Introduction to Natural Horsemanship

"Natural Horsemanship" means being able to see the world through your horse's eyes. It means understanding equine psychology. It means that you understand and work with the horse's natural instincts. It means being as gentle as possible but as firm as necessary in order to communicate with your horse. The emphasis is on a willing communication between horse and rider.

One of the key concepts of Natural Horsemanship is to let it happen rather than trying to make it happen. This means to cause the wrong thing to be difficult and allow the right thing to be easy. It means approaching your horse with empathy, kindness and respect. Practitioners of Natural Horsemanship do not advocate force, fear or intimidation.

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Before you ever get in the saddle, you should make sure you have a way to communicate with your horse. You need to establish a relationship, understanding and acceptance from your horse. You need a language you can rely on!

Our communication system with horses is based on the seven games they use to establish friendship and leadership with each other. The horse that "wins" these games is herd alpha.

Natural Horsemanship is about the relationship between horse and human so it doesn't matter whether you ride western or english.

If this overall philosophy sounds worthwhile, you owe it to yourself and your horse to attend some private lessons or clinics.



Course One

Learn the beginning of horsemanship safety, create trust and respect, eliminate many common problems and safety issues.
  • Learn how horses think and why they act like they do
  • Learn the seven games on the 12ft line
  • Teach your horse to yield from pressure
  • Leading and saddling safely
  • Learn how to stop, back up and being able to control your horses hind quarters and front quarters

Course one is perfect for those new to horses but equally beneficial for experienced riders. Unstarted horses are not permitted to participate in riding aspects of our work. Stallions are ineligible

Course Two

Develop confidence and independence with horses.
  • Play the seven games at a higher level
  • Liberty (playing with your horse without any rope)
  • Riding in the halter and the bridle
  • Impulsion patterns
  • Trailer loading
  • Bareback riding
  • Basic fluidity concepts

Natural Horsemanship equipment will be available for students who need to purchase it.



What we offer

Clinics

$75.00 plus taxes per person per day

During a clinic we cover the basic equine psychology, to better understand your horse and his behaviour and the 7 games to play with him and establish the basis of your future communication language.

  • learn for 3 or 6 hours a day for a minimum of 2 days
  • you can use your horses or ours
  • at your place or here at the ranch
  • minimum 4 people here at the ranch, 6 at your place and maximum 10 people.


Private Lessons

$40.00 plus taxes per hour

Come and solve, the Natural Horsemanship way, some specific problems you may be having with your horse.

  • takes place here at the ranch
  • you can use your horses or ours

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Horse training

$500.00 plus taxes per month, includes

  • feeding
  • basic care
  • lessons with the horse and owner. It is encouraged and highly beneficial for the owner to take an active role in their horse's training. This helps the owner to understand what has been taught, which they can then continue with when their horse returns home.

Natural Horsemanship Training

  • the Seven Games (see pictures on the Photos page)
  • confidence building
  • safety instruction
  • various problem solving : water crossing, bucking,...


Equipment

Please contact us for price information

Here is a list of the equipment that you can purchase directly from the ranch

  • Rope Halters (regular & foal size)
  • Parelli style Halters
  • 12ft Lead Ropes
  • Rope Hackamores
  • Savvy Sticks
  • Savvy Strings


Volunteer/Internship Program

Please contact us for price information

This is a step by step program teaching you from the very beginning, catching, grooming, saddling, safety around horses, horse behavior, basic riding skills, trail riding & how to work with cattle plus much more. This program includes education and duties in all aspects of running and maintaining a guest ranch. All Lodging , meals, instruction and horses will be included in this program. It is designed to be fun, challenging and educational. You will get to do things with horses you have always dreamed of, such as exciting trail and wagon rides in a wonderful working ranch environment. You will meet people from all over the world and get the chance to live around horses and cattle.