Natural Horsemanship Clinic

[kawaiihana]

Do any of you know what natural horsemanship is? Well, if you do, there will be a Steve Rother horsemanship clinic in Monroe, WA next Thursday between 5 and 8 pm. He teaches alot of great techniques to draw you and your horse closer to eachother. He gets his teachings from the famous horse man Pat parelli. If none of you know what I am talking about, I apologize, but it is not something I can explain in one message. If you wish to learn more, or are interested, please let me know. ^_^

[bustintrail]

Absolutely love natural horsemanship. I have been to several clinics and parelli seminars! Wish this one was closer..

[Lindsayanne]

I bought a horse that had previously been "trained" with parelli methods and I did a private clinic with a parelli trainer once. I was not impressed with either...

[quarterarabchili]

I bought a horse that had previously been "trained" with parelli methods and I did a private clinic with a parelli trainer once. I was not impressed with either...

I was wondering why you are not impressed with parelli or his trainer or both? I have been watching and i am interested in his was of training i am just curious on what you think.

[Lindsayanne]

I was wondering why you are not impressed with parelli or his trainer or both? I have been watching and i am interested in his was of training i am just curious on what you think.

I think 80% of it is classical methods with fancier names and overpriced orange sticks. ;) The other 20% is just silly.

My horse had been trained up to level two with parelli and was spoiled as they come. He would stop and try to "join up" whenever he was frustrated in training on long lines, instead of honestly working. He had no concept of the aids or working obediently, just did "tricks". About the only thing he got out of parelli was that he's bombproof, but my hunch is he's like that by nature.

I set up the clinic just so I could check out the NH thing and see where my horse was coming from. Honestly all I got out of it was a better understanding of where my horse's evasive maneuvers came from and why he did certain tricks to try and get out of work. :rolleyes:

I'm sure that NH done well and done by a professional and done on a horse that will never be asked for non-NH things turns out okay- I just don't think horse training is something that can be learned by video or "kits". All the NH trainers have had to dumb down their methods to fit them neatly on a marketable DVD, and appeal to a wide variety of owners. I think the average horse owner would do much better to spend that time and money watching and taking lessons with with a local trainer they trust and can ask questions.

[kawaiihana]

I don't watch his videos. I do NATURAL horsemanship. Not 'watch a video and copy someone' horsemanship. I have never met a horse like that before that knows NH, and I'm around alot of horses. It really only works when the trainer knows what they are doing as well. And you said you didn't know much about it. And that's fine, but if you were the one to train your horse with NH from the beginning.... it would be a different story. I honestly, do not like Parelli. He's just an overpriced trainer who thinks he's god. Like I said, I do natural horsemanship, which is along the same lines, but is less commercial. It is meant to create that bond between you and your companion. That is what I do it for... . You also earn their respect and trust to a deep level. You know your horse inside and out... I've tried many methods, and seen other trainers, and none of them have worked/share the same special bond as I do with my horse. I don't know. It's just my experience. Obviously not everyone is going to agree with that.

[Lindsayanne]

and honestly, once you train a horse using natural horsemanship, it creates a deep bond between you and your horse that you cannot create otherwise.

disagree.

You also earn their respect and trust to a deeper level. You know your horse inside and out... I've tried many methods, and seen other trainers, and none of them have worked/share the same special bond as I do with my horse.

I'm glad it has worked well for you. :)

[Fox Glove]

I really should just be quiet.
but alas I can not :(

I am older than most here,
and will only say a bit about my background here...
Because, anyone can say ANY thing here on the net..
and a lot of "horse lovers" can talk the talk,,
but sooner or later, you better throw a leg over a horse
and show me something !

I have a PC A lvl, have Fox Hunted, Been a whip for a few fine Hunt's
have my colours from them, raced timber, chased ,evented,shown,and loved
every single second of my life with horses..
For longer than some of you have been alive :)

We are all passionate about our horses, and the style of riding and training we use! but, there are many ways , and lot's of Johny come latleys are cashing in on OLD SCHOOL OLD FASHIONED COMMON HORSE SENSE,
and making a very good living out of it !

