Natural horsemanship
Natural horsemanship is a collective term for a variety of horse training techniques which have seen rapid growth in popularity since the 1980s.[1][2] The techniques vary in their precise tenets but generally share principles of "a kinder and gentler cowboy"[3] to develop a rapport with horses,[4] using methods said to be derived from observation of the natural behavior of free-roaming horses[5] and rejecting abusive training methods.[1]
Natural horsemanship practitioners often describe the approach as being a radical departure from "traditional" techniques, which are often portrayed as being based in the use of unnecessary force.[1] Users and practitioners tend to relate benefits both in relation to the quasi-scientific narrative of the ethology of horse behavior, viewing the horse as "other", but also to the idea of an anthropomorphic partnership.[6] High-profile practitioners of natural horsemanship such as Monty Roberts and Pat Parelli market their methods and equipment extensively through books, television appearances, live shows and other media.[1] The natural horsemanship movement is controversial in the mainstream equestrian community, with criticism leveled at practitioners on a number of levels, while natural horsemanship advocates in turn are highly critical of more traditional methods.[7] Natural horsemanship promoters face criticism that their techniques are not "new" and are classical concepts that are simply renamed or repackaged in order to be able to sell products and merchandise.[8]
History
The idea of working in sympathy with a horse in order to obtain cooperation is not new, with documented instances as far back as the two part treatise
The modern natural horsemanship movement, though not originally described as such, developed primarily in the United States
In Europe a number of variations are practiced that developed independently of the American model, influenced by Spanish or Hungarian horsemanship traditions as well as the teachings of Classical dressage. Some include work rooted in the use of human body language to communicate effectively to the horse.[10][11]
The growth in the modern acceptance of the techniques (and the growth in marketing of them) has been increasing since the 1970s, with initial slow growth accelerating through the 1980s and 1990s.[6]
Nomenclature
The term "horse whispering" dates to nineteenth century Europe when an Irish horseman, Daniel "Horse-Whisperer" Sullivan (d. 1810), made a name for himself in England by rehabilitating horses that had become vicious and intractable due to abuse or accidental trauma.[12][13] John Solomon Rarey, a nineteenth century American trainer, was summoned to Windsor Castle in 1852 by Queen Victoria to demonstrate his Rarey technique on her wildest horses.[14] Some natural horsemanship practitioners do not use the term "horse whisperer" to describe themselves,[15] and some horse trainers dislike the "horse whispering" moniker to the extent that they openly ask that the term not be applied to them.[16]
"Natural horsemanship" is a more recent term, originating in the western United States, and not coming into popular use until around 1985.
The movement has led many people in the horse industry to question "traditional" practices and to look at learning theory and equitation science to better understand horse behavior.[20]
Within the Natural Horsemanship movement, the phrases "traditional" or "traditional methods" generally refer to brutal methods of horse-breaking that trained horses by dominating the horse and breaking its spirit.[21] Some of these techniques are attributable to simple human failings such as ignorance or machismo.[22] Others were derived from certain types of military training that insisted upon complete submission and learned helplessness from the horse, with misbehavior attributed to deliberate acts by the horse instead of a reaction to pain or fear of the handler.[20] Still others were attributed to equipment and methods used on rodeo horses in the speed events such as calf roping and barrel racing.[9]: 141–142
However, some practitioners of more classical training methods take issue with the characterization of "traditional" methods of training as "inhumane",[23] noting that gentle techniques have always existed.[24] Some natural horsemanship advocates acknowledge that there are "traditional" techniques that can be used in a humane manner, even suggesting that multiple styles can be used together in a complementary fashion.[25]
Common theories
Techniques and precise theories vary between practitioners of natural horsemanship, but the central theme is that they advocate training and handling techniques which they assert are kind and gentle.[6] Part of the premise of natural horsemanship is that teaching through pain and fear does not result in the type of relationship that benefits both horse and handler.[26]
Like almost all horse training, the principal teaching aid is the use of
Many techniques focus on the extensive use of ground handling to build rapport and mutual understanding with the horse. Methods include the use of leading and suppling exercises, and training the horse on a lunge line or loose lead in a round pen.
