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Ariana Schnell

Professor Cassel

ENG 1201

15 November 2018

Annotated Bibliography

My topic is focused on natural horsemanship. In this research project, it is my goal to find

the answers to questions that surround it. How does natural horsemanship differ from traditional

training methods? What is the history of natural horsemanship? Who were some of the

instrumental figures? Is there any controversy that surrounds its practice and the methods that it

promotes?

Birke, Lynda. “‘Learning to Speak Horse’: The Culture of ‘Natural Horsemanship.’” Society &

Animals, vol. 15, no. 3, Sept. 2007, pp. 217–239. EBSCOhost

History gives many examples of how force has been used to control horses. Despite this

fact, good horsepeople have known for centuries that force elicits little cooperation and increases

the chance of injury for the handler. Today, force is still sometimes used. However, much

through the effects of animal rights and environmental politics, expectations of kindness have

emerged. Changes in the world of interaction with horses have brought about a rejection of the

old and harsh methods and have led to a different way of keeping and training horses. This shift

toward “natural horsemanship” promotes kindness, communication, and a learning to understand

the horse’s point of view and his natural behavior.

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Despite the unnatural way in which horses are kept, there is a desire among horse owners

to understand and interact with the horse in a natural way drawing on the instinctive behavioral

patterns observed in the wild. This “revolution” began in the early 1970s on American cattle

ranches. The idea of being gentle and seeing the world through the eyes of the horse has been

marketed sold and spread throughout North America and Europe ever since. Despite the differing

styles and viewpoints held by “natural horsemen”, they all agree on the importance of

understanding why the horse does what he does and treating him with sensitivity. From Monty

Roberts to Pat Parelli, horse owners/trainers are free to pick and choose what method they want

to use.

This article does not concern any particular method of natural horsemanship but focuses

rather on the people who interested in natural horsemanship and on their common ground

(namely, the rejection of cultural methods in exchange for those more related more to the horse’s

natural behavior). Participants were interviewed to find out what they had to say (good or bad)

about the subject. Many spoke of experiencing a personal change, a growth in self-confidence,

and developing a relationship with their horse. Some participants related a feeling of “revelation”

after realizing what was possible through proper training. Not everyone had enthusiastically

accepted NH however, stating that its methods could be just as cruel as those used

conventionally. One negative feature is the animosity between respected trainers and their

followings toward those who are not in their group. Although there are many arguments both for

and against particular methods of natural horsemanship, most agree on its influence on ordinary

horse owners as a way to work with and earn the respect of their horses.

This article targets a mainly academic audience based on its location in the Journal of

Human-Animal Studies. The author’s purpose is to express the opinions of ordinary horse people
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rather than those of the figureheads of the horse community who are so often focused on. This

article allows one to observe the practical use of natural horsemanship among the untrained

everyday horse owners and riders.

The author, Lynda Birke, would be considered a credible author because of her position

in writing for this academic, peer-reviewed journal. The references used in her research are listed

in her work. This is a reliable source because of the aforementioned reliability of the author and

the sources used.

The information provided in this article will help me in defining my topic but more

importantly, it will be useful for examples of practical application of the methods of natural

horsemanship. The critical viewpoints listed will also provide me with information for the

controversy section of my paper.

Henderson, Antonia J. Z. “Horse Whispering Demystified: An Investigative Look at the Science

Behind Natural Horsemanship.” Horse-Canada.Com, vol. 10, no. 5, Sept. 2011, pp. 46–

49. EBSCOhost

Natural Horsemanship encourages owners to begin a spiritual journey to develop a more

humane and enlightened relationship with their horses. With his book, The Man Who Listens to

Horses, Monty Roberts set this enthusiasm in motion in 1999, surrounding his work and that of

other horseman with an almost magical light. However, there is nothing magical or even

“natural” about natural horsemanship. Although the methods are not harmful when applied by an

experienced trainer, when these techniques are marketed as revolutionary, magical and

embedded in a horse's inherent desire to please, it is misleading.

