WHAT IS NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP?

By Sylvia Scott
Natural Horsemanship Trainer
Email: Sylvia@naturalhorsetraining.com
Website: www.naturalhorsetraining.com

Natural Horsemanship (NH), sometimes referred to as "Horse Whispering," really

has nothing to do with literal whispering, though it's probably still a good representation
of what NH is all about, because "whispering" connotes a "softness" approach, and that
indeed is what NH is all about. But, it's also more than that.

Natural Horsemanship also involves the following:

• Communicating with the horse using body language, sometimes referred to as

"Equus," a language all horses are born already knowing and that they use with
each other. A mother horse reinforces this language with the foal from the
moment it is born, and so does the rest of the herd. This language involves (for
humans):
1. How to use your eyes.
2. How to place your body and parts of your body.
3. Your tone of voice or lack of voice.
4. How to use pressure and release of pressure to reap a desired
response.
5. What to use as tools to enhance effective communication.
6. How to listen to what the horse is saying in body language.
• The art of working, training and riding with horses in a manner which works with
the horse's behavior, instincts and personality, not against it, and in an easy
and kind manner.
• Using gentle guidance rather than force or mechanical devices.
• Using pressure and release (of that pressure) to guide the horse to learn, and
understanding that the horse learns from the release of that pressure, not the
pressure itself.
• A refined sense of timing of the release of pressure along with a sense of "feel."

Copyright © 2002-2004 by Sylvia Scott. All rights reserved.

What is NH? 2

• Understanding that this training approach requires of the human:

1. Time – a "taking off your watch" mindset. Horses have no real concept of
"time" as we humans do. It's important to resist our human tendency to
"get things done NOW, all at once" and instead, follow a horse's natural,
individual learning curve.
2. Patience – each horse is an individual, therefore, each learns at a different
rate of speed, and each has unique issues to get past, so patience always, in
order to flow with a horse's natural learning curve rhythm!
3. Compassion – to help nurture the horse through any fears they may have
or that get flushed out as you go along.
4. A sense of playfulness – working or training a horse is more about
"playing with" a horse positively, but in a productive manner.
5. A sense of humor – which helps one remain maintaining the previous
requirements.

The above emotions are the ONLY emotions that should enter the training
arena with you!

• A deep understanding of Prey Animal Psychology.

• Cultivating the inner of the horse first and understand that the outer will
later follow.
• Helping the horse to trust us and to do what we want out of friendliness, not fear,
and having them trust us without reservation as our ultimate goal.
• Being dependable to the horse, not dominating (there is a difference).
• Giving the horse time to think about what you are asking them to do, allowing
them time to try to figure it out, helping them, instead of forcing, to get there,
which helps them to learn to think rationally as opposed to react irrationally.
• Being quiet and consistent with the horse.
• Doing what is right for the horse at all times, in all situations, sticking up for
them when needed (with vets, with farriers, with other riders of them,
with anyone).

WHAT IS PREY ANIMAL PSYCHOLOGY?

To start with, man is a predator (we "hunt," we eat meat). We even smell like meat.
And we behave psychologically like predators. Also, our eyes are placed together, in the
front of our heads, so that we have greater binocular vision, allowing us greater depth
perception and to better gauge distances (set up that way for our survival, so man can
hunt and gauge how far a prey or enemy is from us). Horses sense all this and treat us
accordingly as predators, unless we gently convince them otherwise.

The horse, on the other hand is a prey animal. This means: other animals eat horses.
Horses don't hunt down other animals. They are designed to be herbivores, eating
primarily grass and other vegetation, depending upon their local environment. Their eyes
are set on the sides for their heads so that they can better see around them, watching for a

Copyright © 2002-2004 by Sylvia Scott. All rights reserved.

What is NH? 3

potential attack from a predator. Furthermore, this allows them greater monocular vision,
which means they can focus on and fully process two different scenes at one time.

A horse's eyes are on the sides of their heads allowing them to process two different scenes on
each side of them, at the same time, and to see a wider range around themselves in general, to
protect themselves from predators.

