A positive approach to horsemanship

You may call it natural horsemanship, gentle handling, or honest horsemanship. You may say it is new and revolutionary, or site many examples of this philosophy of horse handling from way back in time.

Thanks to several great horsemen, clinicians and even salesmen, the word is getting out there, now more so than ever. Finally, it is not only accepted but expected to treat your horse with due respect, and still have him or her respect you back. Not just fear you. We can scour for downsides and faults, and many do, but in general, we seem to agree this is a good thing for horse and rider alike.

I am grateful for learning gentler ways of handling, training, working with and relating to my horses. I believe there is a lesson that can be learned from every person, every situation, ever day, if we are willing and able to listen, and put our ego and pride aside. I consider myself a beginner. Beginners, if we accept that is what we are, have less ego. Learning is easier, faster. Everything is new, everything is possible. Though no doubt, quite overwhelming at times. But we have to be careful: before long, we too may feel we know the answers and become blind to the real questions at hand.

As much as anything, all the books, DVDs, clinics, spectacles, etc. are opening up our eyes to think a little bit more about our horses and how we relate with them. Suddenly we are considering that just because it was done a certain way for years and it seemed to work, perhaps there is another way. Perhaps there is a better way.

Often there are no clear right or wrong answers in working with horses, likewise no black or white answers to our many questions about everything in life. Each horse is an individual, as is each one of us. Each horse is different, and each situation and circumstance is different. Many people now have been taught a positive approach to horsemanship from the get go. Others of us learned what is considered “old school.” We were taught force and domination. Somewhere along the way, we become more comfortable in the grey areas. We learn to let go of our old beliefs as we see new truths unfolding before our very eyes. We see things working! We begin to see there are other routes of training and working together with our horses besides force and brutality on one hand, or getting stepped all over and being out of control on the other.

We can take this positive approach to horsemanship, and remember that it not only makes us better horsemen, but it makes us better people. Horsemanship by the Golden Rule?

I am only just beginning. But I am so pleased with what I see.