My approach to horses is based on positive reinforcement to encourage desired behaviors and to make time with them enjoyable for the horse and human rather than demanding or to fit the human’s agenda. We want the horse to be able to be himself and the unique character he is, to be confident and willing, curious but calm. We don’t want to shut out his natural behaviour’s or character, otherwise he will become dull, unmotivated, labelled “stubborn” and/or “lazy”, and perhaps even fight and resist you in your requests. Most people anthropomorphize our animals, its almost human to do so. But if we dont understand it, than we'll abuse it. When we anthropomorphizing them we are not actually describing our horses, but putting them into a easy category set up for abuse. This abuse comes because people become frustrated towards their animals “laziness”, “stubbornness” etc and lash out to show them who boss, but our horses do not understand this. If they do react in a manner we wanted, its spurred from fear and finding the release in unpleasant pressure, not will.
Each horse is an individual and we must always work with them with their own individual personal, emotion and physical needs with care, patience and understanding of them and the situation at hand. What works for one horse, may not work for another. Same for the human involved.
There is growing awareness of many types of natural horsemanship, but it up to us to find the one we find the most appealing, positive and helpful for our horses and ourselves. Most Natural Horsemanship methods are Pressure Release based (Negative Reinforcement), by watching my horses and learning form them over the years I have found adding something positive (Positive Reinforcement) a much better way to be with them.