Most natural horsemanship practitioners advocate use of a type of
Efficacy
A 2009 small-scale study of the efficacy of natural horsemanship techniques compared to "traditional" exercises indicated that natural horsemanship exercises could be more efficient at improving the human–horse relationship and reduce stress on the horse during training without compromising technical performance.[32][33] A 2012 study, however, questioned some types of round pen training on the grounds that pressure-release methods do not enhance horse-human interaction (as remote-controlled cars were used to elicit similar responses) but actually control the horse through fear and for that reason may be less humane than originally thought.[34]
Criticism
The natural horsemanship movement has been criticized from a number of angles. The first criticism is that claims of natural horsemanship being something new and different are wholly unfounded, that similar methods have been around for a very long time.[35] Some practitioners, particularly in classical dressage and other English riding disciplines, consider much of the movement to simply be the application of humane methods of classical horsemanship that have been practiced for centuries.[24] However, many natural horsemanship practitioners acknowledge that they did not invent natural horsemanship and credit earlier work in humane horse-handling techniques.[citation needed]
Another common concern is that the movement has been promoted with too much hype and marketing. In particular, there are concerns that stories of near-miraculous results can mislead beginners to believe that they can accomplish miracles with their horses with little effort, education, or experience in horse training.[36] A related concern is that practitioners rename common pieces of horse equipment and then sell their branded versions for premium prices.[37] Some trainers view the use of particular brands or styles of common equipment as having more to do with personal preference than anything else.[2] Others view certain tools as unneeded or prone to misuse.[38] Practitioners counter that the equipment that they sell, such as rigid sticks and yachting-braid rope, have distinct characteristics that lend themselves to natural horsemanship training.[citation needed]
In particular, the characterization of traditional methods of training as inhumane does not accurately describe classic training methods.[23] Though some critics acknowledge that some historical techniques were not always gentle, they point out that gentle techniques have always existed as well.[24] Others express concern that natural horsemanship fails as a complete method of horse training.[39]
Other trainers point out that the very act of catching and training horses is not "natural" at all, that nothing people do with horses is actually "natural" to the horse.[2][17][24] Other authors such as Lawrence Scanlan suggest that "Domestication [of the horse] was a natural consequence... for those.. who were more curious, less territorial, less aggressive, more dependent [and] better able to deflect human aggression through submission".[40]
Overuse of negative reinforcement in any training method to increase rates of desired behaviors can produce anxiety and stress in the horse until the
See also
- Domestication of the horse
- The Horseman's Word
- Rarey technique
- Equine ethics
References
- ^ doi:10.1163/156853007X217177. Archived from the original(PDF) on April 14, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Rashid, Mark (2008). "All things Natural". Markrashid.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
- ^ Chapman, Carol (January 20, 2013). "Horse Sense". Texas Monthly. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
- PMID 10767957.
- ISBN 978-0-911647-84-6.
- ^ . Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ISBN 978-0816076277.
- ISBN 9781109166705.
- ^ PMID 10767957.
- ^ Hempfling, Klaus Ferdinand. Dancing With Horses
- ^ Sárffy, Tamás. "Appalossa Ranch". Appalossa Ranch Home Page. Archived from the original on 2010-06-20. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
- ^ Tachyhippodamia, Willis J. Powell, p. iv
- ^ Twiss, Henry F. (1927). "Mallow and some Mallow men". Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society. Chapter. VII. The Society: 7.
- ^ New York Daily Tribune, January 7, 1861, p. 3.
- ^ "Horse Sense". Monty Roberts.
- ^ "Karon helps racehorses romp home with a new lease of life". Fife Today.
- ^ a b c Moates, Tom (21 March 2009). "The Myth of Natural Horsemanship | Eclectic Horseman Magazine". Eclectic Horseman Magazine. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- ^ Miller, p. 36
- ^ Rashid, Mark. "Natural Horsemanship". Archived from the original on 2015-07-03.
- ^ PMID 17157542. Archived from the original(PDF) on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ "Traditional Horse Training Methods". Equine Online. Sydney TAFE. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ Meyer, Jennifer Forsberg. "Horse Training or Abuse?". Horse & Rider. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ ISBN 0-7645-7820-0. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ a b c d Wilson, Julie (March 16, 2010). "Natural Horsemanship: Just what EXACTLY about it is natural?". Thoughtful Dressage. Archived from the original on August 19, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
- ^ Jones, Vicki (August 7, 2015). "Natural Horsemanship versus Traditional Horse Training". Naylor Blog. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-385-41398-5.
- ^ "Halter". Parelli Shop. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ "Hackamore". Parelli Shop. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ "Leads and Longe Lines". Rope Horse Tack. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ Cook, W Robert. "Pathophysiology of bit control in the horse" (PDF). Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.
- ^ Lesté-Lasserre, Christa (April 13, 2012). "Researcher Evaluates Bit, Rein Interaction with Equine Mouth". The Horse.
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- ^ University of Sydney (July 13, 2012). "Researchers urge rethink of 'Monty Roberts' horse training method". Phys.org. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ "Charles Willhelm". RFD-TV. Archived from the original on 2007-06-09. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
- ^ Davis, Karen Leigh. "Natural Horsemanship :: Types of Horsemanship". Everything.com. Archived from the original on 2009-10-14. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
- ^ EoR (June 3, 2006). "Unnatural Horsemanship 3". The Second Sight. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
- ^ "Burning the flag may not be such a bad idea…". Fugly Horse of the Day. 2009-05-06. Archived from the original on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Abbot, Julie. "Racinet Remembered". 48. Horses for Life. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
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(help) - ISBN 978-0-06-093114-8.
- ^ Sidman, M. (2001) Coercion and its fallout Boston: Authors Cooperative
Sources
- Dr. Robert M. & Rick Lamb (2005). The Revolution in Horsemanship. Globe Pequot. pp. 35–40. ISBN 978-1-59228-387-3.