I'd like to share my first impressions using the Natural Horsemanship technique of horse training. When I was first introduced to Natural Horsemanship, I was in my early teens and working with a woman who had taken me under her wings. This woman taught me how truly sensitive horses are and how important it is to gain their respect and trust.
When I purchased my first horse, the only handling he had was negative and it was very difficult to undue his conditioning. The previous owner had tried to speed along his training so fast that it back fired on her. When I started to work with this horse, we spent weeks in the round pen "joining up". This means we pushed each others buttons until we found a rhythm we could both live with.
Starting with ground work is essential to getting the respect of the horse, which can weight up to 1000+ pounds. Every move you make is noticed and logged by your horse. Horse's language is all about subtle movements, a flick of the tail, a bent hip and even a raised head can mean discomfort or irritation.
When working with horses, you must remember that they are flight animals and would rather run away than fight. They are the hunted and we are the hunters, so we must come down to their level. What you are looking to achieve with natural horsemanship is a symbiotic relationship where you and your horse understand your place and can work as one.
