Mark Rashid
Encyclopedia
Mark Rashid is an American horse trainer
and clinician from Colorado
. Practicing within the western riding
tradition, Rashid's philosophy involves understanding the horse’s point of view and solving difficult problems with communication rather than force. His methodology emphasizes the relationship between horse and rider as a partnership, in which the horse willingly takes direction from the rider, rather than a dominant rider directing a submissive horse.
While Rashid is grouped as a practitioner within the field of natural horsemanship
, he personally tends to avoid that classification and has publicly expressed discomfort with the term when applied to himself and to horsemanship in general.
He has written a number of books on his philosophy, including Big Horses, Good Dogs, & Straight Fences, Horsemanship Through Life, Life Lessons from a Ranch Horse, Horses Never Lie, A Good Horse is Never a Bad Color, and Considering the Horse.
A unique aspect of Rashid's work is that he is also a practitioner of Yoshinkan aikido
and applies its principles to the art of riding
.
Horse training
Horse training refers to a variety of practices that teach horses to perform certain behaviors when asked to do so by humans. Horses are trained to be manageable by humans for everyday care as well as for equestrian activities from horse racing to therapeutic horseback riding for people with...
and clinician from Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. Practicing within the western riding
Western riding
Western riding is a style of horseback riding which evolved from the ranching and warfare traditions brought to the Americas by the Spanish Conquistadors, and both equipment and riding style evolved to meet the working needs of the cowboy in the American West...
tradition, Rashid's philosophy involves understanding the horse’s point of view and solving difficult problems with communication rather than force. His methodology emphasizes the relationship between horse and rider as a partnership, in which the horse willingly takes direction from the rider, rather than a dominant rider directing a submissive horse.
While Rashid is grouped as a practitioner within the field of natural horsemanship
Natural horsemanship
Natural horsemanship is the philosophy of working with horses by appealing to their instincts and herd instincts. It involves communication techniques derived from wild horse observation in order to build a partnership that closely resembles the relationships that exist between horses.- Basic ideas...
, he personally tends to avoid that classification and has publicly expressed discomfort with the term when applied to himself and to horsemanship in general.
He has written a number of books on his philosophy, including Big Horses, Good Dogs, & Straight Fences, Horsemanship Through Life, Life Lessons from a Ranch Horse, Horses Never Lie, A Good Horse is Never a Bad Color, and Considering the Horse.
A unique aspect of Rashid's work is that he is also a practitioner of Yoshinkan aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
and applies its principles to the art of riding
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
.