Hello I am Ellie Neerdaels and I have been involved in natural training the last 6 years. Prior to that, I primarily drove my horses in a cart and enjoyed competing in Combined Driving Events. I have had the absolute wonderful opportunity to ride with and learn from world famous trainers: Tom Dorrance - Ray Hunt - Buck Brannaman - Richard Thompson - Dave Seay - Dr. Miller - Pat Parelli - Mike Beck - Leslie Desmond and Terry Church. The movie "The Horse Whisper" has created a whirlwind of interest and portrayed this type of training as almost a mystery. Most of us whisper (if you want to call it that) at some level or another. If there is any secret to it, I believe it lies in human desire - the desire to better yourself for the horse. Ray Hunt says it the best "To understand the horse you'll find that you're going to be working on yourself." Switching to natural has completly changed my thinking & outlook on life. I would like to share with you some of the information I have gathered and use.

Ellie & Opus Black Mikasa

So what is Natural? For me, natural horsemanship is a philosophy of interacting with horses that goes far beyond "horse training." It considers the entire being of the horse: the mental, emotional and physical are developed by applying prey animal psychology and herd dynamics. The goal is to prepare the horse to consider your idea as his idea. In essence, teaching the horse to think in partnership with the human. This can only be achieved through feel. Feeling of the horse and for the horse. I personally believe there is nothing natural about natural training for the human, as we think so differently than horses. This is no easy task as we are predators trying to educate a prey animal. So the human teacher must first become a student of the horse and understand how to set limits and support the horse. There is a fine line between the use of force and effectively setting limits. To set limits, one must maintain an attitude of justice. There is no room for ego, pride and anger. The use of restraints and the idea of forcing the horse into submission simply cannot build the foundation and partnership with the horse that results in softness, willingness, and unity so desired but seldom experienced by equestrians. Restraints and gimmicks such as tie-downs, martingales & draw reins only accomplish increased forcefulness and limit your timing and effective release, they also take away from the horse's thought process. All detrimental to training with feel! Training the horse through feel allows the horse to think and brings about the transformation that begins with the mind verses training with equipment that forces the horse to physically conform._ Most horses will conform, but true transformation comes from the mind. To conform or comply is physical, transformation is mental and emotional as well as physical. Willingness would be an outward reflection of the inward transformation.

NOTES & QUOTES FROM CLINICIANS 

I HAVE LEARNED FROM

• 1. We own him, so just get on and go
• 2. Kick him to go
• 3. Pull back the reins to make him stop

I believe we have so many problems because we never asked the horses opinion before the rules were made. A horse is more than a horse, they are an attitude with 4 feet!

1. Consider how people communicate- By talking and body language. Talking is largely used but if the verbal words are conflicting with the body language, the body language will be believed over what is said.

2. Consider how horses communicate-_ By body language only. He who can get the other horse to move their feet - Wins ! The dominant leader will make others move their feet, getting them to yield.

Horses are herd animals and Movement is survival to the horse

• 1. By preventing movement 
• 2. By causing movement - getting them to yield their space

We must be viewed as being worthy of being their leader - as they would view a dominant lead horse. We need to be seen as someone who is faster and stronger than them.

I discovered we can do this without being mean and without gimmicks, keep it natural in a way for the horse to understand. Are you asking them to be your slave or your partner? It is just as important to not be aggressive as it is to not be wimpy. Consider how much you less you learn when you are afraid; and who would want to follow Pee Wee Herman into battle? A horse wants to know how much you know - and more importantly, if you care. If you don't care, they really don't care how much you know! You can put your heart in your hand. All horses are sensitive enough to feel a fly, so they all can learn cues from the slightest touch if presented by proper timing and release.

I feel it is not beneficial to prevent the horse from making mistakes. Allow the horse to make mistakes so he can learn, just be there to direct the horse to a better place. Like us, horses learn through experience, but experience- is nothing but learning from your mistakes. Consider how a police officer gives a ticket. They don't get mad- they just enforce the consequences. Try not to let mistakes get personal between you and your horse. I love John Lyons' quote -" Knowledge replaces impatience".

Ellie with Tom Dorrance and Jim & Z.B.

