I came up with the idea to start a discussion on the topic: Natural Horsemanship
This because I am a true fan of this way of training, and have had lots of success using this method, on many different horses, with different personalities and training issues.
Even though I am really into this form of training, at the same time I am critical about it. This because I have seen many ( very novice) people, thinking they were doing natural horsemanship, while in fact they didn't have a true understanding of it, and what they were trying to achieve, leading to sometimes very dangerous situations.
I think, because the big NH people, make it so commercial, they attract people that can afford it, but not necessairy people that have a deep feel and understanding about horses to begin with. The way it is being spread out to the world, is almost fairytale like, and it looks amazing, all this softness and lightness............. Unfortunatelly, in reality, this is the end goal, but cannot always be how it will go at the start of the training. I have worked with many horses, of which many were/ are stallions, and I couldn't start off being soft and cuddly, as they would have crushed me within one second. I had to level my energy with theirs, and sometimes that means that I have to correct them hard and firm, but eventually they become soft and light, and respond only to a change in my body :)
Don't get me wrong, I love NH, groundwork, and I have done the most amazing things, through this kind of work with horses. But I don't believe that one system, works for every horse, as they are all individuals, and some of them have had some very traumatic experiences.
I wish, that the bigger people in NH, would make their methods more accessable, for people that truly have the talent and the feel to become good mentors themselves. That way, the point that they are trying to spread out to the world, won't loose any quality.......
I would love to know, what other people think about this subject,
So bring it on with the comments on this everyone!!!!!