Beginning Natural Horsemanship..any tips??

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Lauraoscardillon

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With my new horse i want to start natural horsemanship...i dont know too much about it, anyone got any ideas or tips to start me off? I've seen Parelli but didn't know about other methods, anyone got any pointers to begin with? I have an arena i can work with him in off the lead rein
 
Try the Intelligent Horsemanship website (Kelly Marks). I had a Recommended Associate out to me last year to help with some issues I had and it was really useful. I'd definitely use one again. It might be worth finding one in your local area and getting them to come out to give you a lesson or two, to start you off.

Kelly Marks' book, Perfect Manners, is quite useful as well.

The only problem I have now is that I'm having trouble getting my horse to do in hand schooling (think lateral work etc) because he just wants to follow me around! Have got to get my usual riding instructor to give me some in hand lessons (as opposed to handling/groundwork lessons) to get us working properly!
 
aww no hehe!!

To begin with I would want to form a bond with him, I'v heard joining up is really worth while, but again i know nothing about it!! anyone ever done this?
 
I'd stear clear of paralli if you're new, now matter how much they say it can be done by anyone if you pay for all the levels too may horses are ruined by it by people who don't know what they're doing, it's too easy to go wrong. Most of intelligent horsemanship is common sense to be honest and very understandable
 
I agree with chestnut cob. Definately go to the Intelligent horsemanship website, they have courses, experts who will come to you and a forum like this one but a bit fluffier. to get an idea of the training go on to the horse and coutry tv website and you can watch episodes of Monty Roberts programme to get an idea of there practices. have fun.
 
Hiya - i think it depends what you want with your horse, and hy you want to go down the 'natural route' really. Try and get an overview of everything before you make a decision, and don't believe it's natural just because it says so on the tin!!

Parelli, for example, says it's natural but actually there is really nothing about it that is (without going into the whole debate about nothing being natural anyway because if so we wouldn't ride etc etc)... parelli is pressure and release based, and therefore certainly no 'kinder' than the common sense usual british method. In fact basically by using a pressure halter and so on, the hrose is having to supress its natural urge to run away from things, whihc can result in horses ending up as my friends' youngster is - suppressed and quiet, with outbursts of bucking when things get too tough and she can no longer cope with suppressing. of course that's a gross generalisation and many people may shoot me down, but it's a well-established belief.

Kelly Marks/Monty Roberts etc go on the basis of, if you can move the horse's feet, you are its boss and it respects you - wiht msot (n.b. not all) horses you begin wiht a join up. personally i don't like to begin a relationship with a horse by showing it that i have the ability to make it run away - MR himself says this is its startle response and therefore is basically in pain mode and must run 1/4 mile before it will turn around and think you might be safe. Personally i think there are better ways though of course works well for many people. After this stage you've got mroe pressure and release stuff. some people argue again this is supression based.

The other main school which is less wellknown but in my opinion, exceptionally eceptional (!) is using positivity based leanring as in the NAtural Animal Centre (google them). This is based on actual science, and goes on the theory that the horse learns best when it is calm adn happy. They aim to teach the horse everything when it is ready to learn, adn when it wants to - e.g. my friend is a practitioner, and her horse will happily stand in the field while she tacks it up and climbs on board. she's used no domination tactics or anything (as the other approaches would to achieve same end), but instead move don step by step building up to putting on saddle in field until he's actually happy - this is a horse that was nervous to begin wiht. when the hrose is relaxed and happy it can both learn better and think better.

My nervy cob has absolutely changed and is now laid back 90% of the time, and absolutely loves being around people (he's like a puppy) - before i bought him, nobody could catch him and he cowered in his stable. They use clicker training too for some stuff (lots of poeple shun this wiht horses but wiht no reason).

I know i'm a bit biased, as we all are of course, and am expecting lots of diagreeing responses of course - my point is jsut to learn as much as you can about different schoold of thought before you start, and don't just go wiht the best-marketed one!! :-)

good luck!!
 
My tip - don't ask on HHO
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