If you use treats be aware when you give them! Give treats after the fact of responding to your request, versus using treats as a bribe. Smaller treats are more effective than large rewards. After they understand your requests, I use treats intermittently.

Dr. Miller states when you are trying to get a desired understanding:

• 1. Get past fear
• 2. Get past tolerance
• 3. Get past Indifference
• 4 .Get to enjoyment
• 5.Repeat your request in various locations

• 1. Timing - Release when they do what you want or more importantly, when they first start to think toward your request
• 2. Feel - A hold not a pull.  Build confidence through building bit by bit on their understanding. .
• 3. Balance - Using as little as it takes and only as much as necessary.
• 4.Consistency- Using constant repeated requests in a fair and clear manner

Leslie Desmond talks of the "float in the rope." Taking the time for your horse to respond to the lightest feel by offering them the float and not having to take the slack out of the rope - it is worth all the time in the world. The ground work to lead up or lead off with following the feel and float in the rope will transfer to lightness and understanding in the saddle.

Ray Hunt is known worldwide as the Father of Natural. Bill Dorrance, famous for his book "True Horsemanship Through Feel" and his brother, Tom Dorrance are both respected as the Grandfather's of Natural.

Quotes from Ray Hunt: Make the wrong thing difficult, and the right thing easy

• It's the little things that make the big difference
• Learn to realize what happens - before what happens, happens. 
• Adjust to fit the situation
• The horse will tell you where he needs the help.

 If you ever get a chance to watch Buck Brannaman work with horses, especially starting colts, you will see what a gift he has! Everyone needs a hero and Buck is my inspiration He is as direct to humans as he is to horses but has the same warmth and fairness about him that makes you respect and feel comfortable with him. I admire that he lives his beliefs. His personal lifestyle reflects it. Buck's quote: "Time is the gift, give it freely to your horse and the both of you will be the better for it."

Buck Brannaman riding Opus Black Mikasa

Dave Seay stresses if you can support your horse and not let your self preservation interfere, the horse will take care of you. It is a profound statement; as we ask our horse to grow & overcome challenging situations, we need to be a support to the horse. Dave is well know for his bridle-less work on his horse Dove & Santee. Everyone looks forward to seeing Dave have either horse lay down for him to get on or off.

Pat Parelli's program stresses getting respect on the ground where you are safer, before you get on their back. Pat starts by teaching the 7 games on the ground to develop respect and start a partnership. Below are some blurbs of Parelli's program.

1. Genetic make up- example: Quarter horses might think different than Arabians. Some might think claustrophobic, some might think throttle-alcoholic

2. Learned behavior - From their mom, herd, environment, humans

3. Spirit- the amount of energy he puts into life - this is the most important to not try and change in a horse. Prior to buying your horse, careful how you choose - It could be your poison. Pick a horse suited to your needs, your personality and your experience

2. Ill response- with thought process and understand and disrespect

3. Reaction- no thought process, no understanding and with fear or surprise

When I started applying natural training and later choose it as a lifestyle - it amazed me how it applied to every facet of your life; even your work place and relationships with other people.

I love Richard Thompson's quote: "Life is just one big round pen, we keep going around and around till we get it right. "a Not all clinicians have the ability and warmth to be able to reach all levels of riders. Richard is the type of person who is able to help someone attending their first clinic feel comfortable while learning and still accommodate an advanced rider in the same clinic. His specialty is educating us about the depth of horse psychology and helping us understand how that applies to us. Understanding why a horse thinks and reacts the way they do helps us so we can work harmoniously with the nature of the horse. When we begin to invest in working in depth with the nature of the horse we can realize the dividends that are so - so rewarding. Richard has a true respect and love for the horse and is diligent in his clinics to make sure each person is individually working toward their goals and having fun in doing so. Not everyone has the understanding, knowledge, dedication and patience he puts into his clinics. We are fortunate to have Richard returning from Canada for the ninth visit to the Green Bay area. He has been scheduled twice a year. We just added a fun new class working with cows and a trail class. Richard offers his clinics in progressive levels that accommodate and challenge everyone.

Have fun being a partner

 with your horse