Customer Reviews

Natural Horsemanship Explained: From Heart to Hands

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

I'm not often moved to write reviews, but this book deserves a thoughtful commentary. I've owned horses for more than 40 years. I've read almost all of the clinicians and natural horsemanship books out there. I've attended many of their clinics. In hindsight, I wish I'd started with this book first. Dr. Miller does an excellent job of putting the various theories in perspective, and includes important historical background.

However, what I found absolutely life-changing in my own relationship with my horses (and my fellow humans) was his chapter on chimpanzees. If you read no other, read this one. You will understand your own impulses and impasses to communication far better afterward.

If you're looking for a feel-good, "horses are great" story-romance type of read, this isn't it. But if you are a true student of horses and human-horse communication, this book deserves your time and attention.

Dr. Miller's and Rick Lamb's book is absolutely precious. High editing quality, precise information and brief and clear historical review on horsemanship. The shift in paradigm in what refers to man-horse relation could not be better described. This "Revolution" is indispensable to all those who need/want to research about horsemanship.

Dr Miller's book explains in clear concise language the facts behind "horse-whispering." It is not hippie-horse-hugging but rational and scientific explanations about the reasons driving the growing interest in handling horses using natural methods. Clearly and methodically he outlines the principles of natural horsemanship and demonstrates why more horse owners and trainers would benefit from both understanding and applying this knowledge.
It is a great read and a great gift for anyone who has an interest in horses.

If you have someone in your life who is from the old school, and that you would like to show that there is a "better way", this is the book.

I like Dr Miller's no nonsense and common sense views and opinions. He's informative, I also recommend his book on foal imprinting.

I bought this book because of my long standing interest in natural horsemanship and because of the credibility of the author. The book is a follow up to Miller's previous book "The Revolution in Horsemanship: And What It Means to Mankind". In the current book Miller explains why the natural horsemanship techniques work and raises some interesting questions when there isn't a explanation for why something does work. Best of all besides providing a wealth of useful and interesting information, this book is an enjoyable read.

If I had picked it up and skimmed through it at the store I would not have bought it. It is not that informing