Other horse traits as prey animals:

• They can see in the dark.

• Their skin is so sensitive that the mere lighting of a fly on their skin can
cause the body to shake it off.
• Their nostrils and taste glands are so connected with one another that a
stallion (especially when he curls his lip up) can actually smell and taste
the mare's scent when she is in season up to 5 miles away.
• Their hearing sense is extremely sensitive.
• They are designed as "flight animals," to escape (run away) when afraid.
They have to move their feet when afraid. They generally only will fight
when cornered and much more prefer flight as their escape route.
However, if they cannot move their feet when afraid, they will
automatically go into fight mode in order to survive.
• Horses naturally prefer to live in wide-open spaces so they can see a
potential threat from afar and be ready to flee if needed.
• Horses' knees are designed to lock when sleeping in order to sleep while
standing up, allowing for instant flight whenever needed for survival.
• Horses prefer to conserve their energy, saving most of their energy for
if/when it is needed for flight. By not using up their energy unnecessarily,
they will be able to use the stored energy in case of a more serious
emergency.

Copyright © 2002-2004 by Sylvia Scott. All rights reserved.

What is NH? 4

• Horses as herd animals are naturally gentle creatures that seek the
most comfortable spot in life. Unless they feel extremely threatened, they
are non-aggressive animals that just want to get along in life.
• Horses not only like company, they seek it out; they feel safer with other
non-threatening animals and need companionship for their survival
instinct.
• Horses are herd animals, live in herds, each one looking out for the other.
• In each herd there is a pecking order hierarchy at all times. That
hierarchy in each herd and subheads (in the wild and in domestic pastures,
herds can be made up of several sub herds) contains: a leader (or alpha)
mare and a dominant stallion (even a gelding can play that stallion role).
The alpha is always a mare, with the exception of the "Bachelor Bands"
where all members of that band are young stallions (more common in the
wild than in our domestic breeds, where nonbreeding males are commonly
gelded early). Here are the roles of each herd member:

The alpha mare's duty is to tend to the safety and well being of
the entire herd. It is this alpha mare's job to signal the entire herd
as to when to move, sleep, eat, drink, or run for safety; she also
frequently takes on the task of disciplining any unruly youngsters
who may need to be put in line, which is why all young
domesticated horses should be raised within a herd; the lead mare
can do a splendid job of putting a spoiled or too-spunky youngster
in its place, instilling more respectful, dutiful behavior!
The stallion, on the other hand, has the main duty of protecting the
herd from predators or from other stallions that try to invade and
take over his herd.
In each herd or sub herds, the lower ranking horse will always
follow the higher ranking horse, but even the lead mare in that
sub herd will always follow dutifully the alpha mare of the entire
herd. It is the job of each lead mare in each sub herd to watch for
the alpha mare and then notify her small herd what the alpha has
dictated. And, it is the job of all the rest of the horses in the
herd to pay attention to the alpha and follow her anywhere
when she gives the signals.
There is also another member of the herd who plays an important
role and that is: the "passive leader." Unlike the alpha leader
(who generally forces her position upon the herd via whatever-it-
takes dominance), the passive leader is a horse who is somewhere
in the middle of the hierarchy pecking order, usually an older,
wiser horse, and is chosen voluntarily by other members of the
herd for their kinder, gentler natures and even often for their
wisdom and patience; these passive leaders are followed willingly.
Passive leaders lead by example, not by brute force, and as a
result, begin to gain the confidence of the other members of the
herd. Passive leaders are generally quiet and consistent in their

Copyright © 2002-2004 by Sylvia Scott. All rights reserved.

What is NH? 5

daily behavior and don't act as though they have much ambition to
move up the alpha ladder, therefore they don't have to use force to
declare their position in a herd. Because the alpha mare takes far
more energy out of a subservient horse (in order to obey her,
staying on their toes, so to speak), horses will naturally (energy
conservers, remember, and passive and quiet by nature) migrate to
hang out with the passive leader, following willingly, and
existing where they can be more relaxed and yet still surviving as a
group.

