Like I said on my profile, I do subscribe to NH practitioner GaWaNi Ponyboy, who is technically part of the Natural Horsemanship genre. A lot of people hate NH (too much time on their hands). Though not necessarily NH itself, but those who market it in such a way that creates such havoc in the horse world (understandable). Or is just plain not worth all the money for the special must-have-to-do-things-right trademark equipment (100% true xD).
I don't mind the stereotype, I understand it well. =) What I do mind is that very annoying, very dead horse saying that goes along the lines of, "nothing we do to horses is natural!" So... you noticed? And thought we didn't? Okay, so maybe some people are slow and didn't notice, but come on now. Let me say something, and this is my personal opinion that may not be reflected by any or all others who enjoy NH. Natural horsemanship is not about being natural. Why yes, natural is in the name, keen eye. Natural horsemanship as I understand it, is about having a working, harmonious relationship with your horse in the most non descructive way possible. It is without a doubt about enjoying your horse and your horse enjoying you. You don't have to ride, not everyone buys a horse to ride (*cough*pasturecompanions/retireesandhalter*cough*). But you should never be afraid to ride your horse. If you are afraid to ride your horse, then I must quote Icanhascheezburger, "ur doing it wrong." Natural horsemanship isn't just about being a do it yourselfer. It is about teaching you to recognise when you are just plain over your head and need to seek professional help.
It isn't about fads. It isn't Natural Horsemanship, it is natural horsemanship, no capitals unless called for by being the beginning of a sentence. It isn't the wave of the future, and it wasn't invented by just one person, no matter what your favorite clinician said. In its truest form, natural horsemanship is what a lot of people like to lable as "common sense horse training." CSHT is a fairly new lable, an attempt to detach the negative association that NH has gotten while still retaining the quality. And it is true. These methods have been around for centuries, they've only just now been made available for the masses by skilled marketers.
Now, I will admit that some clinicians are just plain dumb, not just in the NH circle, but we (NHers) seem to be noticed quite a bit. =) On the one hand, it is annoying because in case y'all haven't noticed, it isn't the only type of horse training full of shit. On the other hand, all the negative hype being given to NH is excellent exposure for trainers, you have no idea how many curious people start researching clinicians just because they see someone bad mouthing them- so thanks for that. =)
If the horse is happy, healthy, and sane, then don't whine about the method.
ETA
Apples from FHOTD's forum says it best:
"And that's how this discussion always goes. First it's PP's methods that suck, then a number of people come forward who say they do the exact same thing except instead of a carrot stick they use a longe whip, and instead of saying "blurp" they say "bleep". Then somebody like me says "In the big scheme of things what is the difference between a stick and a longe whip and what's the horse care if you say "blurp" or "bleep"? And then somebody says "It's his marketing that's the problem".
Do you think there is a horse on this planet who could care less about whether or not Pat Parelli makes money off a rope and a DVD? A horse cares whether or not you give mixed messages, and whether or not you are kind and insightful in your approach and whether or not you conduct yourself worthy of his respect. So does Parelli teach people to give mixed messages? Does he endorse cruel and unthinking methods? Is it his objective to breakdown the person-horse relationship?
No more than the classical approach sets out to cause spurs to rip into the sides of horses, or bend their necks to their chests. But some people interpret it that way and apply the teaching methods based on their own individual preference.
If people are going to get their knickers in a twist, at least they should do it on behalf of the horse, not their own egos. That is where there is real double messaging. If we are letting individuals off the hook in terms of how they interpret a published horseperson's approach and and instead we are attacking the horseperson who has developed that approach, then all the ODG's are to blame for rollkur. I'm just saying let's call a spade a spade.
And the world is filled with marketing. If I chose to only buy cars that were not marketed, I'd be a pedestrian."
If the horse is happy, healthy, and sane, then don't whine about the method.
ETA
Apples from FHOTD's forum says it best:
"And that's how this discussion always goes. First it's PP's methods that suck, then a number of people come forward who say they do the exact same thing except instead of a carrot stick they use a longe whip, and instead of saying "blurp" they say "bleep". Then somebody like me says "In the big scheme of things what is the difference between a stick and a longe whip and what's the horse care if you say "blurp" or "bleep"? And then somebody says "It's his marketing that's the problem".
Do you think there is a horse on this planet who could care less about whether or not Pat Parelli makes money off a rope and a DVD? A horse cares whether or not you give mixed messages, and whether or not you are kind and insightful in your approach and whether or not you conduct yourself worthy of his respect. So does Parelli teach people to give mixed messages? Does he endorse cruel and unthinking methods? Is it his objective to breakdown the person-horse relationship?
No more than the classical approach sets out to cause spurs to rip into the sides of horses, or bend their necks to their chests. But some people interpret it that way and apply the teaching methods based on their own individual preference.
If people are going to get their knickers in a twist, at least they should do it on behalf of the horse, not their own egos. That is where there is real double messaging. If we are letting individuals off the hook in terms of how they interpret a published horseperson's approach and and instead we are attacking the horseperson who has developed that approach, then all the ODG's are to blame for rollkur. I'm just saying let's call a spade a spade.
And the world is filled with marketing. If I chose to only buy cars that were not marketed, I'd be a pedestrian."
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