" trainer. While I think most things need to be branded so people know about them and they can be marketed, I think this is one that has gotten out of hand. There us nothing natural about a human working with a horse, and I feel like the title is being used just for clever business people to make money. Respectful, disciplined, clear, consistent, gentle horse training techniques are far from anything "Natural" I have seen lately.
Maybe re-branding is in order. NH now has a stigma against it because of over-paid "used-car salesmen" type trainers taking advantage of novices and beginners to turn a quick buck. It seems that the new way of thinking for a NH enthusiast is "Let the horse do what he wants and I will
I am no advocate of animal abuse or heavy handed training methods, but horses need clear directions, consistent interaction, and sometimes firm discipline to train them to be the best that we want. They do not need to be harassed by a novice with a Parelli "carrot stick" or Dabney halter just because in the book it says when you ad x and y you get z.
Now, don't misunderstand. I believe that almost all training techniques have their place. You a have to sift through the misinformation to get to the meat of the matter and what pieces you can use or discard, but I am not condemning anyone's training techniques. However, I am stating that it is equally abusive to tell a novice or beginner that they have all of the tools and not guide them, or if you give them a "by the book" approach to handling animals, as it is to beat the animal.
Good horsemanship is the active use of clear, kind techniques that work best for the individual horse and handler. There is no secret formula. Working with horses is HARD. I have had countless bruises, scrapes, nicks, sleepless nights, sore muscles, and regrets about things I could or could not have done differently. It takes all of that and all of the experience that it brings to be a good steward to horses.
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