NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP

Over two thousand years ago the Greek philosopher Xenophon wrote a treatise on the horse in which he said, "anything forced or misunderstood can never be beautiful." That statement is the essence of natural horsemanship, which seeks to develop a positive, harmonious relationship between horses and humans.

The contemporary natural horsemanship movement owes much to the work and ideas of Tom and Bill Dorrance who spent their lives working to understand a horse's instincts and language, "learning how to feel of the horse and then getting those horses to be responsive to your feel" (Bill Dorrance). Now it is passed on to a new generation of horsemen and women whose goal is to communicate effectively with their horses and to help others to achieve a stronger, more positive relationship with their horses in a spirit of cooperation between equine and human.

Trainers. Clinics.

Barb Apple www.barbapple.com A Parelli Natural Horsemanship instructor, Barb Apple is in the process to re-locating to Washington State where she is building a conference and retreat center and embarking on a new journey in her horsemanship with Horse Play: Communication thru Consideration.

Peggy Cummings www.peggycummings.com has developed Connected Riding methods to achieve freedom of movement and self carriage for horse and rider. "Connected Riding teaches you to ride from the inside (by feeling), to the outside (by action). It provides you with an awareness of body and movement that empowers you to move in harmony with the horse."

Leslie Desmond www.lesliedesmond.com "coaches horse owners who have reached a plateau with their horses and want to advance their horsemanship through feel." She is co-author of True Horsemanship Through Feel with Bill Dorrance. In this book, Desmond has documented Dorrance's techniques and philosophy of horsemanship. She had the opportunity to work with and learn from Dorrance for many years, and now shares her knowledge as an author and horsemanship coach. Her approach to horsemanship is "based on the human capacity to observe, and after observing, to reflect and offer the horse the clearest possible message through feel."

Mary Midkiff www.womenandhorses.com is the author of She Flies Without Wings: How Horses Touch a Woman's Soul and Fitness, Performance and the Female Equestrian. Her approach to training and teaching offers, "a new perspective on the way horses are understood, equipped and ridden by women." Midkiff is president of Equestrian Resources (EQR), a Colorado-based company, and offers "Women & Horses Get Fit To Ride Clinics" around the country. She produces an interesting on-line newsletter, and her web-site is a good source of information about natural horse care and rider fitness.

Wendy Murdoch www.wendymurdoch.com is a TTEAM Practitioner and Clinician and a Senior Centered Riding Instructor. She is currently enrolled in a training program to become a practitioner of the Feldenkrais method and has studied extensively on alternative health care and saddle fit issues.

Pat and Linda Parelli parelli.parellinet.netare among the best known practitioners of natural horsemanship. Their Savvy System establishes a systematic and methodological approach to developing our understanding of horses. Their web-site offers a wealth of links and information on Horse*Man*Ship.

Lee Smith www.leesmithdiamonds.comlives on a working cattle ranch in Arizona. A former student of Ray Hunt, LeeÃs aim is to, "lead people on a pathway of discovery to the essential elements of horsemanship." Her clinics emphasize, "communication with your horse without force or fear to establish a willing partnership rather than resistance." Smith also offers "adventures in horsemanship" at her 26 Bar Ranch.

Sally Swift, Centered Riding www.centeredriding.org is, "an innovative way of expressing the classical principles of riding, using body awareness, centering and imagery." Centered Riding was developed by Sally Swift who, at the age of eight, was diagnosed with scoliosis. Swift engaged in an innovative course of treatment that recommended riding (because it uses both sides of the body equally) as one element of her therapy. From her grounding in anatomy and imagery, she developed a "centered approach" to riding "resulting in perfect body balance and an inner awareness of both yourself and your horse" (as Swift outlines in her book Centered Riding). The practice of Centered Riding is now taught by instructors around the world. A list of practitioners can be found on this web-site.

Linda Tellington-Jones, TTouch and TTeam www.tteam-ttouch.com Described as "A Training Approach for the Body, Mind, and Spirit of Animals," the Tellington Touch Equine Awareness Method is, "a training system for horses that incorporates body work, ground, and riding exercises to help improve co-ordination, balance, and athletic ability whilst deepening further understanding between the horse and its carer." TTeam techniques are based in the Feldenkrais method of "Awareness Through Movement" and, through a series of exercises, works on the central nervous system of the horse in a gentle and non-invasive manner.