Natural horsemanship - What to read

[ClaretCarrot]

I have a curiosity in natural horsemanship for various reasons. I would like to do some reading up on it. Where can I get more info without getting too lost? I'm not really sure where to start or where to get more info. Thanks in advance!

 

[Ladyinred]

Natural Horsemanship per se doesn't really exist, it's an umbrella term for many alternative and fringe methods ranging from Parelli and Monty Roberts to some pretty far-out characters in different countries.

I would suggest you read one of Mark Rashid's books, although, to muddy the waters still further he is determined he is NOT an NH practitioner...

The term itself has got a bad press in many places for many reasons which is why the likes of Mark R prefer not to have their head under that umbrella!

Please feel free to PM if you would like pointing towards the best and the worse of alternative methods!

 

[gnubee]

Stacey Westfall has a video series on YouTube called Jac about starting a young Colt that is s really interesting window into how the principles can be applied on a real horse throughout its training.

 

[Makemineacob]

Have a look on you tube, there are numerous people who I would recommend, Warwick Schiller, Martin Black, Buck Brannahman to name just a few. There are a lot of people out there that I wouldn't personally "subscribe" to for my own personal reasons (Monty Roberts, Parelli), it is however, personal choice and you need to decide for yourself which style of "training" suits what you want to achieve.

Mark Rashid is amazing and recommend all his books.

There are also some very good more trainers who work more specifically with certain breeds - like working with issues with retrained standardbreds/trotters etc, if you are looking for specific re-training.

 

[Landcruiser]

Mark Rashid, especially his earlier books. Avoid Parelli. Stacey Westfall, Buck Brannahman, and I know Monty gets some bad press but I have got a lot from watching and reading his stuff over the years. You have to do what works for you and your horse.

 

[sarahann1]

Wouldn't touch Parelli with a big stick, Warwick Schiller, Richard Winters and Richard Maxwell would be my choices.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Anything by Richard Maxwell. Lots of vids on YouTube which are worth watching.

Avoid parelli. Like the plague.

 

[Amirah]

Mark Rashid and Michael Peace, both amazing. I'm not a fan of parelli either. I wish Michael Peace didn't live at the other end of the country, I'd love to have a session with him.

Mark Rashid's books are really enjoyable reads too, very funny in places.

 

[chestnut cob]

I really like Kelly Marks as a good introduction to it and some of her books are excellent if you're just starting out and want some practical advise.
I love Buck Brannaman - try to get the documentary film about his life, "Buck". It's on Netflix if you have that. Really worth watching, excellent film. I've also read the book it's based on, The Faraway Horses, and some of his other stuff. My dream is to go and see one of his clinics, I think he's incredible.

 

[Damnation]

Mark Rashid, especially his earlier books. Avoid Parelli. Stacey Westfall, Buck Brannahman, and I know Monty gets some bad press but I have got a lot from watching and reading his stuff over the years. You have to do what works for you and your horse.

I have been to both a Monty Roberts demo and a Kelly Marks Demo.

I was incredibly impressed with Kelly, I worked at the yard the demo was at and I knew the mare she was using as a bad loader (my horse's crazy field friend!) and I also know she did not work the horse at all beforehand. She was brilliant.

Anything by Richard Maxwell. Lots of vids on YouTube which are worth watching.

Avoid parelli. Like the plague.

I've always liked Richard Maxwell, yes, RUN from Parelli! I wouldn't touch them with a carrot stick.

Mark Rashid and Michael Peace, both amazing. I'm not a fan of parelli either. I wish Michael Peace didn't live at the other end of the country, I'd love to have a session with him.

Mark Rashid's books are really enjoyable reads too, very funny in places.

I forgot about Michael Peace, he is fantastic, I have one of his books.

To be honest OP it is a case of looking at alot of different people and piecing together what you like, what you don't like and almost developing your own little method that you and your horse are comfortable with. For E.g I like a few of Month Roberts concepts, however, I wouldn't regligeously folllow just that method as there are also other bits I don't agree with.

 

[HunkyDory]

I've spent lots of time in the US, on different Indian reservations. Many mid-western native nations call themselves Horse Nations. When you watch them with their horses, it becomes obvious why. There is no 'breaking', no 'dominance' and no real mouth contact involved in their horse training. Horses are their 'relatives' so everything is based on respect and I suppose what could be termed as 'natural' horsemanship but without the psychobabble. They watch how horses socialise and create relationships based on that, unique to each horse. They don't have a lot of money to throw at expensive tack and equipment and they are some of the best riders I have ever seen. Out of all those mentioned, I kind of like Buck Brannahman because I can see how his own vulnerabilities as a human being abused by his father facilitate trust with an animal with no agenda.

 

[windand rain]

Richard Maxwell would be my choice as he learns and develops all the time what he did ten years ago is very differnt to what he does now. He evolves his way to suit the horse and Its problems and he is an altogether nice approachable man.

