Before you read this post, I have to ask your forgiveness. Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch is not a "mission" blog. I don't often launch myself in shouting matches or guzzle purple KoolAid, passionately following any idea at all. That is the diametrical opposite of mindful examination of all sides of an issue. But the Adventurists' blatant lack of concern for Mongolian horses and people, their environment an culture, in the name of "fighting to make the world less boring" is an… Continue

When you are with your horse, do you demand his/her complete attention? I don't.



In the worlds of traditional and natural horsemanship, there is a lot of talk about what constitutes respect. Determining the nature of respect can help you get it from your horse. Commanding his or her full attention while together is an element of respect. Last week I had a conversation with a trainer who was called in to help a horse owner who was having trouble getting the respect of her horse. Here… Continue

Didn't the major natural horsemanship names notice?



Way back in 2008, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior wrote a position paper outlining its reasons for eschewing any kind of dominance-based training. Based on the most recent research, their paper is as enlightening to the mindful horse owner as it should be… Continue

A gentleman from LinkedIn posed a question about a pets' bill of rights that got me thinking about the point of having such a thing for horses and its possible uses and abuses.



For a little research, I Googled pets' bill of rights and found a few inane lists by pet care companies ("we have the right to snuggle daily") that included rights obvious to any animal lover but really didn't, um, fit the bill.



I did find something on… Continue

Last night I stayed up until 2:00 a.m. I went to bed at 11:00. I wasn't doing anything I can't write about here, either.



I was reading my newest Kindle 2 download, The Horse Boy by Rupert Isaacson.



Like a schoolgirl who's laid hands on her first bodice-ripper and reads it with fascinated, secret relish, I could not put this book down. It's that compelling. Even if you care not an iota about horses, you'll enjoy this book.



This is no passionate daddy…

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Tamara of The Barb Wire recently wrote about an unfortunate encounter with an unrestrained dog while out on her mare Consolation.



All of us have had such unpleasant meetings at one time or another. Regardless of your feelings about foxhunting, there are some bits of equipment that might help make equestrian outings safer and more pleasant.



In particular, I'm thinking of the hunt whip.



The hunt whip consists…

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Rowan Isaacson is a seven-year-old boy with autism. Until the age of five he had suffered every symptom the illness threw every possible symptom and limitation his way. Rowan's father and mother, Rupert and Kristin, were heartbroken that their son's life was filled with wild tantrums and little meaningful connection. "You're saying goodbye to a bunch of dreams that I think every parent has of a certain type of childhood, and a certain type of relationship with your…

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I've written before in my own personal blog about Danielle Herb, the teen who teaches Natural Horsemanship as an aid to other kids suffering with ADD/ADHD, in the hopes of focusing their attention and getting them off their meds.



I make no claim as to either the efficacy of her methods. It's too soon to tell whether an ADHD/ADD kid can come off their meds by using behavioral methods…

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So many times in my training in natural horsemanship, I heard emphasis on gaining respect. (I still hear it today.) I would watch a "problem" horse behave perfectly for my trainer and then, frustratingly, once I got my hands on the lead rope, revert back to "disrespectful" or even dangerous behavior with me. This was, of course, all my fault. Now don't get me wrong: students of horsemanship make all kinds of mistakes, and most problems they encounter are their fault.…

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Today I read an article that basically hobbled my brain, preventing me from thinking about anything else until I worked out my feelings about it.

The author of the piece makes some assertions about the relationship between horses and their people that no logical mind can dismiss. However his tone, a sort of, “these are the cold, hard facts for all you hairy-neck-nuzzlers–face up to them!” renders even the most obvious “facts”…

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Ever since a good old boy farrier lost his patience with my nervous Palomino quarter horse gelding and slapped him in the ribs with a rasp, I’ve been very interested in barefoot farriery. I had to be, because there was no way that knuckle-dragger was going near my horses again, and what I saw of local farriers’ work did not impress me. I don’t mean to make out like I’m a hoof expert. Oh no far from it. Or that I disapprove of shoeing horses. I don’t. I have as good a grasp as anybody of the…

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OK, the headline is unusually harsh, even for a blogger who examines every detail of horsemanship with skepticism. A little sensational, you say? Yes, I agree. But, read on, if you can.



"Sometimes things don’t have to have a point - they just have to make you smile." And these images of horses with hair extensions do just…

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