Evolutionary Horsemanship incorporates many methods and variations of Natural Horsemanship. These include learning to think like a horse and communicating to your horse like a horse. But it’s not just another Natural Horsemanship method. It’s not just “round penning” and it’s not your grandfather’s way of horse training. Why is it evolutionary? Because we’ve evolved to more humane, communication-oriented methods of horse teaching and moved away from the more dominant, aggressive methods of whips, chains, tie-downs and punishment. Evolutionary Horsemanship encompasses much more than basic groundwork and riding skills. It’s about building a relationship, developing a partnership and strengthening a bond. It encompasses all that is horse with an emphasis on natural. It need not be limited to young horses or problem horses. All horses benefit as do their humans.
Here are a few lessons to start developing a relationship with your horse.
Spend Time with Your Horse Doing Nothing
This lesson should be one of the first to pass on to your horse.
- Just spend time with your horse. Hang out in his turnout. Relax, read a book. Don’t ask anything of your horse. Allow him to come up to you. When he does come up, acknowledge him and move away. Go back to reading. If he comes up in a “pushy” way or becomes a pest, send him away. After an hour or so get up and leave. Let him know you are not always asking him to “do” something.
Say “Hello”
Next we can learn how to present ourselves to our horse, or how to say “hello”.
- With your horse at liberty in a round pen, or other enclosure, approach him. Be direct and confidant in your approach. If he also approaches you, give him a stroke on the head or neck and walk away. If he walks away as you approach, you, too, should walk a few steps away from him. That’s being polite. Then approach again, walking away if he walks away. Play with this a few times as necessary. Your horse will eventually approach you.
Acknowledge Your Presence
This next exercise asks your horse to acknowledge your presence.
- With your horse at liberty in a stall, round pen or ring, approach him, give a kiss sound, asking him to acknowledge you. At the slightest indication that he is trying, step back, relax your body and take the pressure off. Stand quietly for a moment or two. This can be repeated several times.
Developing Trust
This last exercise really helps build the bond and develop the trust.
- Start by rubbing your hands all over your horse. Look for the places he really likes to be touched. Avoid patting him. Horses prefer rubs, rather than slaps or pats. Keep rubbing him all over from head to tail. Begin on his forehead or upper neck with a firm stroke. Some really enjoy having their ears rubbed. Find his favorite spot. You will know it when he totally relaxes. If any place is particularly sensitive, leave it and go to a place he likes. Go back to the sensitive spot briefly. Go back and forth until he tolerates you touching the spot. But don’t force the issue, this is about bonding with your horse and helping him to feel good around you, not aggravating him.
Developing a relationship with a horse can be very rewarding. Both the horse and human benefit and these benefits become apparent in competition as well as in day to day interactions with your equine friend.
