Oh No! You’re one of those people!

Be prepared for a similar response if you choose to go “natural” in your horse keeping practices. While going natural is all the rage amongst a growing number of horse owners, the trend also lends itself to controversy. It’s all around us; Natural training, Natural riding and of course Natural hoofcare.

So, what is natural? Some would argue that the natural horse is barefoot, turned out 24/7, should only be fed ground level, never wear a blanket and certainly should never have to endure the perils of “traditional” horsemanship. On the other end of the spectrum you have the argument that the very act of saddling and riding a horse is unnatural (after all the horse wasn’t born with a person on its back.). They also defend traditional practices by saying that they are the result of domestication, besides they get the job done. Thus the debate continues and probably will for some time. So what’s this mean to horse owners?

I believe it challenges horse owners to balance the God given, inherent nature of the horse with the reality that they are domesticated animals. This balancing act affects many aspects of the horse’s being and offers today’s horse owners many choices when deciding what’s best for their horse. One of the most popular paths being explored is Natural Horsemanship. Every major horse expo I have ever attended or seen advertised has featured Natural Horsemanship, a testimony to this method of training and the interest it generates.

Being both an avid practitioner of both Natural HorseManShip and Natural Hoofcare, I have discovered they share some key philosophical points. While I am not suggesting that the two are directly related, I believe examining some of the philosophical similarities offers some insight into what is being viewed as natural in the horse world today.

At the very basic level, both are based upon a respect for the natural design of the horse; one psychological and one physiological. Basically, a horse is a horse, while each has its own unique horseinality; they are all born with the same basic psychological make-up. Whether domestic or feral, mini or draft, they speak the same language. Similarly, they are born with basically the same feet. So where do all the problems come from? Could it be us Humans? Nah, it’s got to be that danged horse!

Another basic concept they share is the belief that a strong foundation is key to attaining optimal results. Natural HorseManShip utilizes a systematic approach to groundwork to build a firm foundation of communication. Only when it is established on the ground do they get on the horse’s back, constantly referencing what they did on the ground to communicate to the horse what they want while riding. Natural hoofcare also uses a systematic approach to rehabilitating or refining the individual structures of the foot. The terrain the horse is asked to traverse barefoot is then based upon the foundational structures of the foot. These structures are also used as a reference when deciding if protection is required in the form of a boot or shoe. Pulling a horse’s shoes then taking him on a two hour trail ride is like jumping on a horse’s back before you teach him how to stop. I have come to the realization that most of the problems I run into with horses is due to a lack of foundation, whether it be training or hoofcare.

Both disciplines also adhere to the belief that another key to success is proper preparation. If you’ve ever seen a trailer loading demo you’ve heard, “Don’t wait until the day of the show to teach your horse to load”. Similarly, don’t wait until the day before a rocky trail ride to condition your horse’s feet. Lack of preparation only leads to frustration, disappointment and unfortunately our horses usually get the short end of the stick. We end up whacking them into the trailer and nailing shoes on, never considering that maybe we should be getting whacked because we didn’t want to take the time to prepare.

Which leads me to my next point, and perhaps the most challenging for many us is that the natural way isn’t always the quickest, but to quote Pat Parelli, “If you take the time it takes, it takes less time”. Basically, the additional time taken to do it properly in the beginning will ultimately yield superior results. To use trailer loading again…you can beat a horse into a trailer, you may have to beat him into it several times, but eventually he will load, yet how much trust and respect do you think he will have for you? You will never get the most out of your horse until you have earned his trust and respect. Natural hoofcare can also take time to properly condition the barefoot horse to traverse harsh terrain, but the time taken will result in a healthier foot and years of soundness.

One last point to ponder, and perhaps one that transcends all aspects of horse care is the emphasis on consistency. Horses desire and thrive on consistency, both mentally and physically. In a nut shell, a consistent natural training regimen yields consistent results and predictable behavior while a consistent hoofcare program yields consistent soundness and predictable results.

So, is the term Natural Horse a contradiction? I suppose it depends on who you’re talking to. Each of us must choose which path is best, hopefully this column has offered some insight into some of the philosophical similarities of natural training and hoofcare, thus helping to define what is natural. If I sound biased, that’s because I am, I am a firm believer in the effectiveness of both of these naturally based practices. My mean horse that had to be shod yearround can now be ridden by an eight year old barefoot. So is it for you? Only you can decide, my advice though is to give it a try, you just might be surprised.