Natural Horsemanship Explained: From Heart to Hands [Hardcover]

Robert M. Miller (Author), Patrick Handley (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2007

Highly respected and internationally acclaimed veterinarian Robert Miller reveals the "secretes" of behavioural psychology that create the bond between horse and rider.By following the easy-to-understand steps to in this practical volume, any rider can create a unique bond with their horse, beginning with the understanding that horses are not afraid of predators, but only of predatory behaviour - which humans can often inadvertently display.Presenting readers with practical information and new insights, this volume uses case histories to demonstrate the success that can be found with natural horsemanship, as well as the latest techniques and innovations.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I first observed Dr. Miller in Texas in the early 80’s while I was a veterinary student.  He would travel the country, giving demonstrations of “tube worming” (passing a long plastic tube through a horse’s nose into the stomach) in less than cooperative horses.  He would take any horse presented to him, rearing, striking, and/or biting, and patiently and methodically demonstrate the procedure using desensitization and counter-conditioning.  That was in the days before Karen Parelli Hagen coined the term “natural horsemanship” and during a time when instruction of equine behavior was lacking, or only minimally covered in veterinary curricula. Dr. Miller has been a life-long student of animal (and human) behavior, and his passion for horses is palpable. Natural Horsemanship Explained is an easy and entertaining read that elucidates the behavioral science behind the effective training methods popular today.  With his keen sense of observation, decades of experience riding and working with horses in his veterinary practice, his wonderful sense of humor, and his obsession with understanding how horses behave, Dr. Miller’s book will be a useful addition to the library of anyone who is a horse lover, professional or student, working to improve their skills at reading behavior, communicating, riding or simply enjoying horses.

 

--Sharon J. Spier, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM

Professor, School of Veterinary Medicine

University of California, Davis

From the Inside Flap

Like other revolutionary explanations of behavior, “Natural Horsemanship”—the training approach that creates a bond by understanding and using a horse’s natural instincts—has its adherents and its skeptics.

 

In his earlier book, The Revolution in Horsemanship, Robert M. Miller, D.V.M., traced the rise of Natural Horsemanship. Now he addresses the reasons why and how the method is so successful, so that horsemen of all levels of experience can use it to fullest advantage.

 

Drawing examples from years of observation and experimentation with a variety of animal species, the author shares the reasons why certain behaviors cause fear in horses. He then goes on to prove how
conditioning, desensitization, rewards, and timing will help horses overcome such instincts — and on the animals’ own terms.

 

Helping to make the case for this positive approach are many examples from Dr. Miller’s long and varied career as horseman and veterinarian, as well as from the experiences of Pat Parelli, Clinton Anderson, Monte Roberts, John Lyons, and other noted Natural Horsemanship clinicians.

 

Especially enlightening are the author’s views on the foal imprinting techniques that he developed, as well as how enhancing the human-equine bond helps horses of all ages and disciplines. As an example, Dr. Miller offers a fascinating account of the training methods of police horses, by which they learn how to cope with crowds, explosions, and other “natural enemies” through the principles of Natural Horsemanship.

 

Natural Horsemanship Explained will convince even the most skeptical horseman of the indisputable value of this philosophy and practice. There is no one who can better make the case for strengthening the bond between us and our horses than the movement’s veterinary guru, whom generations of trainers, commentators, owners, and riders have come to respect and admire.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1 edition (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159921234X
• ISBN-13: 978-1599212340
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #75,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Horses > Riding
  • #63 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Horses > Equestrian

More About the Author

Dr. Robert M. Miller is a world renowned speaker and author on Horse Behavior and Natural Horsemanship. He is also father of the revolutionary foal training technique known as "imprint training".

In his 30 years as an equine veterinarian, Dr. Miller has always been an innovator. Over the past 25 years, he has become a mentor to natural horsemanship clinicians around the world. His ability to explain how and why the clinicians training techniques are so effective has made him a driving force in the movement towards better, more humane, AND more effective training of horses.

The "other side" of Dr. Miller is well known among both veterinarians and cowboy poetry & humor enthusiasts. His cartoons, done under his initials RMM, have been published in veterinary and horse magazines around the world. He has been featured at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame's Cowboy Cartoonist Art Show.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A history of Natural Horsemanship, but not a how-to book, April 13, 2008

By 

N. J. Simicich "Gadget Geek" (Labelle, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Natural Horsemanship Explained: From Heart to Hands (Hardcover)

I'm a recent horse owner, and I want to relate to and bond with my horse - because I believe that such bonding will improve our relationship. I was looking for specific techniques..for example, what specifically could I do to help my horse with three known problems - shying at running water - even if you reach into a trough and splash it, he shies. Also, panicking when tied, and panicking when taken to a rodeo area. Generally the horse, over 20 and a bit swaybacked, is not going to be ridden much, and he has scars from an ill fitting saddle. I'm mostly worried about ground handling.

Based on the title of this book, I was hoping that it would explain some techniques. It actually explains more techniques of so-called traditional horsemanship - as a negative exposition.

The book was well written in a conversational style. I'm actually convinced of the utility of natural horsemanship. After reading this book, were I in the horse business, I'd seriously want to reevaluate my methods to add more (or switch to) natural horsemanship, as I would believe that Natural horsemanship would create horses that would be easier to handle and would sell for more money or rent for more money or would be more likely to win me a ribbon...the point is that the book advocates for natural horsemanship both sensibly and effectively. My tendency, even before reading this book, was to handle my horse calmly, and with easy quiet methods, but this book laid out why clearly - and told me that I need to do even more things calmly.

What it did not explain was how. I still want to know how to do those things. I've had dog training books before, and they told me, "Hold your hands this way, correct the dog this way, offer praise when you see this cue, withhold praise when you see this cue." Sometimes you want more why from a book like that. This book was all why and no "how".

Maybe that is just not available - I have not found the book that does that for me yet. Maybe I did not recognize it. I still count this as a good book, worth reading. But not the book I needed at this point in my horsemanship education.

I've been negative, but I've still rated the book 4 stars. Excellent, well written. The only issue I have with it is the word "Explained" in the title. If it had been "Natural Horsemanship: The whys explained, from heart to hands" I would have rated the book five stars, despite my needs.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Guide to understanding natural horsemanship, September 7, 2009

By 

E. H. Tittle (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Natural Horsemanship Explained: From Heart to Hands (Hardcover)

This was a well written, easy to understand book on understanding what natural horsemanship is about. It explained many of the concepts and terms used by the various clinicians, as well as describing what this means in terms of practical application when working with a horse. After reading books by many of these natural horsemanship trainers - Parelli, Rashid, Anderson, etc. - this book helped in being able to compare and contrast the various styles. Natural Horsemanship Explained is a book that anyone interested in natural horsemanship should want in their library as an overall reference for learning and applying natural horsemanship techniques.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I was looking for..., March 21, 2009

By 

K. Noble (Pickens, SC USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Natural Horsemanship Explained: From Heart to Hands (Hardcover)

I thought this book was excellant, and was just what I was looking for. If you are looking for a "HOW TO" book, this is not it. But if you are already experienced, and looking for a book to more understand how a horse thinks, reacts, and to get you better into that frame of mind so that your reactions become more natural to the horse, this book is for you. Its a keeper and worth rereading sections as necessary for review. I really enjoyed reading it!