What is Classical Training vs Natural Horsemanship

My two cents on Classical Training vs Natural Horsemanship, what are they? What are the advantages or disadvantages
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[@mattmobley92]

That made me think of your video, with the older “Yeller”horse going around the pole, and eventually almost doing a turnaround, walking & trotting a very small circle & gaining better control of his feet.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

exactly. That makes me happy

[@TWORK38]

I spent a few years with a Classical Master here in California, and he always spoke of how we were "gymnastisizing" the whole horse. Great video Sir. Always look forward to watching your new stuff.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Charles de Kuffney

[@DryCreekWranglerSchool]

Very good explanation

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

thanks

[@thomasalicea8877]

Both of yall are awesome love seeing the horsemen coming together

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@thomasalicea8877 thank you

[@kathleenboller6651]

Great explanation, thank you

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

thank you

[@Cecilyeg]

Your book came today! It's good enough I may have to put my crochet down and read it through!!

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Wow I never out ranked crochet before .lol. I sure hope you like it

[@Cecilyeg]

@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt It even kept me up late!! I love it! I'm also a neuromuscular massage therapist and will send you some pictures that are good illustrations of what you discuss.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@Cecilyeg awesome

[@ac12201]

Good Information here. Thank you

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

glad you liked it

[@elgallorojo]

Bret, thank you for even addressing my question. This really helped me! NOW I GET IT!!!!! Do you ever teach your colts that will be ranch horses any classical maneuvers? Any of this in the plans for the next book? Appreciate you!

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

I train them all the same, ranch horse, race horse show horse, dressage horse. I even trained a couple ranch horses to Spanish walk just for the heck of it.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Was it you who asked? Good Im glad it helped

[@elgallorojo]

@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt Yes it was me. This was a great explanation. I guess I hear the word classical and always immediately think "dressage". I really want my colt to be able to perform the classical maneuvers.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@elgallorojo Dressage is French for training, that's all it means is training. Classical maneuvers are steps and pieces just like learning the ABC's then there sounds then reading. It is best if it is kept simple

[@lazyheartqh]

This makes so much sense to me thanks

[@TightwadTodd]

I have opposition to the term "Natural Horsemanship". What is Horsemanship? Its the relationship, between man and horse. The only thing Natural in that relationship for humans is to kill and eat that horse. The only thing natural to that horse, in that relationship, is to prevent that from happening. What we subject the horse to, is not Natural to them as a species, nor is it to us. Before that term was coined, it was called " Resistance free", that died off pretty quickly. I think Tink Elordi coined that one. I had a Natural Hoofcare Practitioner, walk off in frustration when, i stated, if you touch a tool to that hoof, it aint natural hoofcare. I never heard any of the Old horseman, who promoted good horsmanship, ever use the terms. It was just "Good Horsemanship"...... The man himself, once said , while a few of us were gathered around, "There are those who strive to promote Good Horsmanship practices and there are others who use good horsemanship practices, to promote themselves..

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

I liked Tink, he was funny. Is he still alive?

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

I feel the same way Todd but it is a subject I have to deal with.

[@TightwadTodd]

@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt I assume so, but not sure

[@stevenstahl8053]

Just ride those horses , expose them to lots of different things , and always be kind but firm , as horseman always be a good farrier too

[@mrsbojangles8548]

First to agree that “natural horsemanship “ is a vague term with lots of conflicting opinions as to what it is but the philosophical thought did occur to me that maybe the basic difference has something to do with training the body vs training the mind.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

yep

[@SGTrainingStable]

Are there any books or videos on classical training?

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

yes many. One of my favorites is the athletic development of the dressage horse by Charles De kuffney. Another great one is ménage Royal

[@dirksimmang]

A guy rode in Or a guy wrote in ?😅

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Wrote. I have a funny accent because I was always talking when I should be listening and my jaw has been broken a few times. lol

[@joelhamilton6720]

Your book ! Sry Sir ! Well done Praise God for good Horseman

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Thank you. I am glad you enjoy it

[@hardtokillranch8170]

When am supposed to start the backflips?

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

any time you feel froggy

[@markmahnken6409]

Natural 95% of the time typically means they are unable to compete or break a horse start to finish. Ground pen gurus. The other 5% are trainers using it as a sales tactic.

[@loredelore7286]

Your reference to the use of the word classical is not correct. The term came from Haute Ecole dressage not Western horsemanship. Tradition is a more suitable term, as classical refers to 'a school of'. Traditional methods do not define classical whether it is used in reference to type of methods of other. Natural horsemanship was a movement away from traditional, and were and are terms of reference, ie Western riding. Western was brought to the Americas by the Spanish and was taken from lower quality schools in Europe those being the Italian and French. If you use the term Classical in this sense it refers to quality, Haute Ecole. The traditional methods of horsemanship taken to America were not classical, and should never be referred to as such. They are tradtional or natural methods or ways of training, nothing else.