Cisco and I having a laugh. He is my buddy forever! Shortly after I got him I started learning about natural horsemanship. I found him on a radio program. Feed store owner was selling him. Somebody didn't pay their feed bill and gave him this horse instead of $$. Their loss and my gain!
I have had a horse since I was 2 years old. After 40 years of owning and loving horses I now feel like I may be starting to understand a little bit about them. It wasn't until 7 years ago when I discovered some people practicing what they called "natural horsemanship" that I found ways to be consistently effective with horses. Now I do things with horses which I never even dreamed were possible.
I owe my transformation into a more natural savvy horseman to a teacher friend who
kept insisting that I needed to go to this "natural horsemanship clinic". I thought, "how does he know what I need ? He hasn't ever watched me ride a horse."
This wise friend knew then what I now realize, "Everybody needs more natural savvy whether they know it or not!" I didn't say everybody wants it, I said everybody NEEDS it. If you could ask horses they would probably tell you "I wish my human had more natural savvy."
I was one of those who didn't think they needed it and therefore didn't want it. The ridiculous things is I didn't really know what it was that I didn't need or want. I didn't understand what I was missing until I witnessed it with my own eyes.
As I look back on this time in my life, I would qualify myself as a "know it all ". I had the belt buckles and trophies to prove it, or so I thought. What I didn't know was that my relationship with my horse was broken, at least in my horse's mind. I didn't understand why I got frustrated, mean and mad with horses. I just accepted these problems as a normal part of the dealing with horses.
I thought I could ride most anything because of my athletic ability, even if I couldn't get along with them. I had a big ego with a closed mind, spurs, whips, chains, and very little understanding of why horses behave the way they do. Therefore, it was always the horse's fault whenever I had a problem.
Even though I loved horses, much of what I did with horses was about winning. So I didn't think to0 much about what the horse was going through as long as I was reaching my goal of proving I was better than the next guy.
Thankfully, this teacher friend kept bugging me to come to one of the clinics he was hosting. I was a real skeptic, and like most people didn't want to dish out any money, especially when I didn't think I needed what they had to offer. The funny thing is I didn't even know what they had to offer. My friend would not leave me alone and in order to be sure that I would attend, he paid for me to audit the clinic.
I arrived late. In about 1/2 hour I was blown away. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I had fought and struggled for years with horses to do the things they were doing while riding. And they made it look so darn easy. Plus the horses were not only willing they looked like they were even enjoying it.
Since I was late, I missed the ground work portion of the class. This was something I had never done with horses. I was a saddle'm up, get on and ride kind of girl, even with an unbroken horse. My attitude was, "if you can't do it on their back, it's not worth doing. " Never mind the
dangers of an unprepared horse. Wasn't that just part of the risk you take with horses?
I went home that day rethinking my whole life with horses. I went home with a new attitude! The change started in my heart that cold March day in Wyoming. Those people were dedicated to developing natural savvy with their horses. It was freezing cold and they were all bundled up in their coveralls having a blast with their horses. I knew right away this was for me. I also realized I had a lot of holes to fix in both my philosophy and skills. It was apparent that this trend called "natural horsemanship" had the answers I needed in order to become excellent with horses.
The next clinic I paid my own fee to audit. I still wasn't willing to part with enough money to participate with my horse. Heck, since I was 14 years old I had trained every horse I had ever
owned by myself. I even rode colts for the Howard Pitzer ranch right out of college. I had never paid a penny for any horse education. My learning was all through the school of hard
knocks. But that day I paid the $50 for two days with a smile on my face. It was the best $50 I ever spent.
I went home and started experimenting with what I had learned, and everything I did worked better than I dreamed was possible. I was amazed. I didn't even have the proper equipment and I still got the job done better than I ever had before.
At the next clinic I had to participate with a horse. By now the cost didn't even phase me
because I was so excited about what was happening in my horse life. After that clinic I still wasn't convinced that I could control a horse without a bit at home, even though the instructor had made us ride with a halter during our lesson. So for the next two months I rode my horse with my bit, but I put the natural rope halter over the top. That way, just in case I couldn't control my horse with the halter I would still be safe because I had the bit for extra control. Now I laugh like crazy at myself. It's hard to break old habits and even harder to change a persons mind which has been made up for years.
I was convinced before the next clinic the halter was safe and effective, because I realized I hadn't touched the reins attached to the bit in two months, even in the pasture. From then on I knew it was me who needed changing more than my equipment.
One last thought, the other day I was introducing a snaffle bit to "Sorry" and I put my halter on for "safety equipment". I knew I could control her with the halter. Ha Ha!
Why natural horsemanship? Because it will transform your life and you will become a better horseman than you ever dreamed possible. You will be safe and have more fun than is legally possible with your horse, and your horse will love you for it. All the other horses will be asking your horse, "where do you get a human like that?"
Happy Trails,
Sherry Jarvis
"An ignorant person is one who doesn't know what you just found out." -- Will Rogers
Heart in Your Hand Natural Horsemanship
