by Matthew Brendal

Created on: August 31, 2011

The great horseman Pat Parelli has some seeming counterintuitive advice to fellow horsemen, “Watch what everyone else is doing and then do the opposite.” The problem is that Natural Horsemanship is becoming so popular that it is becoming full circle. That means that some fundamentally sound methods and traditions are under attack. Many of the out spoken critics for more “natural” methods seem to be just plain old ignorant. But they also have merit in their way of thinking.

There is nothing more ‘natural than riding a horse bitless. Native American normally rode their horses bitless. They used a small diameter rope tied to the horse’s lower jaw. Anyone worth calling themselves a horseman should be able to ride a horse bridleless, so why not bitless too.

Riding a horse bitless may be very humane. But a good horseman with good hands riding a horse with a bit is very humane also. The same could be said about spurs too. The truth is people need to be better educated on both spurs and bits. When people say things like, “You need a bigger bit” or “Make go with your spurs” they show their ignorance about horsemanship very loudly. But the same can be said about people who say any bit is cruel. Bits have a purpose when used properly.

To understand the three phases or hackamore, snaffle and curb bit we have to go back to the origin of Natural Horsemanship, Spanish Horsemanship. Yes for those who don’t know Natural Horsemanship’s foundation is Spanish Horsemanship. It is hundreds of years old. Many things over the years were tried and tested. During the height of horse use, especially in America, horseback riders knew very little about horsemanship. Cowboys are included in that group. Notice their nicknames, cowboys. Not horsemen, but cowboys. Cowboys broke horses, horsemen started horses with a process that brought out the best in the horse. Cowboys taught America most of bad habits and misunderstanding of horses. There are many great horsemen who started out as cowboys. But cowboys worry about cows and horsemen bring out the best in horses.

Spanish Horsemanship and natural horsemanship have a plan for the horse. This is not a quick fix plan this is a long term plan. First the horse is fitted with a hackamore. A hackamore is used first so that the horse learns to understand to give to pressure without hurting the horse’s mouth. Once the horse learned to give softly the next phase began. The

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