Are You Ready to ‘Go Natural?’

Millions of Americans read the book or saw the movie, “The Horse Whisperer,” and were amazed at the connection between trainer and horse. How can a human being communicate so effectively and intuitively with a creature that doesn’t speak our language? The answer is pretty straightforward- by learning to communicate like a horse. Natural Horsemanship is based on understanding the natural herd hierarchy or pecking order, how horses use body language to communicate and the understanding of horses’ ‘explosive flight’ instincts that have helped protect them from natural predators.

The movement has evolved from training techniques to tack and equipment that further instill the principles of Natural Horsemanship. For example, treeless saddles are constructed differently than traditional saddles. They allow a rider to actually feel the horse beneath them, creating greater communication between horse and rider. Because of their softness and flexibility, they’re also more comfortable for the horse. Bitless bridles are becoming increasingly popular as a gentler yet highly effective tool for riders to control their horses. While the practice of stuffing a metal bit into a horse’s mouth dates back centuries, today’s savvy equestrians are discovering that bitless bridles don’t compromise their control.

Zoe Brooks, a quality management consultant and horse farm owner, admits her first foray into owning a horse didn’t start with the mutual caring relationship she expected. Instead, her horse Hazel pushed her around. That’s when Zoe did some research and began using Natural Horsemanship methods. Hazel was content to take trail rides outfitted in a rope halter with no bit. But as soon as Zoe tried riding her with a bit and bridle Hazel’s personality changed and she became combative. That’s what led Zoe to design the Nurtural No-Bit Bridle.

“When you think about the mechanics of shoving a harsh hunk of steel into a horse’s mouth, it sounds rather barbaric,” says Brooks, co-founder of Nurtural Horse products. “Attila the Hun succeeded by teaching his army to control their horses with metal bits. While today’s bits aren’t as primitive, the fact is that much of our modern equestrian practice evolved from military training. The idea behind the bitless bridle is that if you remove the distraction and pain of a bit, the horse and owner are happier.”

Bitless bridles are gaining credibility among all sectors of the horse set; from the casual pleasure rider to the precision of Grand Prix Dressage riders, horse owners are discovering the difference ‘going Natural’ can make. They feel like their horses are calmer and happier to be with them.

While Natural Horsemanship is often viewed as a ‘softer’ way to train, it focuses on teaching the horse that the relationship is a partnership, with the human as the dominant ‘horse’ who must be respected. By catering to the horse’s innate knowledge and instincts, the animal feels secure and willingly turns to its human teammate for leadership.

While many horse lovers see the value in the Natural Horsemanship movement, they may balk at bitless bridles, believing they all look like a standard hackamore. The often bulky or rudimentary appearance of hackamores doesn’t seem to mesh too well with the grace and poise required when showing. But bitless bridles have become so refined and elegant in appearance, that at first glance, many riders don’t even realize a horse isn’t using a standard bitted bridle. “Once they see the responsiveness and control that a bitless bridle can offer, most riders become interested,” says Brooks. “After all, what horse owner wouldn’t want to find a more nurturing and gentle way to work with the horse they love?”


For more information visit www.nurturalhorse.com.

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Zoe was born and raised in the tiny town of Port Loring in Northern Ontario. She was a devoted horse lover from birth, explaining that some people are born with a love of horses and their souls feel complete in their company.

Zoe got her first horse when she and her husband Guy bought a farm. She designed and patented the Nurtural No-Bit Bridle after seeking a better way to ride her own horse, Hazel. Zoe is living proof that horse lovers come from all walks of life. She leads ‘another life’ in the world of quality management consulting for medical labs. She pioneered the concept of “Performance-Driven Quality Control,” and is the author of a textbook by the same name published by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry. Zoe is on faculty at The University of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark, NJ where she teaches an online post graduate course in Clinical Laboratory Data Analysis. Her quality control work has taken her across Canada, the US and to Korea, Taiwan, China, Thailand, England and Wales. She’s served as keynote speaker and presented workshops in Australia, Finland and Bermuda.