I too just got a horse that had Perilli training, or the Natural method..
Some of it is just BS ! sorry..
ANY one who spends time, training with consistancy, loving and caring for their horse , has a life CHANGING bond with that animal ,period!
There are things we can all take from ANY method, and ANY trainer
and apply them to make our experience and our lives with our horses better
No way is totaly right, no way is totaly wrong, just as in any aspect of life.
It is hard not to get defensive about something you think works..
But , when you do it deflates your expertise. not inflates it..
Respect is a two way street, but putting someone down does in no way make anyone right..
We all have rights to our opions, and some of us have the experince to feel our way is best. I belive someone just said , If it works for YOU !
and I have to whole heartledly agree, find what works for you, and make the most of every second you spend on and off your horse,
Each one of them is a precious learning, and loving experince that will shape the person you will become for the rest of your life..
Enjoy them, and each other.

Just my two pence!
Hugs all around,
Paula

[kawaiihana]

Agreed. ^_^

[Lindsayanne]

and lot's of Johny come latleys are cashing in on OLD SCHOOL OLD FASHIONED COMMON HORSE SENSE,

Amen


ANY one who spends time, training with consistancy, loving and caring for their horse , has a life CHANGING bond with that animal ,period!

And amen!!


So many of these "new methods" trace directly back to the writings of Xenophon in 500 B.C.! It's wild.

[Fox Glove]

I have never been quite sure why it is called common sense,
when it does not seem to be very common :D .

It just sorta chaps me to see people pay good money
for common knowlage, and re named training aides
that have been around, well since , as you said 500 B.C.

We all love our horses, we are all lucky to have them.
This time of year, I try to remind myself daily of that.
And remember the horses, and people who are not as lucky as us:)

/sap off.

Paula

[fallincowgrl2010]

I hate it when people start preaching that Natural Horsemanship is better.
And they yell at others who don't use it, even when they themselves don't.
Nobody understands that if they horse doesn't take to what they do they beat it.
That's all I have to say. Bye.


-Kaitlyn

[StarGirl]

All I have to say is everyone has their opinion and they are entitled to it. Now here is mine.

The "draw you and your horse closer together" thing is bologna. Maybe my horse and I are already as close as a horse and human could ever be. I have never used NH, I have my own way of doing things and they have been working great for me.

I don't like how big salesman for certain things try to sell it like people don't have a good enough relationship with their horse unless they buy $200 dvds and instruction videos, and therefore guilt causes some people to believe that they need certain training methods, when they don't.

I agree all you need is common sense. That's all I use with my girl, and we are doing great.

Like I said, it's my opinion.

[Comanchegurl14]

There are things we can all take from ANY method, and ANY trainer
and apply them to make our experience and our lives with our horses better
No way is totaly right, no way is totaly wrong, just as in any aspect of life.


I totally agree. I believe that you can take different methods from different trainers. Some people do certain things better than others. Personally, there are advantages to taking a look at lots of different trainers and choosing what each does best. Sort of making your own technique.

That's my piece of input...
Rachelle

[DarkChylde]

I completely agree with the disgust from salesmen that try to make you feel bad about the realtionship you have with your horse in order to sell their wares to you. Don't approve of places like LA Weight Loss and such for the same reasons.
But the 'natural horsemanship' technique (altho before a serious discussion of this goes on perhaps what is really defined by natural horsemanship should be established first) shouldn't be slandered for that fact alone. Now, there are alot of things that are called Natural Horsemanship that I don't think would really apply, but the techniques of Parelli or Monty Roberts or my personal favorite, Gawani Pony Boy have been effective for me in my training and working with horses. But, like a diet, if you go into it expecting it to fail, it will, no matter what it is.
In Top Horse Training Methods Explored by Anne Wilson, she interviews Richard Maxwell (as well as Monty Roberts, Pony Boy, Parelli, Sylvia Loch, Linda Telligton-Jones, Sylvia Stanier and Kelly Marks) and he said something I completely agree with.

