Someone asked me the other day “what is Natural Horsemanship?” Such a simple question you would think, yet it left me fumbling for an answer. Each time I thought I had a reply and was about to express it, it morphed in my brain to something else.
If you look up a definition of “natural horsemanship” Wikipedia offers you this…“Natural horsemanship is a collective term for a variety of horse training techniques which have seen rapid growth in popularity since the 1980s. The techniques vary in their precise tenets but generally share principles of developing a rapport with horses, using methods said to be derived from observation of the natural behavior of free roaming horses and rejecting abusive training methods.” Not a lot of help really, especially as many horsemen and women that market themselves under this banner do not stand up to the scrutiny of this description.
I came to the conclusion that my own difficulties in defining this phrase and expressing my view was in part due to the conflict between the words “Natural” and “Horsemanship”.
What is actually natural about training, riding or working with horses in general? The moment you interact with a horse and apply any aid from the most gentle of halters to bits, spurs or any number of the contraptions we as humans feel necessary to cover up our incompetence in finding a channel of communication you have left “Natural” well and truly behind. You can argue that it is everything about your guardianship, the way you keep, feed, care and interact with them and under this umbrella would be barefoot, forage, paddock paradise, but sadly these are way down the list if they make it at all, with the focus on the training of the horse being the misguided priority.
The dictionary defines natural – ˈnatʃ(ə)r(ə)l adjective – “existing in or derived from nature; not made or caused by humankind”. Well that just blows everything up for if we are training horses what we achieve is made and caused by humankind!
So what about a noun – natural “a person having an innate talent for a particular task or activity”. Closer but no cigar. As all the greats and any horseman/woman of merit will tell you they have worked hard to hone their craft. It is a passion that runs through the veins, but a talent that we all nurture and feed everyday.
The dictionary defines horsemanship – ˈhɔːsmənʃɪp noun the art or practice of riding on horseback. Well that is the least of what I do!
It is a term that has become synonymous with a growing number of “band wagon jumping” individuals that think putting this after their names, means that they will be taken seriously. The problem with that is that most who don’t know any better think it is a qualification of sorts. It certainly has been a lucrative avenue for some who have managed to turn this innocuous yet meaningless phrase into a business. Most of whom have no right to use the word natural!
I guess the most important thing is what “Natural Horsemanship” means to me. I am a Horsewoman, I work with horses, I learn from them. My aim is to always communicate with respect, to allow the horse space to process and understand and most importantly to LISTEN! I am happy to evolve and grow without ego. I understand that the experience of others is a vital source of information and to share with and learn form others is an integral part of my development. It is a privilege to work with these incredible animals, but also a responsibility that I do not take lightly.
I am on a journey that is without end but that’s just fine with me. I have spent a lifetime just getting here, I am happy for my travels to go on a whiles…
