Discovering Natural Horsemanship

September 1, 2006
Moates was an established author, writing on the subjects of homestead living and renewable energy. But in his midthirties, he felt like he was ready for a change. His wife, Carol, saw an ad for an "Amish trained" horse. When Carol met Niji, there was an instant connection, and she and the author began a new communication with horses that they call the Better Way. Natural horsemanship is largely about the relationship between horse and human, about seeing things from the horse's point of view. In plain language, Moates speaks of how he learned to work with Niji and with Sokeri, the mare he later bought. Moates was a total novice and unused to riding, so the emphasis on communication with the horse as a separate issue from the commands and aids used to guide the ridden horse makes for a refreshing addition to the large canon of books on horsemanship. This personalized account of learning the art of natural horsemanship will find a ready audience among horse lovers and anyone interested in animal training.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)