• Those are a typical herd makeup, be it in the wild or in our own

domesticated pastures. The alpha or leader position is a stressful spot, with
lots of decisions that have to be made, and little time for relaxation, so
most horses are not comfortable in that position. Most horses
simply instinctively desire a good and competent leader to take the
pressure off of them to have to make decisions themselves. Period.
(Something to remember when working with horses!)

Horses are most comfortable when they perceive you are a competent leader worthy of following

Individual personalities, of course, will dictate who will consistently be striving to attain
the various rankings within a herd. This jostling for dominance position usually goes on
nonstop, both in the wild, and in our domesticated, pastured herds. All of this is
instinctual behavior that correlates with the instinct for survival in the horse as a
prey animal. And there is good reason nature instilled all these herd behaviors for
survival purposes! One horse left behind if/when the herd moves, risks losing his life to
predators. A horse alone simply cannot survive. Therefore, the worst place a horse can
be in his mind is: ostracized, banned, "sent away from the herd" ALONE, for
improper behavior, or any other reason, and he will know instinctively that he is in
serious danger when not part of the social herd. He will work very hard if "sent

Copyright © 2002-2004 by Sylvia Scott. All rights reserved.

What is NH? 6

away," ostracized like that, to work his way back into the social order, generally using
more subservient, cooperate behavior in order to be accepted in again. The alpha mare
and sub leaders use this form of "sending away" pressure, disciplining thus quite often
when it is needed, in order to keep a herd orderly, obedient and safe. The passive leader
will do the same, but much less forcefully.

Tossing a rope toward the rear of the horse to "send" her away when she's not
cooperating, or even if she doesn't want to be caught, is a language used within a herd
every day, and something horses fully understand as alpha mare language for: if you act
up, you must leave; horses are far more comfortable in the join-up spot than the
"banished" spot, and will think harder about coming back to join and cooperate with you
willingly.

All of this natural, instinctive, prey animal behavior is what Natural Horsemanship
training takes advantage of. We become the "lead mare," but one who embraces more
the passive leadership role in the herd, not one to fear, when training a horse using NH.
We adopt the precise body language that a lead mare uses, but when doing so, we also
become more of a gentle, passive lead horse who is a respectful, trusting leader, not an
overly aggressive or unreasonable one, patiently allowing the horse-in-training the
opportunities to learn to make the right decisions, to be accepted into our own "herd"
expectations. Leading by example, not brute force, and by being as consistent as
possible from one day to the next with prey animal psychology know-how, is what
Natural Horsemanship is all about.

Copyright © 2002-2004 by Sylvia Scott. All rights reserved.

What is NH? 7

Passive, "softer" leadership invites the horse to follow

MORE PREY ANIMAL PSYCHOLOGY THAT

NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP TAKES INTO ACCOUNT

• All horses are driven with an instinct to procreate, especially the stallion, but
mares, too. All mutual grooming, play, even fighting amongst themselves is all a
part of their drive to procreate.
• A horse's system is designed for constant movement, even as they also conserve
energy. Movement in the horse is something the horse requires in order to be most
healthy. Movement affects the entire physiological system from circulation, to
hoof health, to mental stability. For example (just one of many): each hoof has a
circulatory pump that if not given adequate movement, it fails to keep the blood
pumping thoroughly through the body from the hooves up. In the wild, a horse
will travel up to 20 miles a day! This not only helps to keep the horse healthy,
but it also ensures food and water, as well as a wider variety of forage for
optimum health. Therefore, it is much healthier to pasture a horse than it is to
stall the horse. Horses were not designed for stalling, but for freedom of
movement in pastures to keep them mentally and physically most sound. They are
extremely hardy creatures and survive well in the open, under all weather
conditions.
• Just as with humans, each horse is a unique individual, each with a unique
personality. Some are shy, some are extroverts. Some are natural followers, some
prefer to lead. It's important when training the horse to ascertain what that
individual horse's personality is and where he fits on that hierarchy.
• Horses have survived for thousands of years with all these above traits, so
their prey animal instincts have served them well!

