Natural horsemanship: what it is and what the science says

What natural horsemanship is

"Natural horsemanship" is an umbrella term for a range of training methods, many of them sold as named programmes. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh, writing in 2017, gave Parelli Natural Horsemanship, Monty Roberts' Join Up and the Jeffries "approach and retreat" method as examples, and noted their popularity with UK riders.

A 2009 paper by equitation scientists, held in the University of Edinburgh's research repository, traces the methods back to the "horse whisperers" of old, who got impressive results but rarely explained how. Today's natural horsemanship practitioners use similar techniques, the authors say, but are more open about their methods.

How it works: pressure and release

Most natural horsemanship rests on negative reinforcement, better known to riders as pressure and release: the trainer applies pressure, and takes it away the moment the horse does the right thing. The horse learns that the response makes the pressure stop. (In learning theory, "negative" just means something is taken away, not that it's bad.) For how horses learn, see How horses learn.

The 2009 paper describes round-pen training as an example. The trainer uses pressure to send the horse away, prompting it to move off. When the horse slows down, moves towards the trainer, or shows other signs of wanting to come closer, the trainer immediately eases off, rewarding that response.

The Edinburgh researchers' conclusion is that these methods have their roots in the same learning theory as traditional horsemanship, and are not so different from it at their core. Reputable trainers using them, the 2009 paper says, are talented observers of behaviour who respond consistently and quickly to a horse's small signals. Learning theory and the study of horse behaviour can explain almost everything that happens in the round pen and in conventional training.

Is it kinder?

In the Edinburgh survey of UK riders, around a quarter believed natural horsemanship was more humane than traditional training, but on average both amateurs and professionals tended to disagree. The method's name matters less than how well it is applied.

The "be the leader" idea

The 2009 paper notes a long-held belief in horse training that people must dominate and horses submit: that you must become the horse's herd leader, or "alpha", and teach it to "respect" you. The authors point out that this belief implies force is often used. The International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) issued a position statement on this in 2017. It says:

• Horses relate to each other one to one. One horse may learn it can move another away from food, but there's no evidence horses have any concept of a ranking that covers the whole herd, and research suggests any horse in a group can lead it to a new place.
• It's doubtful such a hierarchy would include people even if it existed.
• Trying to dominate a horse can harm it. Believing you must take the alpha position encourages training that frightens horses and, in some cases, may lead to abuse. A horse's natural response to an aggressive individual is to avoid it, so a horse that sees its trainer as aggressive will mostly want to get away.
• What works instead is a calm, clear and consistent relationship, based on how horses actually behave and learn.

Doing it well

Whatever a method is called, ISES's ten training principles describe what good training looks like. Among them:

• Release at the right moment. Take pressure away at the start of the correct response. Delayed release is ineffective and, ISES says, unethical. Badly timed pressure and release can lead to serious behaviour problems.
• Light signals first. Give a light cue before the pressure, so the horse learns to respond to the light cue alone.
• Don't flood. Forcing a horse to endure something frightening until it stops reacting can cause stress and phobias. Instead, introduce scary things gradually, and reward the horse for staying calm.
• Keep arousal low. Avoid triggering flight, fight or freeze reactions, and encourage relaxed postures such as a lowered head.
• Short sessions, small steps. Keep repetitions to a minimum, break tasks into the smallest steps, and change only one thing at a time.
• No dominance. Don't assume a role for dominance in your relationship with the horse.
• Safety. Avoid methods or equipment that cause pain, distress or injury, and remember how dangerous a frightened horse can be.

Choosing a trainer

• Watch the horse, not the trainer. A horse that is learning well should become calmer and more relaxed. ISES's principles warn against triggering flight, fight or freeze reactions.
• Ask how they explain it. What is the horse learning at each step, and when does the pressure come off? Those are the questions at the heart of the ISES principles.
• Be wary of "respect" and "dominance" talk that is used to justify chasing, frightening or punishing a horse.
• Rule out pain first. Behaviour problems can be caused by pain. See Behaviour problems.

For safe work on the ground, see Groundwork, and for reading how your horse feels, Body language.