There seems to be a perception today that natural horsemanship involves no discipline because it advocates against the use of heavy beatings and overly harsh bits and spurs.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Natural horsemanship asks humans to learn from their horses and to speak their language, which language does involve discipline. However, natural herd correction rarely involves prolonged or painful beatings.
Here are some reasons why beating a horse does not work:
• Desensitization. Everyone knows that a hard mouthed horse has become desensitized to the bit from rough treatment. The same applies to excessive whipping or spurring.
• Emotional outlet for human. Ultimately, you’re using the beating more as stress relief for you than any other good purpose. It may work at first, but the end result can be an even more unruly horse as he grows afraid of humans. Then the defensive behavior begins, such as turning his haunches to you, ready to kick.
• Timing. Unless you can administer correction immediately (no less than 2-3 seconds), it will be ineffective. Once you’re on the ground from a buck off, going up and harshly correctly will only convince the horse that humans are aggressive and to be avoided.
• Unreliable. Because of all the above, heavy punishment usually results in a downward spiral of resentment to humans and defensive behaviors, such as kicking, head shying, and being afraid of a person’s touch in general.
Having ruled out hard-handed physical punishment as a training tool, the horse owner must realize that it is essential not to ignore bad behavior or it will escalate. In other words, it is not that discipline should never be used; but rather that when we do correct, we do so immediately and in the language of the horse.
In the horse herd, there are followers and leaders. Some followers are fine to be followers always, but many horses will look for any opportunity to challenge your leadership. You must always, through body language, calm yet assertive attitude, and instant reaction to bad behavior, reassert yourself as the alpha horse. The best way to accomplish this lead role is through ground work in the round pen – a first before ever getting onboard, and regularly thereafter if needed.
There are various forms of correction. A swat from a crop is not your only alternative. Try using all forms to see which works best for the temperament of your horse. (Remember: All discipline should be given immediately at the first sign of challenge or it will be useless.)
• Time outs. Turn your attention from the horse (not turning your back entirely on an aggressive house, however). After a few moments, give him your attention again, but only showing positive attitude. Shunning is a key element of horse herd behavior. There is nothing they want more than to be part of the group.
• Consequences. If he won’t stand still, lower his head for you, etc., make him run two laps in the round pen. Higher ranking horses do this when disciplining new or lower-ranking horses in the herd. After the run (which stops when you say it can), try again. Same behavior, repeat.
• If aggression (ears pinning, charging or kicking) occurs, square your shoulders to face the horse, stare directly into its eyes, wave your hands and shout. This will get their attention that you mean business. Move them into a run once they are paying attention (a sign of that is one ear cocked to you at all times).
• Continue lunging in the round pen until you see signs that the horse wants to accept your leadership: Inner ear turned to you, lowered head, tongue lolling and chewing movements with the jaw (“licking and chewing”).
In the end, you want to establish a lead horse relationship, not a predator-prey relationship. The essence of horse behavior is that they must challenge you to determine whether you will make a good lead horse. It’s about survival for them. But they will gladly turn over the stressful position of top horse to you once you have proven yourself. This proof can be accomplished without severe beatings.
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