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The basic learning principles used by natural horse trainers are the same as those used to

train dogs, children, or addicts. Operant conditioning, primarily negative reinforcement, is one of

their main tools. Negative reinforcement can be described as the removal of something

unpleasant to reward a desired behavior. E.g. We apply pressure to the horse’s side with our

legs. When he moves forward, this pressure is released.

Monty Roberts and Pat Parelli have both made statements claiming that their methods

communicate with horses in the same way they communicate with each other. Contrary to these

statements, experts in equine psychology suggest that it is unlikely that the horse views the

trainer in the same way that he would view another dominant horse. When the round pen

technique (chasing the horse until he responds with specific signals and then follows the trainer

willingly) was tested in an experiment, it succeeded in eliciting the desired response (the horse

followed the trainer), but these actions did not transfer outside the round pen. This suggests that

the horse did not really view the trainer as he would another horse. In addition, the specific

actions labeled as “submissive” are not observable in the wild and may carry more similarities to

a psychological response to a perceived predator. Another explanation for this reconstruction in

the equine social order is that the horse, through negative reinforcement, has learned that giving

the trainer his attention and following him is the proper response to avoid being chased.

The promotion of natural horsemanship as a being more humane than traditional methods

is perhaps its strongest selling point. However, the “traditional” methods referenced here refer

back to the brutal horse breaking techniques of the wild-west that are seldom seen today.

Another question arises concerning the use of force which Roberts and Parelli claim is not used

in their techniques. The round pen exercise would seem to indicate otherwise. When in the hands

of an experienced trainer, the horse’s stress in this exercise may be brief, but this may not be the
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case for the horses of more inexperienced trainers. The likening of human qualities and

characteristics to those of horses is another misleading concept. While the recreation of the

human/horse dynamic through natural horsemanship remains in question, the capitalization of

the equine social structure for the purpose of training can be seen in several ways. Firstly, the

horse feels the need to be a part of a heard and form social bonds. When isolated, the human

becomes an attractive option. Second, the horse’s inclination to retreat rather than dominate

makes it a more liable candidate for training than another predator.

The target audience of this article is likely those who have become enamored with natural

horsemanship for the almost mystical characteristics that it seems to possess. It was the author’s

purpose to, as the title suggests, “demystify” these methods.

Despite the lack of references in the article, I believe that Antonia J. Z. Henderson’s

position as PhD of Equine Psychologist at Lángara College in Vancouver, BC gives her

substantial authority to write on the subject.

This article supplies a good amount of information for why the techniques of natural

horsemanship work from a scientific standpoint (which I feel is important) despite its criticism of

the terminology of several of the leading figures.

Jessop, Don. “The Reason Performance Riders Hate Natural Horsemanship.” 18, Jul. 2017.

https://medium.com/@DonJessop/the-reason-performance-riders-hate-natural-

horsemanship-by-don-jessop-24fa509d69eb

Performance trainers and riders do harbor a bias against natural horsemanship and its

techniques. Not because they disagree with the more gentle approach, but because it focuses so

much on the psychological part (inside) of the horse that it almost completely ignores the
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physical part (outside). Traditional performance riders learn balance, energy management, foot

placement, and engagement but their horses often suffer from behavioral issues due to the rider’s

lack of knowledge concerning the horse’s mental process. On the opposite end of the scale,

“natural” riders focus so much on what is going on inside their horse’s head that they fail to

correct physical issues like bad posture and balance.

Too many times “natural” people are so concerned with preserving their relationship with

their horse, that they lack firmness. They are always careful what they do in order to avoid

offending their horse. Oppositely, performance riders can be to firm and not soft enough at times.

A “master horseman” is someone who can combine the two. “Natural” ought not to mean soft or

wimpy, but rather as reward oriented instead of consequence oriented. And “traditional” riding

shouldn’t be thoughtless or mindless, but rather as possessing control over the horse’s balance

and body parts.

The author’s purpose in this article is to admonish both natural and traditional riders and

bring to their attention how a combination of methods would be truly beneficial for the horse.

