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Natural Horsemanship Explained: From Heart to Hands
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| List Price: | $24.95 |
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Product Description
Highly respected and internationally acclaimed veterinarian Robert Miller reveals the "secretes" of behavioural psychology that create the bond between horse and rider.By following the easy-to-understand steps to in this practical volume, any rider can create a unique bond with their horse, beginning with the understanding that horses are not afraid of predators, but only of predatory behaviour - which humans can often inadvertently display.Presenting readers with practical information and new insights, this volume uses case histories to demonstrate the success that can be found with natural horsemanship, as well as the latest techniques and innovations.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #60071 in Books
- Published on: 2007-10-01
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Hardcover
- 208 pages
Features
- ISBN13: 9781599212340
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
- Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices
Editorial Reviews
Review
"I first observed Dr. Miller in Texas in the early 80’s while I was a veterinary student. He would travel the country, giving demonstrations of “tube worming” (passing a long plastic tube through a horse’s nose into the stomach) in less than cooperative horses. He would take any horse presented to him, rearing, striking, and/or biting, and patiently and methodically demonstrate the procedure using desensitization and counter-conditioning. That was in the days before Karen Parelli Hagen coined the term “natural horsemanship” and during a time when instruction of equine behavior was lacking, or only minimally covered in veterinary curricula. Dr. Miller has been a life-long student of animal (and human) behavior, and his passion for horses is palpable. Natural Horsemanship Explained is an easy and entertaining read that elucidates the behavioral science behind the effective training methods popular today. With his keen sense of observation, decades of experience riding and working with horses in his veterinary practice, his wonderful sense of humor, and his obsession with understanding how horses behave, Dr. Miller’s book will be a useful addition to the library of anyone who is a horse lover, professional or student, working to improve their skills at reading behavior, communicating, riding or simply enjoying horses.
--Sharon J. Spier, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM
Professor, School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California, Davis
From the Inside Flap
Like other revolutionary explanations of behavior, “Natural Horsemanship”—the training approach that creates a bond by understanding and using a horse’s natural instincts—has its adherents and its skeptics.
In his earlier book, The Revolution in Horsemanship, Robert M. Miller, D.V.M., traced the rise of Natural Horsemanship. Now he addresses the reasons why and how the method is so successful, so that horsemen of all levels of experience can use it to fullest advantage.
Drawing examples from years of observation and experimentation with a variety of animal species, the author shares the reasons why certain behaviors cause fear in horses. He then goes on to prove how
conditioning, desensitization, rewards, and timing will help horses overcome such instincts — and on the animals’ own terms.
Helping to make the case for this positive approach are many examples from Dr. Miller’s long and varied career as horseman and veterinarian, as well as from the experiences of Pat Parelli, Clinton Anderson, Monte Roberts, John Lyons, and other noted Natural Horsemanship clinicians.
Especially enlightening are the author’s views on the foal imprinting techniques that he developed, as well as how enhancing the human-equine bond helps horses of all ages and disciplines. As an example, Dr. Miller offers a fascinating account of the training methods of police horses, by which they learn how to cope with crowds, explosions, and other “natural enemies” through the principles of Natural Horsemanship.
Natural Horsemanship Explained will convince even the most skeptical horseman of the indisputable value of this philosophy and practice. There is no one who can better make the case for strengthening the bond between us and our horses than the movement’s veterinary guru, whom generations of trainers, commentators, owners, and riders have come to respect and admire.
From the Back Cover
“Dr. Miller is a trailblazer, an innovator, way ahead of the bell curve in seeing how important behavior modification is in working with horses. He never forgets about veterinary science but also taps into the soul. This book is a wonderful opportunity for the lay reader to understand his way of thinking.”
—Martin Becker, D.V.M.
resident vet on ABC-TV’s Good Morning America
“[Dr. Miller’s] photos of the hands of these men are amazing. It seems to me this must go beyond mere grace . . . The photos show these horsemen have no wish to get a klutzy grip on reins, but rather signal the horse that they want to communicate rather than dominate. Astonishing.”
—Hugh Downs
Television broadcaster, former host of ABC-TV’s 20-20
“The term ‘Natural Horsemanship’ has taken on numerous meanings in recent years; some positive, some negative, and some just plain wrong. In this book, Dr. Miller provides a unique perspective to the movement that has fundamentally changed the way humans interact with horses, not only in this country, but around the world. Along the way, he exposes myths, explains truths, and clears up mounds of misinformation about equine behavior. Regardless of your experience or degree of horse knowledge, I believe you’ll find this an enlightening read.”
—Darrell Dodds
Publisher, Western Horseman
Customer Reviews
A history of Natural Horsemanship, but not a how-to book
I'm a recent horse owner, and I want to relate to and bond with my horse - because I believe that such bonding will improve our relationship. I was looking for specific techniques..for example, what specifically could I do to help my horse with three known problems - shying at running water - even if you reach into a trough and splash it, he shies. Also, panicking when tied, and panicking when taken to a rodeo area. Generally the horse, over 20 and a bit swaybacked, is not going to be ridden much, and he has scars from an ill fitting saddle. I'm mostly worried about ground handling.
Based on the title of this book, I was hoping that it would explain some techniques. It actually explains more techniques of so-called traditional horsemanship - as a negative exposition.
The book was well written in a conversational style. I'm actually convinced of the utility of natural horsemanship. After reading this book, were I in the horse business, I'd seriously want to reevaluate my methods to add more (or switch to) natural horsemanship, as I would believe that Natural horsemanship would create horses that would be easier to handle and would sell for more money or rent for more money or would be more likely to win me a ribbon...the point is that the book advocates for natural horsemanship both sensibly and effectively. My tendency, even before reading this book, was to handle my horse calmly, and with easy quiet methods, but this book laid out why clearly - and told me that I need to do even more things calmly.
What it did not explain was how. I still want to know how to do those things. I've had dog training books before, and they told me, "Hold your hands this way, correct the dog this way, offer praise when you see this cue, withhold praise when you see this cue." Sometimes you want more why from a book like that. This book was all why and no "how".
Maybe that is just not available - I have not found the book that does that for me yet. Maybe I did not recognize it. I still count this as a good book, worth reading. But not the book I needed at this point in my horsemanship education.
I've been negative, but I've still rated the book 4 stars. Excellent, well written. The only issue I have with it is the word "Explained" in the title. If it had been "Natural Horsemanship: The whys explained, from heart to hands" I would have rated the book five stars, despite my needs.
The Revolution in Horsemanship and what it means to Mankind
Dr. Miller's and Rick Lamb's book is absolutely precious. High editing quality, precise information and brief and clear historical review on horsemanship. The shift in paradigm in what refers to man-horse relation could not be better described. This "Revolution" is indispensable to all those who need/want to research about horsemanship.
Get off it, Doc!
The forward is more of a sermonette than an introduction to horsemanship. Imprinting, Pat Parelli, Doctor MIller should know better. If I want to ride my horse at a full gallup into the back of a moving horse trailer then Parelli is the man. Anyone, including the good doctor, who espouses his (Parelli's) techniques is more interested in selling books than making people and horses team and partner members. If you want to be safe and have your horse regard you as a companion and a "predator" that can be trusted, I suggest you attend a Clinton Anderson Tour and gudge for yourself. The notion of having a 1200 pound animal be "your buddy" is ludicrous...about the same as having your child who looks to his or her parents for direcition and safety as "buddies" is.