Zoe also publishes articles and maintains a web site dedicated to laboratory quality management. She also designs and presents seminars, workshops, home study courses, CDs and software programs for quality management.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

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Reading the Subtle Clues of Horse Language

Author: Mariam Ma

It is with obvious Hollywood trickery that the famous “Mr. Ed” the horse did not actually talk on the classic TV show of the same name. However, this does not mean that horses cannot communicate with humans. We just have to “listen” carefully. Here are some regulary horse expressions. Instead of reading lips, try reading the ears of a horse. The ears of a horse can express a lot of what the equine is trying to say. When the horse’s ears are pinned back and he is showing you the whites of his eyes, watch out, he means business! There are milder versions of this expressions as his ears might be pulled back just because he’s annoyed or maybe he’s even listening to noises behind him. However, when the eyes are bugged out with ears pinned back flat, beware. The ears of a horse can show signs of aggression as mentioned above or signs of boredom. When the ears of a horse are turned back and jutting out gently, it is usually a sign of ennui.

Make sure that the horse is aware of your presence before your approach as not to risk startling him. The positions of ears to the back and to the side have been discussed. All that remains are ears in the forward position. At this position, it usually means that the horse is alert. Occasionally, he might turn his ears back when you’re riding him as to listen to your commands. Conversely, a horse might be ultra alert because he senses danger. Ears pricked forward and stiff along with tense muscles can signal fear.

Being prey animals, horses can pick up a lot of things to get twitchy about. If the horse does is constantly on high alert, gentle corrective measures should take place.

There are many nuances when reading a horse’s body language and its ears are just one aspect of learning the way horses communicate. However, it is his most expressive body part.

In horse racing, there is a famous expression, straight from the horse’s mouth to indicate who is the likely winner. This information jokingly comes from those in the trusted inner circle – being the horse himself. But from what we know of horse communication, perhaps it would be more accurate to change it straight from the horse’s ears? Perhaps, but it doesn’t have the same ring and the show Mr. Ed would not have been nearly as funny.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/reading-the-subtle-clues-of-horse-language-515786.html

About the Author: Mariam Ma is a freelance writer for Drop In Bucket, a great source for horse care supplies such as horse fly masks and horse fly sheets to keep those pests at bay.

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Short and Long Term Goals in Horse Training

Author: Alan Largo

For many of us, we find that it is far easier to achieve our goals if we set them by firmly imprinting them in our minds. Or it is even more preferable to write them down. Setting both short term and long term goals in horse training allows you to determine where you are heading and how to keep track of your accomplishments along the way. To aid in goal setting, always keep a log book of what horse training procedures you did, and also the times and dates along with the results. Knowing you are consistently achieving your goals can help you confidently continue to work towards them. Nothing seems to feel worse than to keep striving towards your goals and not really make much progress at all with them. If you are training your horse and not having much luck, it may be time to re-establish your goals. Of course, short term goals are the first essential steps in horse training. When you set any goals, make sure that you write them down! This will greatly help you to keep track of your goals and remind you what you hope to accomplish. Failure to write them down can be self-defeating.

Studies have shown that people who write down their goals are much more likely to succeed. Thirty-day goals are more ideal for smaller tasks such as getting your wild horse used to you and getting him/her to allow you to halter it more easily. These are very significant short term goals and crucial to your horse training success. Afterwards, you can set up sixty-day goals and ninety-day goals for more advanced horse training procedures. Pace yourself and do not try to race through it. Remember, like with anything else, it takes time. Goals are your dreams that you want to see realized. These are certainly what you hope to achieve in your horse training endeavors, both now and in the long run. Where do you want to be one year from now? Where would you like to be in five years, ten years or twenty years from this day? What exactly do you hope to achieve? Write down your answers and stick with them. Your short term and long term goals can be virtually anything, but it is important to make them realistic and achievable! There is no point in trying to set up goals that you know are unworkable and impossible to pull off. Wild horse training was never meant to be accomplished in just a couple of days or in a few weeks. It takes time, patience and perseverance.

Always remember to be fair with yourself and do not sell yourself short. It is important to remember that your goals should not be set in stone. If you find that you have not been able to accomplish certain goals within in a given time frame, you can always change the time line of your goals to make it more manageable. This is fully acceptable to do. Because remember, every horse is different and so is every trainer. When setting your goals, remember to take one step at a time and cross them off your list as you go. With each goal you cross off, you will feel a great sense of pride and accomplishment!

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