Since this article was published in a type of online magazine, I’d guess that the audience would

include anyone interested in the topic, so rather general. Although it discusses the animosity

between the “natural” and “performance” horse communities, I really don’t see any significance

concerning where and when it was published.

I believe Don Jessop to be a credible author based on his expertise in the field of animal

behavior. Based on his academic achievements, his business (Mastery Horsemanship), and his

years of experience in this area, I feel that he was in possession of adequate information to write

such an article.
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This article will be instrumental in my paper because I can use much of its content in my

controversy section. It will also help me decide what my most important reasons/arguments for

natural horsemanship are because I will know the arguments against it.

Miller, Robert M. and Lamb, Rick. The Revolution in Horsemanship and What it Means to

Mankind. Chapter 3. 2005

This new enlightened form of horsemanship began in cowboy country of all places.

Although it was not a common practice, some sought to fine-tune their relationship with the

horse to increase efficiency on the job. This dedication and refinement has been carried on from

generation to generation. It was just such a cowboy who started the revolution. Tom Dorrance

(1910 - 3003) grew up on an Oregon cattle ranch and learned early on in life to use psychology

rather than muscle to get his way. His brother, Bill (also a respected figure of natural

horsemanship), said “Tom was easy with the horses and they all worked for him. He wanted to

get along with them….” Later on, he jokingly referred to himself as “the horse’s lawyer” to

reflect his respect for the horse’s point of view. It is difficult to distinguish between the methods

of Dorrance and Ray Hunt (his gifted protégé), but a collection of 10 often-quoted sayings

embodies the basic principles of the methods which they used.

Ray Hunt (1929 - 2009), at thirty years old, began as a cowhand with a troubled horse.

After his encounter with Tom Dorrance at the fair, Hunt decided that this was something he

wanted to learn. He learned quickly and was soon conducting clinics of his own. Where

Dorrance had no interest in the public eye and actively avoided it, Hunt sought to make their

ideas known. Knowing that people and horses vary in vast ways, he never established a “how-to”

set of rules. Rather, he is known for saying “All the whos, whats, and wheres determine the

whys, whens, and hows.” and “Adjust to fit the situation.” Everything he did was about feel.
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The term “natural horsemanship” was not coined till the 1980s. It was Pat Parelli (1954 -

) who gave a name to the entire movement. Young Parelli grew up working with horses and

competing in rodeos. In 1982, after much instruction from various mentors, he began traveling to

teach and demonstrate what he had learned about psychological horse training. After his bridle-

less reining demonstration the next year, he became a mentee to Tom Dorrance, Ray Hunt, and

Ronnie Willis. Parelli’s groundwork routine, The Seven games, are perhaps his greatest

contribution to the revolution in horsemanship. The Seven Games are used to establish

leadership, create a relationship, calm the horse, and reinforce the language used to

communicate. He then developed a training program known as Parelli Natural Horse-man-ship

which takes students through ten levels. Parelli considers himself to be a level 8.

Monty Roberts (1935 - ) can be credited with introducing the ideas of the revolution to

the public through his first book, The Man Who Listens to Horses. Although his father was a

respected traditional method horse trainer, Roberts was more interested in the psychological

approach used by his neighbor, Bill Dorrance. The methods that he developed were kept to

himself until a fellow racehorse trainer happened to observe him training one day and insisted

that the world needed to know. Demonstrations for other Thoroughbred owners and breeders,

including Queen Elizabeth II of England, soon followed. His round pen technique, “Join-Up”,

uses body language to drive the horse away and then to invite the horse to join him in the center

after the horse signals that he is willing to cooperate.

“May you always ride a good horse!” is Richard Shrake’s signature signoff. Growing up,

Shrake got a lot of experience handling a variety of different horses due to his father’s hobby of

trading horses whenever possible. Despite owning his own training facility, he felt that he needed

to establish credibility for himself as a trainer. In 1974, he achieved his goal by winning horse of
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the year. Many of his students went on to win titles in horse shows across the country. He then

became a judge and has judged more than 1,000 in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and

Australia. Shrake’s goal is to let his ideas become the horse’s ideas to develop a relationship free

of resistance. Bringing these principles into the show world helped to expand the revolution.

