The phrase, "Natural Horsemanship" has represented some serious deliberation within myself, the source of many miles of deep thought as I rode through the mountains on the back of a trusted horse, leading a string of seasoned pack horses.
"Natural Horsemanship".....well as far as I can figure, there's not one single thing natural about one mammal riding on the back of another. There's not one natural thing about one mammal chasing another one around in a round, cage like structure until the one in flight is forced to accept the idea that it WILL be ridden or forced to pull a laden cart or earth bound plow.
What is natural about strapping a wooden frame wrapped in leather to the back of an animal so another can sit securely thereof and with confidence?
Please, someone point out what is natural with one mammal forcing a piece of hard steel into the mouth of another so it can modify the behavior of the first?
Man FORCED his way onto the back of the horse, using whips and chain shackles he forced the majestic animal to accept the burdens of his body and load, the animal was not given a choice, it was TOLD.
When I began my journey through life as a "Horseman", I was taught by men of a callous and unforgiving nature. Asking a horse to do something was unheard of. If the animal refused to accept his load, he was shackled, blindfolded, had a hind foot tied to his chest and he was "convinced" that it was easier to give in the the will of man than to resist.
The popular saying "Cowboy Up" was invented by those hard, leather faced men of the West. If your horse took to bucking, you certainly didn't jump off and run for the phone to call the "Trainer" or wait for him to cool from his fit so you could "lunge" him into an easier mind set. No, you hung on for everything you were worth and prayed you could weather the storm for fear of the laughter and ridicule from those you so desperately wanted to be.
So many of the "Old Ways" are now viewed by the horse lovers of today as "Rough" or "Mean" and in most senses I agree wholeheartedly, yet that was the way it was done. You fed him a "Carrot Stick", you didn't tap his bum with it and you wore "Spurs" to get your point across to the strong minded mount you rode, not because you like the sound of them jingling on your heals.
Horses were your ONLY means of transporting you, your clients and your gear into the back country. They were sometimes rough and undesirable just like the country we rode them through, what can I say? It was a harsh and testing world and if one were to survive, he had to become the same.
Over the years I met horses who loved their work, some who hated it. I met horses who loved to be around people and those who tried every trick to escape them. I met horses who would have never hurt a person and those who just waited for the chance. The one thing I learned very early in the game, "Every horse is an individual and has an ever changing mind and attitude."
I've learned an incredible amount about the horse, it's temperament and it's capabilities but I can still, after over 12,000 miles in the saddle, not see what's Natural about a man on a horse.
Written By;
Ron Arnett
"A Man From The Wilderness"
Ron Arnett
"A Man From The Wilderness"
