Horsemanship

‘Horsemanship’ means the art or skill of caring for and riding horses.

So accordingly, I define good and natural horsemanship as “the care, training, and riding of horses in harmony with their natural behavior, diet, movement, and physical wellbeing.”

This means that someone truly practicing good and natural horsemanship will be doing the following things:

• They will understand or be learning about horse psychology and social systems (ethology).
• They will provide a herd situation for the horses to live in – other equine companions they can touch (no isolation from others), with natural breeding and weaning practices.
• They will keep the horse in as large an area as possible for most of the time with access to shelter from all types of weather – no constant stabling, small paddocks, or confinement to yards for more than a couple of hours at a time unless absolutely necessary (eg. severe injury).
• They will be feeding a varied diet of horse-suitable (low sugar) grass, hay, and grain (when required) with correct mineral supplementation to balance any deficiencies – including providing salt at all times.
• They will care for their hooves with barefoot trimming and/or enough movement to self-trim and using hoof boots when protection is needed – no metal horseshoes!
• They will provide appropriate veterinary treatment, including worming on a regular basis as required for the man-made environment they must live in.
• They will train/educate the horse in a compassionate, respectful way that gives them confidence and allows them to move freely as nature intended – no bits, spurs, other equipment, or methods that compromise the horse’s ability to perform at their best.

To find horsemanship programs and instructors I recommend you read the post ‘How Can I Learn Better Horsemanship?’

The following articles explore aspects of training and riding horses while their care is covered under the Horse Care page.