to be just, to not over react. Small consequences for small mistakes and big consequences for big mistakes. You just have to become savvy enough to know which is which…and to have control over emotions such as fear, frustration and anger. Horses respond to positive and negative reinforcement. They don’t understand punishment.
Principle #6
Body Language is universal
Horses do not understand English, German, Malay, Japanese… they understand horses. And horses communicate more through body language than anything else. Compare them to dogs for instance. Which would give you more uninterrupted sleep: living next to a barn or a dog kennel?
Body language can be use to cross any language barrier. So we need to close our mouths and start using our body and expressions to communicate to horses.
Principle #7
Horses teach riders, riders teach horses.
If you want to learn cutting and have never done it before, the hardest way to go about it is to get a horse that has never done it and try to learn together. An experienced horse can teach you a lot, fill in for you. Even if you don’t own this horse, see if you can ride him to experience how it should feel. Same as when you have savvy, you can teach the horse, you’ll have something to offer him.
Don’t buy a green horse if you are not experience with horse. Green on green make black on blue! But a horse that’s ridable and dependable. He’ll put up with your inadequacies a lot better and you’ll have a much better chance at still being interested in horses years later.
Principle #8
Principles, purpose and time are the tools of teaching.
You have to understand the principle of what you are doing so you know what you are shooting for and to keep you on line. Purpose gives the principle meaning, like opening a gate or working a cow will give meaning to teaching your horse to go sideways.
A horse that is trained and trained without ever getting to realise a purpose will lose incentive. Even if you’re not interested in working a cow, or doing a job on your horse, do it every now and then for your horses’s sake! You’ll be amazed at how it will give him renewed interest. I see too many dressage and reining horses that never realise a purpose. The purpose of dressage was warfare. How many dressage horses have been used to kill people on purpose?! And reining is for developing cow working manoeuvres. How many reining horses get to work cattle? And then there’s the case where there might be purpose as in jumping or cutting, but those horses are cutting and jumping until they could puke it up.
Find a way to cross train, to give your horse a mental and emotional break. Find a way to keep him fresh and full of incentive.
Time is essential. You need to take the time it takes so it takes less time. People never have the time to do it right, but they always have to spend the time to do it over and over and over. Putting time into your horse is an investment and it means you’ll take the time to help him learn. You can’t hurry a horse’s development without force that causes resistance and problems that diminish potential. Treat your horse like the finest thing you’ve ever owned. The horse is nature in its finest form.
Summary
The Eight Principles of Natural Horsemanship can keep you rally in touch with your overall attitude and focus.
- Horsemanship is Natural.
If you become a horseman, skilled in four areas of savvy, can teach a horse by understanding his nature and gain acceptance as his alpha.
2. Make no assumptions.
It’s easy to assume things about horses and to teach them to assume because we were thoughtless.
3. Communication is two or more individuals sharing and understanding an idea.
This means you need to listen to the horse as well, to learn how to read them and allow them to express themselves.
Communicate with horses as other horses do.
4. The eight responsibilities of a partnership.
Four for the human:
Four for the horses:
5. The attitude of justice is effective.
Small consequences for small mistakes.
Control you emotions. Horses don’t understand punishment.
6. Body language is universal.
Horses speak horses and they use body language more than voice.
7. Horses teach riders, riders teach horses.
Green on green makes black on blue.
Experienced horses can teach you a lot.
8. Principles, purpose and time are the tools of teaching.
Teach the principle, give it meaning and take the time it takes.
Horses that are trained to do things without realising a purpose for them lose incentive.
Cross training can keep a horse fresh and enthusiastic.
Time is an investment in your horse. That’s why you have one.
