Why Your Child Needs To Learn Natural Horsemanship

The practice of natural horsemanship requires young people to learn empathy on the deepest of levels.

Natural horsemanship is simply the art of communicating with a horse in a manner that the horse instinctively understands. Instead of trying to teach a horse to learn English, natural horsemanship requires the human to learn to speak "horse." But learning those lessons only scratch the surface. Students learn what motivates horses, and why they act as they do.  In short, it teaches one to understand  horses. A child who learns to understand a creature as different from humans as are horses will find it much easier to understand the feelings of the other people around him.

The practice of natural horsemanship requires young people to learn to be leaders and to accept their role as leaders. 

Natural horsemanship teaches the difference between providing security and direction to horses and trying to bully  horses into compliance. It teaches them that it is ok to be the leader--that it is ok to be the boss.

The practice of natural horsemanship requires young people to learn the importance of showing affection and approval to a horse.

Natural horsemanship works best when it is based on 51% control and 49% affection.  Natural horsemanship teaches young people that the horse needs your time, your affection and your leadership more than it needs the treats that you might give him.

The practice of natural horsemanship gives young people greater confidence and a well deserved feeling of accomplishment.  

When a shy, timid or traumatized child learns to control the movement of a 700 pound horse in a round pen using only gestures and visual focus the child changes. I have seen it happen too often  to ever be convinced otherwise. That confidence can be a strong protection against developing anxiety disorders and it can be a tremendous tool in over coming anxiety and depression.

The practice of natural horsemanship will allow children to grow up to be better parents.


The wisdom gained in the round pen carries over into every other relationship the child will have .  We do not practice natural horsemanship merely because it makes better horses. We practice natural horsemanship because it makes better people