 

[Morgan123]

Because NH is such a minefield (it's the same as saying 'alternative medicine' - impossible to define), perhaps it would be better to set out what you want to achieve from it?? What is it that you're interested in? What sort of approach do you want to take with your horse? People could then point you in the direction of different ways of achieving this.

For example, many of the 'NH' approaches are actually about dominance, and use negative reinforcement to establish dominance and 'leadership' over the horse. Perhaps this is what you're looking for?

Others, such as MArk Rashid and Michael Peace, take a less structured approach and use negative reinformcement mainly, but aim to make it 'easy for the horse to do the right thing'.

Before you do any of it, though, have a look at ACTUAL horse behaviourists (trained ones!! NH 'trainers' are often not qualified in equine behaviour or psychology), and see what sorts of approaches are encouraged by these groups; often they promote a more holistic positive reinforcement based approach, based on the ways the horse actually learns.

Obviously I'm making vast generalisations and may be shot down, but hopefully you get the gist .

 

[fburton]

Some super answers have been given already. I don't have much to add except to agree Mark Rashid's books are very readable, he makes a lot of sense and avoids the woo woo that emanates from some quarters of NH.

Who is worth watching is another question.

 

[GermanyJo]

Warwick Schiller, down to earth, very understandable and principles are simple and applicable regardless of your discipline.....Also Tristan...?? Can't remember the surname...TT Training ...sure someone else can fill in the gaps

 

[ClaretCarrot]

Thanks a million everybody. Lots to research and read. I saw a Buck Brannaman demo, and maybe he was just having a quiet day but all I saw was him spinning horses with very little explanation! So hopefully its more clear when I read up.
I bought Mark Rashid books a few years ago and never got a chance to read them so I loaned them to someone abd I cant for the life of me remember who I might just have to go ahead and buy them again

 

[Kaylum]

There is nothing like trying out different methods for yourself we are lucky as our local rescue centre hosts different workshops where you can train with instructors who specialise in different methods using the rescue animals.

 

[MrsMurs]

Warwick schiller has some interesting videos posted to you tube, and I know a few people who rate Clinton Anderson's methods.

 

[Yardbird]

Try theses books by Robert M Miller. Natural Horsemanshio explained and The Revolution in Horsemanship for an overview .

 

[fburton]

Try theses books by Robert M Miller. Natural Horsemanshio explained and The Revolution in Horsemanship for an overview .

Be aware that he has a particular and very definite set of ideas about horses, such as the role of dominance, that not everyone accepts - and that tends to colour what he writes.

 

[ClaretCarrot]

Because NH is such a minefield (it's the same as saying 'alternative medicine' - impossible to define), perhaps it would be better to set out what you want to achieve from it?? What is it that you're interested in? What sort of approach do you want to take with your horse? People could then point you in the direction of different ways of achieving this.

Well i've struggled with one of my horses schooling and some behavioural issues (mainly napping) have crept in. Dealing with them in the "traditional method" made them worse. He is also very much a horse that needs a leader and I havent been that for him. I would also like to create a bond with him. I want a happy calm trusting horse. I also want to try bitless as I dont think he's happy with a bit.

It turns out he had an issue with his Altas so that may have contributed to him starting to nap. But me trying to bully him past the places where he naps broke our trust. I'm trying to rebuild that trust and I want to make sure I dont mess up again in the future.

 

[JillA]

Thanks a million everybody. Lots to research and read. I saw a Buck Brannaman demo, and maybe he was just having a quiet day but all I saw was him spinning horses with very little explanation! So hopefully its more clear when I read up.
I bought Mark Rashid books a few years ago and never got a chance to read them so I loaned them to someone abd I cant for the life of me remember who I might just have to go ahead and buy them again

If you can only read one author it would be Mark Rashid for me. He explains in a lovely anecdotal way how to look at things from the horse's viewpoint, and that for me is the definition of natural horsemanship - working with the horses nature. Behavioural approach, not living as nature intended - nature can be very cruel and equines suffer and die due to lack of the expertise humans have developed over many years.

 

[Damnation]

I've spent lots of time in the US, on different Indian reservations. Many mid-western native nations call themselves Horse Nations. When you watch them with their horses, it becomes obvious why. There is no 'breaking', no 'dominance' and no real mouth contact involved in their horse training. Horses are their 'relatives' so everything is based on respect and I suppose what could be termed as 'natural' horsemanship but without the psychobabble. They watch how horses socialise and create relationships based on that, unique to each horse. They don't have a lot of money to throw at expensive tack and equipment and they are some of the best riders I have ever seen. Out of all those mentioned, I kind of like Buck Brannahman because I can see how his own vulnerabilities as a human being abused by his father facilitate trust with an animal with no agenda.

Can I just say, that sounds absolutely amazing! I would love that type of opportunity!