The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

English western or natural horsemanship??

3K views 22 replies 12 participants last post by  CustomLegacy 
#1 ·
I have been riding a horse that has just been broken in (she is being given to me because the owners dont want her) and because i am not one to know much about young horses the owner has been helping me out with her. The only thing is, is that he doesn't like natural horsemanship and i was really hoping to some with the horse. And on top of that he doesn't like me holding the reins the english style and ride like i have been taught english style. he would rather me ride her western style (but not natural horsemanship)...

Im an english rider and i just wanted to see what other people thought about my dilemma. do you have any ideas that could help me? because i really dont want him to be dissapointed with how i ride his horse...
 
#3 ·
is there anyone else you can find to help you [like a trainer] that wants to work with you, not just make you ride western ?
 
#4 ·
well yeah i am doing riding lessons and they teach me english. But my dilemma is that the owner of the horse is also my boyfriends dad (eek) do you think i should just keep riding the way he wants me to until the horse is at my house? Then keep going with english?
 
#6 ·
I wonder why he cares? As for a horse hating natural hrosemanship? Why? Did you go and tell him it was natural horsemanship? You are not supposed to tell them that. Now you've let the cat out of the bag!
?? no i didnt do any natural horsemanship with the horse i was just riding english style and then he said he didnt like natural horsemanship just out of the blue lol. i think it might be best just to ride the way he wants until i get the horse to my house
 
#13 ·
That's what I thought when I first read your post. That it was the owner who didn't like the way you rode. If the horse was given to you how come you can't do what you want with it?
Posted via Mobile Device

Well since it is at his house until our fences are up, and im not that experienced with young horses, he is helping me. I suppose i just wanted to not dissapoint him. I guess i just wanted to know what people thought about what technique would be best to use with her until she is at my house.
 
#11 ·
If they are giving you the horse because they did not want it (key words) then why should they care? In my opinion, riding horses is a total mental sport. If you ride the horse thinking it doesn't like something or is going to be bad, then it will do exactly what you think: not like something and act bad. It's a horse, it's a work animal, it's meant to do it's job. Treat it like a horse and not like it's owner an ride it how you were trained, the horse will eventually get over it and your riding will become second nature to the horse. As for the owners, they're being ridiculous. Like I said before, it's no longer their horse, they should not care unless you are doing something harmful or unfair to the horse. However, riding a horse english is not harmful or unfair to the horse unless you do something totally ridiculous (which I doubt). Take it home, and ride how you please.
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#14 ·
If they are giving you the horse because they did not want it (key words) then why should they care? In my opinion, riding horses is a total mental sport. If you ride the horse thinking it doesn't like something or is going to be bad, then it will do exactly what you think: not like something and act bad. It's a horse, it's a work animal, it's meant to do it's job. Treat it like a horse and not like it's owner an ride it how you were trained, the horse will eventually get over it and your riding will become second nature to the horse. As for the owners, they're being ridiculous. Like I said before, it's no longer their horse, they should not care unless you are doing something harmful or unfair to the horse. However, riding a horse english is not harmful or unfair to the horse unless you do something totally ridiculous (which I doubt). Take it home, and ride how you please.
Posted via Mobile Device

Thakyou :) that actually makes me feel so much better you saying that! that is great advice!
 
#12 ·
Well, I say that because you own the horse, it is up to you to do what you want with him, regardless of what the old owner says. You own the horse now,and it is up to you how you want to ride and train him. If you are uncomfortable with the old owner telling you what to do, I would go find a new person to help you.
Just my thoughts,
Good Luck!
 
#15 ·
Well, I say that because you own the horse, it is up to you to do what you want with him, regardless of what the old owner says. You own the horse now,and it is up to you how you want to ride and train him. If you are uncomfortable with the old owner telling you what to do, I would go find a new person to help you.
Just my thoughts,
Good Luck!

Thanks. Its that sort of encouragement i need :)
 
#16 ·
No horse will "hate" natural horsemanship if it is done correctly. You have to remember that there are a lot of people out there practicing natural horsemanship, and it is not all equal. The methods vary greatly from one person to the next. The talent and skill varies a great deal from one person to the next. If your horse doesn't respond well to the more assertive style of someone like Clinton Anderson, then perhaps try some of the more passive leadership styles of someone like Mark Rashid (one of my favorite NH clinicians).

Bottom line, if your horse is responding negatively to a NH style, then one of 2 things is true: either the person doing it is not very good at it, or the style needs to be tweaked to fit this particular horse's needs better.
 
#20 ·
I say just act friendly and smile sweetly until you get the horse home, then you can do whatever you want with her (Is it a her? I can't remember sorry:( ) But also listen to the prev. owners they might have some insider tips on how the horse likes things done! Congrats on getting her and Good Luck!
 
#21 ·
You need to ride the horse, not worry about the owners.

Set your horse up for success and then it won't matter what way you are riding.

You said the horse doesnt like the way you hold the reins in an english way. ANY horse, should be comfortable being ridden in a direct rein with a snaffle. That is the basis of all riding (natural or otherwise). It's just something you have to work on and not give up just because the horse is being obstinate about it.

Good horsemanship is good horsemanship so I wouldnt worry about what clinician would work best or if you should use natural horsemanship or not. The key to working with horses is that you have to be adaptable. You must adapt to your horse instead of asking the horse to adapt to you (or your boyfriends dad).

So I would stop worrying about the humans and do whatever works for the horse.
 
#22 ·
You need to ride the horse, not worry about the owners.

Set your horse up for success and then it won't matter what way you are riding.

You said the horse doesnt like the way you hold the reins in an english way. ANY horse, should be comfortable being ridden in a direct rein with a snaffle. That is the basis of all riding (natural or otherwise). It's just something you have to work on and not give up just because the horse is being obstinate about it.

Good horsemanship is good horsemanship so I wouldnt worry about what clinician would work best or if you should use natural horsemanship or not. The key to working with horses is that you have to be adaptable. You must adapt to your horse instead of asking the horse to adapt to you (or your boyfriends dad).

So I would stop worrying about the humans and do whatever works for the horse.



Sorry! i mean the old owner doesnt like me to hold the reins english not the hore.. sorry i know this confuses people... And thanks for the advice :)
 
#23 ·
Well, looking from the owners perspective, He trained the horse for western. so, thats what he's expecting you to ride, western. But you don't have to. I have a reining horse that I jump with, but i still rein. Learning both styles will make you a better rider though
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top