Horsemanship,Horse training ,Equine Science & Equine Communication
By Mr. SCOTT ALLMAN 

As someone who has been involved with horses
for many years, I have witnessed the beauty, the strength, and the intelligence of these
magnificent creatures. And at the core of every great horse and rider partnership is the art
of horsemanship.
But what exactly is horsemanship? Some may think it is simply riding a horse, but it goes
far beyond that. Horsemanship is a way of life, a way of connecting with these animals,
understanding their behavior, and working together in harmony. It is a bond that is built on
trust, respect, and communication.
At its core, horsemanship is about putting the horse's needs before our own. It is about
understanding their natural instincts, their body language, and their unique personalities. It
is about being patient, kind, and consistent in our interactions with them. It is about being a
leader that the horse willingly follows, rather than one that forces them to comply.
Horsemanship also teaches us valuable lessons about ourselves. It teaches us patience,
responsibility, and empathy. It teaches us to be in the present moment and to listen to our
intuition. It teaches us to be humble and to never stop learning. But most importantly, it
teaches us to be better human beings.
In today's fast-paced world, where technology and screens dominate our lives,
horsemanship offers a much-needed escape. It allows us to disconnect from the noise and
connect with nature. It teaches us to be mindful and to appreciate the simple things in life.
But horsemanship is not just for the privileged few who can afford to own a horse. It is a
skill that can be learned by anyone, regardless of age or background. It is about building a
community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for horses and a desire to
improve themselves.
As we continue to advance in technology and science, it is easy to forget the importance of
our connection with nature. But horses remind us of our roots, of a time when humans and
animals worked together for survival. And in the world we live in today, where division and
conflict seem to be the norm, horsemanship offers a bridge of understanding and unity.
In conclusion, horsemanship is not just a skill, but a way of life. It teaches us valuable
lessons, connects us with nature, and brings people together. So let us all strive to be
better horsemen and women, to appreciate the beauty and intelligence of these creatures,
and to pass on the art of horsemanship to future generations. Thank you.
Horse training:
What is horse training?—- Who can be a horse trainer?
My answer is
—-
anyone who has the passion for horses and desire to study good old
basic horsemanship and horse science to help them have a great relationship with their
horse.
In my own words and through over 45 years experience being and working with Arabian
horses, 37 of these years as a professional trainer and handler for Arabian Show horses, my
answer to this question is as such. Horse training is teaching a horse to accept and endure
certain tasks and exercises in many different disciplines and finally concentration and
endurance through conditioning, patience , repetition, discipline and reward.
Being a horse trainer means understanding horse science, knowing how to read and
understand what your horse is trying to tell you and using that knowledge to assist you and
your horse to work together effectively in order to achieve the set goals. Let’s reiterate on
the key words.
Conditioning: conditioning is deriving from Ivan Pavlov’s method of stimulus and response
with dogs. This is the same method used in training horses. In show training for example,
we ask the horse to perform a task by giving it a stimulus expecting an immediate
response. If the horse gives a positive response we must give it immediately a reward being
a treat or even in my case affection, a moment of comfort, therefore creating a comfort
zone in which through conditioning and time, the horse will eagerly seek. With this method,
it’s imperative to know that during the stimulus period, we must be prepared to accept even
the slightest reaction (millisecond or millimeter)towards a positive response followed by an
immediate reward and it is certain this millisecond or millimeter will grow rapidly with the
correct stimulus, response and timing.
The horse will eventually learn and perform the task correctly. However, conditioning is not
just limited to training for shows, it is also a crucial aspect in overall horsemanship.
Through conditioning, we can build a horse's physical and mental strength, increase its
endurance and improve its overall performance in any discipline. It requires patience,
consistency and a deep understanding of equine communication to effectively condition a
horse. Only those who have a passion for horses and are willing to put in the time and effort
to learn and understand their behavior can truly become successful horse trainers. It is a
continuous learning process and requires dedication and a strong bond between the trainer
and the horse. With proper conditioning and training, a horse can become a willing and
reliable partner in any equestrian activity.
PATIENCE: An important factor and paramount while communicating with or training
horses. Without the required patience and self control, you will not be able to achieve any
objectives in the training of your horse.
REPETITION:
Repetition is rehearsal.. you must rehearse often with the training of horses in order to be
sure of an excellent performance and acceleration of learning and understanding for horse
and handler. During rehearsal, we ask the horse to do a task several times until it is just
right or until a noticeable progress has been obtained. During this rehearsal period you’ll
find it’s also a time to warm up the brain, muscles, ligaments and tendons through
necessary stretching enabling the horse to perform at his optimal capacity mentally and
physically . This is also what we trainers call schooling.
DISCIPLINE:
With training horses, discipline is not to be mistaken as “ABUSE” each individual trainer
must know the difference between the two meanings and also know their own limits .
Horses like kids, need reminding all the time of what not to do.. horses are ultra sensitive
and don’t need excessive discipline to get the point through. A light discomfort of the lead
line a light shank or even the raise of a hand and the elevation of your voice can be
sufficient discipline depending on the horse of course. There will be those who have
received an optimal education not like others who have not and have been abused because
the handler was not educated enough with horse sense. A course in horsemanship is highly
recommended for any Arabian horse enthusiast even for the professional trainers or
handlers who find it difficult to get results. Going back to basics can be the key to your
problems. Training a horse is easy but retraining a horse is very difficult and time
consuming. Discipline requires thought before action. Ask yourself first “WHAT DID I DO
WRONG THAT THE HORSE DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT I HAVE ASKED OF HIM” after a
moment of time, ask the horse again for what you desire and give the proper discipline if
necessary. With that said, please note that if you make an error and you are wise enough to
acknowledge this error, take a second , breathe and ask the horse for forgiveness, caress
him and start over not making the same error with false discipline . Horses will forgive you if
you ask and let them. That’s the beauty of being alive and human also. I speak from
experience and it works.
REWARD: What is reward? Reward is POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT. So very important when
training, being with or establishing a true relationship with your horse. There are several
types of reward. However, in my case as I mentioned earlier, the overall best reward that
works for me is affection, praise, appreciation and yes, I guess what I want to say is LOVE.
—-
bringing the horse into (The comfort zone) as mentioned in the topic conditioning. After
the horse achieves a goal on demand from you, take a second, approach the horse, caress
him , put your thumb in his mouth to make him lick his lips or chew..THIS IS A SIGN OF
ACCEPTANCE AND UNDERSTANDING……. these few second are rewarding for both the
horse and handler . You’ll find that after time the horse knows exactly when he has done
well and will chew and lick his lips immediately after you and your horse has successfully
achieved what you have demanded of him. Make this a habit… every time he does
something right after a stressful situation, bring him into your comfort zone , praise him .
Your horse will appreciate this very much and will be more apt to work for you in the future.
HORSEMANSHIP or EQUINE ETHOLOGY… :
Is extremely important and will no doubt make it possible and easier to train and manage
your horse as well as establishing the loving relationship that most people want with their
equine friend.
Scott Allman is proud to offer his experience and expertise to assist you in learning the
horsemanship skills needed to make life easier for you and your horse. With these skills in
horsemanship you will no doubt be simplifying the training process of your horse. Courses
are offered in the following subjects.
*Horsemanship
*Reading and understanding your horse’s body language.
*listening to what your horse is trying to tell you.
*show training and preparation
*handling your horse professionally at shows
*respecting your horse
*having complete satisfaction in your own ability to manage your horses with confidence.