What is Natural Horsemanship? One definition is -Natural Horsemanshipis a philosophy of working with horses based on the horse’s natural instincts and methods of communication, with the understanding that horses do not learn through fear or pain, but rather from pressure and the release of pressure. It is a common misconception that Natural Horsemanship equals “wimpy” horsemanship, where the ‘relationship’ is prized above all else. This is not the case. Natural horsemanship trainers must use firm but fair force when necessary to ensure the safety of the rider or handler, as well as the horse. We simply do not use fear or pain to motivate the animal, nor do we attempt to force the animal into submission.
The discussion on Natural Horsemanship will continue well into the future, and that is a good thing for both the horses and the humans. FCER uses trainers and horse handlers that employ Natural Horsemanship techniques. The horses that come into FCER have had experiences with mankind already that have not been pleasant - either poor handling techniques in capturing them or chronic abuse and/or neglect at the hands of an owner. The single most important component of the horse/human relationship is TRUST. That's where we start here at FCER.
This page is meant to help you get a grasp of what techniques the horses at FCER are trained with, and hopefully to pique your interest enough to go explore Natural Horsemanship for yourself. We're including several links here to assist you in your exploration on the internet.
We hope you will join us in our quest to develop better and fuller relationships with horses (and others) through the Principles of Natural Horsemanship.
And our favorite trainer - Trevor Carter at Carter Ranch Horse. Trevor and Tara have teamed up with HSUS in creating a program specifically designed for horse rescues and the challenges we face. This interactive online course culminates with 2 or 3 day training clinics. It is an AWESOME program.
