EQUH 155 - Introduction To Natural Horsemanship: Gaining Confidence & Respect

3 Credit(s)

The student will gain an understanding of the basic concepts of natural horsemanship, first via groundwork, and then riding. Using a natural approach, the student will learn and implement a number of basic maneuvers to gain the horse’s respect and confidence. These activities will increase the student’s awareness of safety issues around horses and will increase the student’s ability to read the horse’s body language. The student will begin to understand the importance of feel, timing, and balance when working with horses. The student will learn safe and efficient saddle techniques and how to safely mount the horse. In the saddle, the student will learn the fundamentals of rein position and will practice control of the horse in the gaits of walk and trot. In addition to mastery of the theory and ideology of natural horsemanship, students must also demonstrate their competency and mastery of covered techniques by their correct application of skills sets with their horse both on the ground and under saddle. Students will demonstrate their understanding of course material via class participation, written field and research reports, and examinations.

Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into Natural Horsemanship program, with a suitable horse with required vaccinations; or c/i.