Notes on and about “Doma or Adiestramiento Natural”

This way of understanding horses was introduced in Spain by the internationally recognized Zoologist and Equine Ethologist Lucy Rees, during the SICAB fair of Sevilla, in 1998. For us, Doma Natural is synonimous with the life of effort, the studies and recompilations of Lucy Rees, as a starting point for an open movement towards gaining the will of the horse through its physical and mental welfare throughout the stages of its relationship with humans (maintenance, training, handling and riding).

As it is an open movement we are interested in a better understanding of horses, their natural behavior, domestication, and how to facilitate the equine-human relationship.

Doma natural is now used as a generic term parallel to that of Natural Horsemanship.

Unfortunately the word “natural” is now in fashion, and all want to wear this label, giving way to methods which have nothing to do with the essence of “Doma Natural”, and even less to do with the horse`s nature.

We live in a free world, and everyone can do what they want, unlike horses who are kept in stables, isolated from other horses, without an adequate diet, and to top it off, abuse so they learn who is boss.

It is not surprising that after more than 6000 years of domestication, the number of horses going to slaughter for reasons of “bad behaviour” keep increasing.

With the advances of scientific knowledge and man’s experience with horses (Domestication), we should ask ourselves, who is behaving badly, the horses or us?