Relationship Based Horsemanship

RELATIONSHIP-BASED HORSEMANSHIP PRINCIPLES

Relationship-Based Horsemanship is practiced by many horsemanship professionals under a variety of names. It is a philosophy of horse and human interaction that recognizes and celebrates the nature of the horse and supports quality communication and partnership-building between horse and human. 
The International Horsemanship Foundation helps you connect with the best horsemanship professionals.

PRINCIPLES

We are Stewards of the Horse:

  1. We approach horse care through the five pillars of animal welfare:
    • Nutrition and Hydration
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Mental State
    • Interactions with humans
  2. We agree on the horse’s needs, though we may debate the methods to meet them.

 

We train based on Principles:

  1. Safety, Rapport, and Excellence create Mutual Benefits for the Horse and Human partnership, resulting in evolution to their highest potential in body & mind.
  2. Commitment to servant leadership on behalf of the horse, based on understanding the horse’s nature, leads to partnership.
  3. Our training and husbandry practices strive to continually improve the horse’s health, vitality, and happiness.

 

We Grow as Humans:

  1. Self-Improvement: Relationship-Based Horsemanship students pursue personal growth, emotional control, continuous learning, patience, and responsibility for actions.
  2. Cultivating Compassion: Horses help us develop a deeper capacity for caring that extends beyond time spent with them, thus enhancing human relationships with all species and the natural world.
  3. Commitment over Compliance: Mutual respect, understanding, trust, and non-coercive influence yield commitment, while force, fear, and intimidation cause mere compliance.
  4. Feel transcends technique: Our optimal application of knowledge, skills, and abilities meets the horse’s needs in the moment.