Natural Horsemanship vs The Old Fashioned Way?

M

mcnaughty

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 August 2009
Messages
2,296
Visit site
Hi

I am rather confused and would like your advice.

I am an experienced horse owner of 30 years but with a 10 year gap recently to bring up kids. I now have a new mare (currently in foal) who is very green as she was only broken last Summer and I brought her on very slowly due to the pregnancy over the winter and she is now turned away in prep for the birth.

Anyway, she is a bit stroppy to handle - mainly green, not really nasty, no ears back or usual signs, just impatient and a bit pushy. In the old days I would have just given a horse like this a slap and told her to stand but would like to know of any other ideas from you?

Also, when I get back on her again I am expecting the same sort of ride I had a few months ago. Bit nappy and spinning when not sure of stuff. Again, sharp crack with a stick and forceful riding or patting and coaxing.

Seems to have all changed in 10 years!

Comments gratefully received please.
 
I'm of the 'Old fashioned Way IS Natural Horsemanship. I always try to treat my horses (and dogs) in a natural way, but that for me means behaving as one of their herd/pack but I am the leader. Watch a mare with her foal when she tells it off - quick nip - job done. The dogs are the same, a low grumble generally sorts out a hooligan, if not a quick snap that doesn't usually connect but gets the message over loud and clear. No mind blowing lengthy reasoning, just a short sharp NO.
I would say stick to the way you know. If she misbehaves, quick telling off and then praise when she does what you asked.
Have fun.
 
Different things work for different horses.

Some horse pack it in after a quick slap, but would take advantage of a softly-softly approach, others would freak out at direct confrontation but would blossom with positive reinforcement.

Personally I don't quite see the intellectual divide between two methods as neither can define either method and there is overlap anyway.
 
irish_only said:
I'm of the 'Old fashioned Way IS Natural Horsemanship. I always try to treat my horses (and dogs) in a natural way, but that for me means behaving as one of their herd/pack but I am the leader. Watch a mare with her foal when she tells it off - quick nip - job done. The dogs are the same, a low grumble generally sorts out a hooligan, if not a quick snap that doesn't usually connect but gets the message over loud and clear. No mind blowing lengthy reasoning, just a short sharp NO.
I would say stick to the way you know. If she misbehaves, quick telling off and then praise when she does what you asked.
Have fun.
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree!!! I have never understood the argument that they are different. I don't belive the 'old way' was particularly brutal or aggressive altho there are clearly people who go too far and mistreat their horses but I think there are some people who take the 'NH ways' too far the other way and make it too fluffy. It's all common sense at the end of the day.
 
irish_only said:
I'm of the 'Old fashioned Way IS Natural Horsemanship..
Click to expand...



:) You took the words right out of my mouth.

McNaughty, stick with what you and your mare are comfortable with, if it works for you then it isn't wrong. Valid points made in all the other posts.

Spaniel, LOL at worms:D
 
Last edited:
A Natural Horsemanship person would always want to know why the horse is behaving in a certain way and look at it from the horse's point of view. Hence a horse doesn't stand in the stable working out how to be awkward, nor does it know how to do anything unless it is told so it is never "stupid" If the horse doesn't do what is required it simply doesn't understand, so it is up to the handler/rider to explain better. That doesn't mean that you have to be soft and gooy, but nor does a horse have to be hit with a stick.

I am an "old fashioned" person to, but I had an awkward horse that wasn't responding to any of my handling as I thought it should. When I asked for advice and really thought about the problem, and looked at it from the horse's point of view we got on fine and turned a corner. And I think much more about that now, not just assume that the horse is "naughty."
 
She has been a broodmare all her life (9 year old now) so is pretty good at looking after herself I believe.

Just to give you an example of when things go wrong:

Poor to catch though not impossible - no ears back just moving away.
Bad to shoe - hammer shy when tapping in nails - especially behind. Actually could not get rear shoes on her so left bare because of impending foal arrival. Need to tackle that one come Christmas!
Tried to take out the vet at last visit because he dared to stick needles in her then had a very quick lift of her tail to check out that end. "Taking out" involved swinging round and double barrel..
Bit nervious in stable - softly approach works when approaching in stable.
Tiniest bit head shy but again softly approach allows ears to be pulled gently.

However, as I have said, no real menace or ears back at any time. Grooming all over no problem including touching udder.
 
I am of the traditional school of thought but I'm not sure where on the spectrum all the slapping or cracking comes?

Your mare sounds fearful and quite unhandled. I am not sure if slapping or cracking is the way to go? Perhaps spend some time getting her used to you and teaching what is expected of her in a non violent way?

When I got my large, unhandled 2 year old colt I found Kelly Mark's Perfect Manners book really helpful. It advises how to handle situations without being too physical - as a girl, that was fine for me!
 
ORANGEHORSE said:
A Natural Horsemanship person would always want to know why the horse is behaving in a certain way and look at it from the horse's point of view. QUOTE]

Yes, that makes perfect sense and is quite obvious, but it can hardly be called a new thing can it?

NH have not just discovered that, it is all this inference that they are the only people to ever do this that gets my hackles up, pondering (and acting upon) the reasoning behind behaviour is horsemanship, old, new, natural or any other trendy handle you care to put on it!
Click to expand...
 
ORANGEHORSE said:
A Natural Horsemanship person would always want to know why the horse is behaving in a certain way and look at it from the horse's point of view.
Click to expand...

Any person calling themselves a horseman of any type should be doing exactly the same thing and for a good 'old fashioned' horseman, it would be second nature but that still doesn't mean they can't be firm but fair.
Incidentally, yes, I'm of the old fashioned discipline school - but I am fair, not harsh and I can't believe how badly so many horses behave now, they're not even decently mannered in the most basic of things. Standards have slipped a lot and I don't think it's any coincidence with the emergence of the NH brigade.
 
It sounds like you are being kind and gentle when need be and a little firmer when need be. Maybe get a Monty Roberts book and have a read - his methods can help a lot with things like the nervousness in stable, headshy and dislike of shoeing.

I am not a new age bunny hugger, of the old fashioned is NH way school myself. Monty Rpberts ideas are hardly rocket science, but will definitely help you with the catching - when she walks away etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top