How Much Pressure is Enough?
- Category: Training Tips
- Published Date
- Written by Randy Byers
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How Much Pressure is Needed When Working our Horse?
If you have ever watched a herd of horses competing for leadership, you will see just exactly how much pressure it will take to get the point across. Why is this an important issue to get resolved? The word "natural" associates and aligns itself easily with increasingly popular environmental idealism. It grabs the attention of a growing group of people who are already recycling, driving hybrids and buying earth-friendly dish soap. It also reminds me of the term "organic." Some years ago, this term was coined to mean the food they produced was free from pesticides, chemical fertilizers and other potentially hazardous ingredients. Today, largely due to the fact that organics became such a desirable marketing tool, it is used to develop consumer confidence.
Rick Lamb, a well-respected advocate of "Natural Horsemanship", articulates this subject by describing it this way:
"Natural Horsemanship begins with clearing one's mind of preconceptions and making a serious study of the nature of the horse as a unique animal species. It then requires a commitment to working with the horse's nature rather than against it. The specifics of the training methods don't matter as much as the underlying principles. A carpenter must understand wood. A mechanic must understand cars. A doctor must understand biology. Viewed this way, a natural horseman is simply an effective horseman, for any person who attempts to work with horses without understanding and respecting their nature is doomed to failure."
Bottom line is this, "Be as SOFT as possible, but be as FIRM as necessary, and REWARD for the slightest try." 