One would not have looked at John Lyons (1947 - ), earning a six-figure income as an

orthopedic salesman, and seen the future “America’s most trusted horseman”. One day he

realized that he liked caring for and playing with his horse more than making phone calls, and

that was when he decided that it was time for a change in career. After a failed attempt at cattle

ranching, Lyons decided to focus on horses. Inspired by a Ray Hunt clinic, he began conducting

clinics of his own. By training humans to train horses, he has been able to help both. Lyons

stresses the use of gentle persuasion rather than force and setting the horse up for success so that

they can learn proper behavior through action. His three golden rules are #1 “You can’t get hurt.”

#2 “The horse can’t get hurt.” and #3 The horse must be calmer at the end of your training

session than he was at the beginning.”

Considering that this is a book and not just an article, I would say that the target audience

is those who are truly interested in learning more about natural horsemanship and where it came

from.

Both authors would be considered experts on the subject, but their many references to

other credible sources add validity to their claims.

This chapter, along with chapter 4 will be used to establish a foundation (albeit a rather

lengthy one) and a point of reference for the information to follow.

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Miller, Robert M. and Lamb, Rick. The Revolution in Horsemanship and What it Means to

Mankind. Chapter 4. 2005

By the mid-1980s, people were catching on and it began to look like these ideas might be

here to stay. Each year, more teachers emerge to share their perspective with the world. These

horsemen have carried the revolution forward, building on what others have already laid down.

Born and raised in Australia, (1975 - ) Clinton Anderson’s ability with horses came naturally. He

joined the national polo team at thirteen and by fifteen, was selling his services to horse owners.

He was apprenticed to Gordan McKinley and Al Dunning, but the list of those who influence his

work continues to grow. Anderson emphasizes groundwork and gaining the horse’s respect by

moving his feet forward, backward, left, and right. Downunder Horsemanship is the name of his

training system. As one of the few clinicians to bridge the gap between natural horsemanship and

competitive showing, Anderson has won the respect of both worlds through his success in

competition.

Buck Brannaman (1962 - ) first became a celebrity at the age of five. He and his brother,

Bill, soon became famous for their trick roping and riding. After being taken away from their

abusive father, the boys were raised in a loving foster home. Feeling enlightened after a clinic

presented by Ray Hunt and Tom Dorrance, this young cowhand made it his life’s mission to be

just like them. Brannaman befriended Hunt and proceeded to learn all that he could from him

and the Dorrance brothers. Following the advice of his college advisor, he decided to forget

about college and pursue a career with horses. As the real-life inspiration for the main character

in The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans, Brannaman was launched into the public eye once

again when he was brought in to consult on the horse training scenes for the film.
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(Insert descriptions of the lives and careers of Craig Cameron, Peter Campbell, Leslie Desmond,

Bryan Neubert, Linda Parelli, GaWaNi Pony Boy, Mark Rashid, and Dennis, Reis)

Horse owners who involve themselves seriously in this revolutionary natural

horsemanship will often choose a single clinician to follow. This doesn’t need to be problematic.

After all, their techniques are all based on the same behavior-shaping principles and are

scientifically correct. However, the techniques do vary. The reason for this could be anything

from something that they were taught, a technique they have perfected, or just a way to be

different. These horsemen are also businessmen and must sell their programs and tools to others.

Mistakes are made when people assume that their chosen clinician teaches the only correct way

and that everyone else is wrong. In the end, it all comes down to personal preference. What

works for one person and their horse may not work for someone else. Some trainers use a rope

halter, others a web/flat halter. Some will teach lateral flexion by tying a rein to the stirrup or tail

while others will teach it from the saddle or from the ground. Some use spurs and others don’t.