If something we, the human, do triggers the horse's prey instincts, the horse
will revert to its prey-animal instincts, regardless of training.

Copyright © 2002-2004 by Sylvia Scott. All rights reserved.

What is NH? 8

SOME BASIC TENETS OF

NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP

• The long way is the short way. This axiom is about taking the time to fix the
inside of the horse, addressing emotional issues, before expecting the outside of
the horse to act accordingly. From the surface, it might look like this method takes
a little longer, but, in the end, it does not, because what is learned REMAINS
learned, as you build a more trusting horse from the foundation up, and what
needs fixing REMAINS fixed. Forever. Going slow is the quickest way to get
there. Don't hurry; allow the horse the time to find the right routes.
• Know where you are going before you go. If you don't know, then the horse
will feel the pressure to decide for himself something different.
• Visualize approaching the horse with an attitude of total acceptance, no
matter what that action or response from the horse is, and meet those actions with
understanding.
• Listen to the horse and learn to perceive when the horse needs support.
• Learn to do less to get more. Baby steps. Allow the horse the opportunity to
find what you want with the smallest amount of pressure. Don't try to get it all the
first time. Trust that the horse will find what you want with less pressure, not
more. This route: try to use less and less pressure for the horse to get doing more
and more.
• Bond with the horse before asking anything of him. Developing a nurturing
relationship, bonding on the horse physically and emotionally before each training
or riding session places the horse in a more willing-to-please, trusting spot.

Bond with the horse and create a loving relationship before expecting anything of the horse

• The horse learns from the release of pressure, not the pressure itself. The
horse will naturally steer into doing what is easiest for them, since they are

Copyright © 2002-2004 by Sylvia Scott. All rights reserved.

What is NH? 9

energy-conserving creatures. The release of pressure feels more comfortable to

them than the pressure, so they naturally steer in the direction of yielding to
pressure if they know that will reap the instant release of pressure.
• Timing of the release of pressure is everything! Since horses only learn the
behavior wanted via the release of pressure, it's crucial to get that release timing
so split-second refined yourself when the horse does a proper "give," and it's also
important to take the try, releasing that pressure there, as well, so that the horse
better discovers that "window" you are opening up for him to find with the
release.
• Do not release pressure when the horse is "hard," but only when he is "soft."
If you release the pressure when the horse is fighting against it ("hard"), he will
only learn to remain hard. If you release when he's soft, then that's what he
learns: to be soft.
• However, resistance will be met with resistance. This does not mean
punishment, but it does mean that when a horse resists, he will be met with
resistance so that he can find the "easier window" to steer into. You do not
increase the pressure at such times necessarily; the horse simply is pressuring
himself when not yielding. Then, when he yields, it becomes his idea, not yours.

Do not release the pressure when a horse is "hard," but only when soft, and
resistance is met with resistance to help the horse find the softer spot

• But "Take the Try" and you'll get there faster. Allow the horse to find the
route to learning a new behavior in broken-down baby steps, rewarding each try
as the horse discovers the right way with your guidance. Rewarding even the
baby-step efforts the horse makes along the way is what "taking the try"
(releasing the pressure with even the smallest try) is all about.

Copyright © 2002-2004 by Sylvia Scott. All rights reserved.

What is NH? 10

• Reward for the Smallest Try, the Slightest Change and the horse will achieve
what you want far faster, far softer, and build confidence far quicker.
• You must lay down a foundation in training on the ground first before a
horse will understand what is being asked of him later in the saddle. Nearly
all training of horses is best done on the ground first so that later cues will make
sense in the saddle. Most horse problems an owner is struggling with in the saddle
can be traced back to a weak on-the-ground-first foundation. Just as with building
a house, the foundation of a horse's training needs to be strong, thorough and
secure before expecting further training to stand up well upon it.

