Natural horsemanship goes about things a little differently.
It’s a discipline that strives for the partnering of rider with horse.
“It’s about respect and dignity with the horse. We train our horses through communication and body language,” said Marsha Friedel.
A group called the Natural Horse Riders of Alberta (NHRA), which is made of like-minded individuals who communicate through email, said Amy Dorland, visited Horse Creek Ranch on the weekend to train with their horses.
“We’re able to train our horses without fear, force, intimidation, mechanics, tools or drugs. We use horse language. Instead of trying to get the horse to speak our language or understand our world, we try to understand their world, and we become a partner with the horse,” said Dorland.
The bond between rider and horse is the focal point of horsemanship in the eyes of those practicing the discipline.
“We partner with the horse rather than treating it as if it’s a tool, like a motorcycle or something like that,” said Dorland.
The discipline is meant to form a foundation for the horse before it specializes in some form of equestrian ability like endurance riding or show jumping.
“It’s foundation before specialization. We make sure we have a solid foundation on our horse before we compete. We’re not throwing young horses out in competition before they’re ready,” said Dorland.
Horses have the skills they need to thrive and relate with their kind. It’s adding the human element that complicates things. Horses already know how to move forward, backward, left and right, so it’s not humans that teach it how to do that, said Mike O’Reilly.
“A horse will go faster, jump higher, and give more out of heart and desire than by fear, mechanics or intimidation,” said Pat Parelli.
Horses with riders who practise natural horsemanship are often seen standing in place while their reins are unhitched.
“I don’t have to do anything different. She isn’t going to run away even though she isn’t hitched because I’m not with her right now,” said O’Reilly.
The rider practising natural horsemanship can control his or her horse with specific communicative cues without much else. They can ride without contact, either a loose rein or bridle-less and bareback, said Donna Belerive while bareback riding her horse, Shadow.
The NHRA will be announcing its autumn trail ride in Drayton Valley soon. The trail is for advanced trail riders only.
“The river valley trails are challenging, particularly if the trail is muddy, and there is a river crossing that will get your girth wet,” said Dorland.
Anyone interested in the NHRA can check out its website at www.nhra.homestead.com or can contact Dorland at [email protected].