Most trainers do a lot of petting and rubbing, but some will rub here while others rub there. Each

of the action mentioned above works in the hands of its respective trainer and will produce the

same result, a well-trained horse.

Students and beginners often become frustrated when they fail to understand the horse’s

responses, apply adequate pressure, or react quickly enough. When pressure is released too soon

or too late, the entire lesson can be ruined leading to slow progress. This is what so often leads to

the assumption that the method does not work.

Everyone must use what they think is best. Some techniques may be better than others,

but the others are not wrong. Many of the traditional methods are wrong due to the unnecessary

use of force, but the horsemen involved in this revolution all use methods that minimize coercion
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and produce respect rather than fear. They deserve respect. Rather than choosing one and

dismissing all others, a wise student would learn what he can from each in order to develop his

own technique that works best for him.

Considering that this is a book and not just an article, I would say that the target audience

is those who are truly interested in learning more about natural horsemanship and where it came

from.

Both authors would be considered experts on the subject, but their many references to

other credible sources add validity to their claims.

This chapter, along with chapter 3 will be used to establish a foundation (albeit a rather

lengthy one) and a point of reference for the information to follow. The last paragraph, however,

will likely be used in some sort of conclusion.

Miller, Robert M. and Lamb, Rick. The Revolution in Horsemanship and What it Means to

Mankind. Chapter 6. 2005

An individual’s behavior is determined by the genetic behaviors inherited at birth and the

learning experiences that occur throughout life (early life, in particular). Horses are no different.

Genetic behaviors refer to anatomy (structure) and physiology (function) and how one survives

within its environment. Acute awareness, strength in numbers, following a competent leader, and

speed have enabled the horse to survive. Mankind has often regarded horses as swift, beautiful,

strong, and useful, but stupid.

If the horse is ever to be truly understood, ten characteristics of its mindset and behavior

must be noted. The first characteristic involves the method of defense. Everything about the

horse shows that it was built for running. Its existence as a flight animal forms the foundation for
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the other nine characteristics. Run first, ask questions later. Yet, it is that flight energy that men

have harnessed and directed to serve their own purposes whether that is on the racetrack, chasing

a steer, in a harness, or against an enemy. Due to its flight tendencies, the horse must be highly

perceptive. This is the second characteristic. Danger must be detected early if flight is to prove

effective. Although humans and horses possess the same five senses, key differences must be

noted. Like dogs, horses have a broader sense of smell and can hear a much wider range of

sounds. The ability to move the external part of the ear enables them to locate the source of the

sound (indicating which direction to run). Sensitive nerve endings make it possible for the horse

to identify if a fly lands on their hair. With this remarkable sense of touch covering its entire

body, is it any wonder that a well-trained horse can detect and respond to even the slightest

change from its rider or that they panic with the sudden unfamiliar weight of a saddle? Contrary

to humans, horses see colors in pastel-like shades. However, they do possess excellent night

vision. Lateral eye placement allows for a wider field of vision including good peripheral vision,

and slight head movement eliminates blind spots directly in front and directly behind. Also, due

to lateral eye placement, each eye sends a separate message to the brain. This is why a horse

might not react when seeing something on its left side and then spook when the same object is

viewed through its right eye. All of these senses work together to allow for the third

characteristic; quick reaction. These reaction times, primarily used for escaping danger, are one

reason why horses are so useful in outmaneuvering cows or rodeo bulls. Although useful, this

quick reaction is also potentially dangerous to humans. Fourthly, horses are fast learners.

