About Ethical Horsemanship

Why the Ethical Horsemanship Blog?

The aim of this blog is to consider informed horse training and handling methods which considers their evolved needs and does not dampen their inner spirit.

I am especially interested in – but not limited to – the answers posed by science. The eternal quest of science helps in informing ‘our current understanding’, a position from a single point in time. The value of science is that specific questions are tested systematically and replicably, enabling a scientists to check and challenge each others’ work and to produce meaningful dialogue.

The scientific evidence questions, explains and challenges elements of  ’traditional’, ‘modern’ and ‘natural’ training methods. Sometimes the evidence produces more questions than answers but, as Darwin said, it is important to pay special attention to outcomes that do not agree with our hypothesis.

In horse training, very little has been explored scientifically, therefore I believe it is valuable to look to horse handlers who have independantly developed understandings with horses in their own way. Their thoughts and beliefs may well serve to illuminate what it is to be a horse and how they communicate. Of special interest to me are those that have come to horses without prior learning from others.

I hope you will join me in this exploration!

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