Is “Horsemanship” the Ugly Word?

"Horsemanship"........if that word makes you turn up your nose this post is for you.

I say this because it is a word that still to this day I associate negatively. I still connect my initial impression of the term to badly performed groundwork and catch phrases that went over my head. Things that would instantly turn me off and disengage when I was stuck in my echo chamber of naivety and ignorance about horses.

It is actually not fair to the term at all because horsemanship simply means the art, ability, skill or manner of a horseman/woman.

Today, I stand with the other horsewomen and men at the coal face of raising the bar of horsemanship in the community (except I avoid the term "horsemanship").

A big part of horsemanship is being conscious about how you can influence a horse. It is being aware of how to teach a horse, how to interpret the constant communication the horse signals back to you. And it is about making good decisions.

This photo is of my client Sarah and her young Quarter Horse gelding, Whiskey. On the weekend Whiskey attended his first ever show. He was a dream, stood in his stall and munched on his hay, was relaxed and lovely to handle, worked out beautifully in hand and impressed the judges.

Sarah was so proud...and so she should be because Whiskey's behaviour and ability to handle the show was no surprise - she had meticulously prepared him and set him up for this day.

Now before you think Whiskey is just an easy young horse - you are wrong, he used to be anxious and reactive. Even his previous owner initially did not recognise him at the show because he was so calm. They were so pleased he had finally "grown into his brains"!

In a way Whiskey has grown into his brains, but it has been via the skill of Sarah's "horsemanship" to teach him that he is safe with her, to understand how she communicates with him and to follow where she guides him. He is no longer anxious and reactive because he has been prepared by Sarah to feel confident in being able to navigate the world.

If you started reading this because you turned your nose up at the word "horsemanship", I hope you made it this far. I hope you got to read this story and get an insight into how there might be a side to horses you may not yet be aware of.

I wish that I had learnt about "horsemanship" from stories like that of Sarah and Whiskey.

Previously I thought calm, easy going horses were born and not nurtured. A good day at a show was luck. But it is not luck, it is knowledge and skill that when you set your mind to it can be learnt and radically change your level of influence, success and fun with horses.

Finally, Sarah I am proud you. You have been dedicated in learning my approach. It has been exciting to see your talent in horsemanship grow. Horses are indeed a mirror and Whiskey is reflecting back to you the quality of your skills you have learned on this journey.