How "Natural" are you?

[marecare]

The "Natural Horsemanship" thing has been around for a few years and has really taken off with video and RFDTV.

The "Old Timers" that practiced softer techniques never had this advantage and we all know that soft methods have been around for a very long time also.

How do you solve problems with horses and how far will you "Ramp up" to get the job done?

How much "Force" are you willing to use to accomplish the task at hand?

What is the "Line" that you will not cross?


Please respect each others personal beliefs and keep it civil.

Thank You

[mart]

People seem to think its something new but like you said,,, natural horsemanship has been around a long time !! Most of what I know came from a bunch of cutting horse trainers !! And believe me,, they didn`t ever use force to train !! Nor did I ever see one hit a horse other than maybe a pop with the leadrope if necessary !! Most of the things that took stronger measures had already been accomplished when the horses were young !! Before they are even started !! And none of that was detrimental to the horse, but it was in teaching proper manners !! If a colt bit,, he got a pop on the nose,, if he kicked,, those legs got it !! If the proper training is done when they are foals and young horses,, force usually isn`t necessary !! As far as a line I will not cross,,, I never cause any of my horses pain of any kind in the name of "training" !!

[My Ladyhawke]

I agree with Mart. Just watch the herd in the pasture. You need to be the "leader" of the pack" and they will chose the pecking order. I do not believe in abusing or beating a horse into submission like some do. While training, I always end on a positive note. They sometimes have bad days also just like us and you drop it and try later. I had a farrier that was working with my yearling. He came out to work on her feet one day and I wasn't home from work yet. When I got here my daughter was beside herself because if Lacey would not hold still he would whip her and he had her back leg tied to his truck. She did not have a dry spot on her. I told him to leave and came back. I did hear later that a horse finally got him in a precarious situation and kicked the crap out of him. What goes around comes around in my book. There are some horses that are not the sharpest pencils in the stack and take more time. If you do not have the time and patience to be working with horses you should give it up. I do what it takes to get the job done with no abuse. Like Mart says, if they try to bite, whack him quickly and forget it, etc. It will usually stop after a few repetitions. THEY ARE VERY INTELLIGENT CREATURES, MOST ARE TRAINABLE AND SOME NOT.

[evilsamii]

Its a shame theres no video of the farrier getting what he deserves lol. I agree with you guys Ive only owned about 5 horses and have only had to hit one and that was because its stupid previous owner (who had her 4yrs) decided that if she put her ears back that meant you should just let her do what she wanted. If she even saw you with a lead rope in your hand shed somehow run at you on two front legs while trying to rearrange your face with the back ones. She was taught how to get her own way simply because her owner was to kind and to scared to teach her any manners. She got one big smack on the butt and then I chased her for about an acre lol then bought her back up and worked in the yard and she was perfectly behaved. If I knew shed been treated cruelly i wouldve had a bit more patience but she was just a spoilt cow.She was given to me for my daughter who being shorter than me couldve ended up with brain damage. I was just as disgusted by the owners irresponsableness as I have been with any form of animal cruelty.

[jlbackcountry]

I agree - if they try to bite - they get popped.
They rear - their legs get whacked.

It doesn't take excessive force and I refuse to allow anyone to ride my horse with spurs and/or a crop. I've used the end of my leadrope once or twice to get him going a bit, but after that he listened to my cues and went as I asked.

Razz's previous owner thought it was "cute" and that he was "loving on you" when he rubbed his head up and down your body. That landed their grandson into an electric fence and Razz got a bridle upside the head [ their grandson did this ]. I got him cured of that quick. I'd do anything I could to make him take his head away and he learned quick that if his face touched my chest in full-contact mode and he started to rub he'd get tapped. He learned quick not to do that. He's an awesome boy, but he needs to be put out to pasture. I feel this is well earned - with the occasional ride every once in a while.