The horse learns through the release of pressure to give a head yield – on the ground
FIRST – so that he understands what reins mean in the saddle later

• A high head is a tense, on-alert horse; a low head is a relaxed horse, so teach
the horse to relax and lower his head; the mind follows his body.

Teach the horse to relax through a lowered head

Copyright © 2002-2004 by Sylvia Scott. All rights reserved.

What is NH? 11

• Don't push horses over fear thresholds, but instead read the horse well and
compassionately, and perceive the tolerance threshold ahead of time, backing
up and returning to where the horse was comfortable. Then and only then,
slowly work your way back up to the threshold area, retreating before the horse
reacts, and you'll get past the fear threshold more quickly and easily. Our jobs are
not to frighten horses, but to empathetically guide them in the directions of
building confidence to overcome their fears.
• Return to bonding whenever the horse is afraid to nurture him through his
fears, and he will glide through fears, regaining confidence, far more quickly.
• Horses as a rule will try to do things right, so don't constantly be reprimanding
them for things done wrong. Reward successes, don't punish failures and you'll
get there faster.
• Let the horse use his own mind. Present the task at hand, and then let him figure
out how to get there, and he will learn far faster; he will also develop into a more
rational, less fearful horse because he's learning to use his mind.
• Make the right thing easy, the wrong thing hard. Since horses naturally,
instinctively, steer into the direction of what is easiest, then set it up so that what
you want him to do is easiest, and what he wants to do that is wrong, harder.
• When teaching a horse a new behavior, stop while it is working! What this
means is, stop while the horse is cooperating, "getting it," and the next time you
come back to it, even days later, the horse will be farther along on that learning
curve.
• Rub, don't pat. To reward a horse, stroke it; don't pat it. Unlike a dog, horse's
don't understand patting, nor appreciate it much, though they do learn to tolerate
it. Stroking simulates a mother horse licking the foal and is rewarding behavior
they not only understand, but also greatly appreciate and enjoy. Plus, they have
very sensitive skin and rubbing simply feels better to them than patting!
• There are generally no truly bad horses, only confused horses. Try to
remember that one when working with them to learn a new behavior. They are not
intentionally being "bad," they usually simply don't understand what is being
requested of them. Progress (and reward!) in baby steps, smaller digestible
lessons, and they will get there quicker and happier.
• The horse is the best teacher there is. Pay attention and learn from every horse
you work with, and you'll be surprised what each one teaches you!
• Always end a horse session leaving the horse in a good spot! Horses have a
tendency to remember most what happened at the very last in a previous session,
so always leave on a positive, even if this means manufacturing a positive at the
end of a particularly difficult session or ride, in order to make sure the horse is left
on a positive, and he will be more willing to try again later.

Copyright © 2002-2004 by Sylvia Scott. All rights reserved.

What is NH? 12

Always leave a horse in a good spot before walking away from a day's lesson or ride,
and he will be much more willing the next time around

• The greatest gift you can give your horse is the gift of your time. Spend time
with your horse, lots of it, and he'll make it worth your while. The more time you
spend with your horse, the deeper and more bonded your partnership will grow.
• Finally ... There really are no horse problems, only people problems. This one
is sometimes the hardest for people to hear or to understand and maybe accept.
The truth is, without man, horses do just fine! Most horse problems are man-made
problems. Horses have survived for thousands of years splendidly on their own.
When man steps into the picture, not fully understanding prey animal psychology
and how to work with it, not against it, and instead, institutes predator
psychology, problems arise. Learn and institute prey animal psychology and
speak the language the horse already understands (as opposed to expecting the
horse to learn the language of man) and you'll create a quiet, willing partner.

Natural Horsemanship is a lifelong learning skill. The day you think you've
learned it all is: 1) the day you simply stopped learning, and 2) the day you
should probably stop training! Stay open, stay learning from all the best
Natural Horsemanship masters "out there," and working with your horse will
be a rewarding adventure where truly it can be said: "the journey is the reward."

We can all learn from each other!

Copyright © 2002-2004 by Sylvia Scott. All rights reserved.