Question 4: What is your opinion of Parelli Natural Horsemanship?
Max's reply: "Some people are very quick to knock other training methods. When the same person has taught these people and they are all working witht he same principles, if they put their counterparts down, then they are putting themselves down. I find this very silly and unecessary. The grandfather of this type of horsemanship is Tom Dorrance. If I find a better method than the one I am currently using, wherever it may come from, I will use it. This is what true horsemanship is all about - never being too proud to learn and keeping an open mind to other methods..."

And I give a hearty AMEN to that one. :)
Be Blessed!

[Mackoroni]

I agree on keeping an open mind. I have taken lessons from many different trainers with many different methods. Some worked with the particular horse I was on and some didn't. Now that I have my own horse I have found that the Natural Horsemanship works for us. However, if I were to ever find another method that would work as well, I certainly would give it a try. Like it was stated earlier, people become very defensive about their training methods. If someone were to put down your style you would get upset. I am not offended by what has been said, however when talking training methods horse people tend to stab eachother in the throat as to whose method is better. I wish it wasn't that way, but not everyone can have an understanding of different ways to do things.

[Comanchegurl14]

I completely agree with the disgust from salesmen that try to make you feel bad about the realtionship you have with your horse in order to sell their wares to you. Don't approve of places like LA Weight Loss and such for the same reasons.
But the 'natural horsemanship' technique (altho before a serious discussion of this goes on perhaps what is really defined by natural horsemanship should be established first) shouldn't be slandered for that fact alone. Now, there are alot of things that are called Natural Horsemanship that I don't think would really apply, but the techniques of Parelli or Monty Roberts or my personal favorite, Gawani Pony Boy have been effective for me in my training and working with horses. But, like a diet, if you go into it expecting it to fail, it will, no matter what it is.
In Top Horse Training Methods Explored by Anne Wilson, she interviews Richard Maxwell (as well as Monty Roberts, Pony Boy, Parelli, Sylvia Loch, Linda Telligton-Jones, Sylvia Stanier and Kelly Marks) and he said something I completely agree with.

Question 4: What is your opinion of Parelli Natural Horsemanship?
Max's reply: "Some people are very quick to knock other training methods. When the same person has taught these people and they are all working witht he same principles, if they put their counterparts down, then they are putting themselves down. I find this very silly and unecessary. The grandfather of this type of horsemanship is Tom Dorrance. If I find a better method than the one I am currently using, wherever it may come from, I will use it. This is what true horsemanship is all about - never being too proud to learn and keeping an open mind to other methods..."

And I give a hearty AMEN to that one. :)
Be Blessed!

I'd have to say I def agree with you, for many reasons too. The problems we have with the NH training come about from US expecting it to fail sometimes.(I suggest to watch a video called "The Secret" on this topic or read the book, It's Not JUST About the Ribbons) And sometimes it's because that kind of thing isn't right for our horses. Different horse, different personality. It's not ALL about a certain kind of training. You need to test different things on different horses and see which is best. I like to say that a real trainer is one that can look at different horses and and realize that they ALL need different training techniques. Some horses respond better to NH than others and when you expect something to fail it ALWAYS will. You can't just look at something without trying it and say "That doesn't work." cause you could be missing out on something that really would help your horse. I have not heard ANYONE in this thread say ANYTHING about NH possibly being better for certain horses than others so I'M gonna say it. Plus, it sounds like half of you haven't even tried it. If you haven't tried it how do you know that it would work or not?? And the money thing, you would spend 500 to 1000 dollars a month to send your horse to a trainer and you have the dvds for life. STOP judging the COST and the TYPE of training when you'd pay a WHOLE lot more to send your horse to a trainer and you haven't even tried the kind of training your ragging on. I personally HATE it when people rag on things that they haven't tried. If you haven't tried it, how do you know you'll like it and it'll work or not. Sorry if it sounds like I'm yelling and lecturing, but when people judge things they haven't tried and don't think about comparing cost and things evenly, it makes me kinda mad. So please, think about ALL the aspects and try it before you judge it....!!
God Bless,
Rachelle

And btw, trying to back your excuses with writings by Xenophon....I consider that kind of pathetic! There have DEF been changes and additions to his original writings!