Unfortunately, undesirable behaviors are picked up on just as quickly as desirable ones. This is

why so many inexperienced “trainers” end up creating problem horses that are unmanageable or

aggressive. The fifth characteristic is the horse’s incredible ability to retain information which
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includes those of traumatic experiences. The two categories that they seem to use for

classification are things to run away from and things not to run away from. When things like

horse trailers, plastic, and veterinarians are classified as “things to run away from”, problems

arise. The sixth characteristic demonstrates the horse’s craving for company. As herd animals,

they seek safety in numbers. These groups depend on each other and a herd leader to sense

danger and survive. For horses, company is not merely a luxury but a necessity. Isolation leads to

insecurity, which is why so many horses are said to be “herd bound” or “barn sour”. In the

absence of another horse, a replacement bond can be formed with another animal such as a goat,

cat, or person. If communication with the horse is to be successful, the seventh characteristic,

communication through body language, must be understood. Although this body language

cannot be duplicated, it can be mimicked. Some signals are easier to interpret than others. For

example, a head held high and ears laid back is quite obviously an expression of anger. The

language of submission can be a bit less obvious. Animals often show submission by presenting

themselves in a vulnerable position. For the horse, that position would probably be with his head

lowered when his senses of sight, hearing, and smell are most impaired. This, accompanied by a

licking and chewing action can indicate submission. The eighth characteristic is that the horse

must know who is boss. Dominance means leadership. When considering the relationship

between horses and people, it is essential that the person be the one to attain that leadership role

and not the other way around. The leader controls the movements of the subordinate. Number

nine may be shocking. Despite its ability to detect and react quickly to threats, this timid and

flighty animal can be rapidly desensitized to harmless stimuli. Without this feature, the horse

would have proven useless in battle, hunting, sport, and herding cattle. He would have never

stopped running. However, once an object is deemed harmless, it can be ignored. The natural
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horseman pays special attention to desensitization. Lastly, horses are a precocial species,

meaning that they are born fully developed. Soon after birth, they have the ability to stand, run,

follow their mother and herd, and most importantly, to begin learning. The concept of foal

training to avoid the development of undesirable behaviors has become quite popular.

Why the horse does what he does has now been established. The horse’s flight

tendencies, perceptive ability, fast reflexes, quick learning, keen memory, craving for company,

body language, desire for leadership, rapid desensitization, and full development at birth all

affect its behavior throughout its life. Horses learn through conditioned responses where fixed

reinforcement is used to establish predictable behavior. Negative reinforcement is used by most

trainers. This is not the use of punishment but the taking away something when a specific

behavior is shown. An example would be when training a horse to turn left. Pressure is held on

the left rain. The pressure is uncomfortable, and he may try different ways to relieve it by

moving around. Any movement to the left would be instantly rewarded with the release of the

pressure. Note that it is discomfort that promotes the response and not pain. Food is often used as

a positive enforcer in the training of circus horses, but petting is more common.

Desensitization makes horses useful and safe by making them less flighty. Most horse-

related injuries occur when the horse experiences an unfamiliar stimulus. That is why they must

be desensitized to any possible frightening objects. Proper desensitization counters the horse’s

panic impulse when faced with things like fly spray, water, or veterinary care. This can be done

in two ways, flooding and progressive desensitization. Flooding is a repeated exposure to the

frightening stimulus until it is accepted and ignored. This method is fast but dangerous and is

only recommended for experts. Progressive desensitization takes longer but is much safer. Here

the horse is taught to accept the stimulus through approach and retreat. The item creates
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discomfort when introduced but is then pulled back before the horse flees. Plastic is a good

example of a harmless item that horses commonly fear. Desensitization is only profitable is

generalized through the use of varying types of the same item (e.g. differing colors or textures) in

different places by different people.

One of the most important lessons to learn is that “Unacceptable behavior can be

changed.” We see examples of this when clinicians take on problem horses. Although horses are

different from humans, many of the same behavior-modifying principles work with people too.

The implications of the revolution in horsemanship reach much farther than the horse. Mastering

natural horsemanship has been known to increase the quality of one’s relationships with others.

The revolution did not occur only in horsemanship but also in relationships.

Considering that this is a book and not just an article, I would say that the target audience

is those who are truly interested in learning more about natural horsemanship and where it came

from.

Both authors would be considered experts on the subject, but their many references to

other credible sources add validity to their claims.

This chapter what natural horsemanship is and why it works the way it does. This will

form the main part of my paper.