My old instructor used to say there’s nothing new when it comes to horses; what she meant was that training theories marketed as new now were really versions of classic horsemanship from the days of Xenophon. I mulled the concept over then tucked it in the back of my mind for a few years until yesterday.

While at the barn, I was asking Robin what she thought of the recent natural horsemanship clinic she went to. She remarked how much she loved it

I admit that I’m stuck somewhere between fascination and suspicion when it comes to those who market themselves as natural horsemanship trainers. My experience has been 50-50 so far—I’ve known one who deemed a horse I knew as “unrideable,” which was patently untrue. The other, a young certified trainer, had a very intuitive view of horses and was probably one of the best instructors I have ever had.

Standing there talking to Robin about her clinic (which, I admit, sounded wonderful with a very astute, experienced and effective trainer) we shared some of our horse training techniques. She remarked about how he showed her this and that to improve certain aspects of her horse, and I replied that my classical dressage instructor showed me those very techniques! As we shared or recent experiences, it became clear that perhaps my old instructor wasn’t off base when she said there was nothing new when it came to horses. The difference was sometimes in the delivery or the explanation.

But I realized that there’s nothing wrong with that, and, in fact, this is a result I would prefer to see. Because, in the end, aren’t we all looking to be in harmony with our horses? Aren’t we all looking to work together with them and understand why they do, or don’t do, certain things? Does it matter what saddle he’s wearing if we are looking to achieve this harmony? If the end result is the same, maybe different views and approaches are key in getting over a training hump? And if the theories and approaches are similar, then one could deduce that they are not in conflict with each other, which aides the rider in having more options to achieve a goal.

That night, ironically enough, the Horse Whisperer was on, and though it was on the two previous nights and I’ve seen it twice and own the DVD, I got sucked into watching it again. I still sob out loud when Grace finally tells Tom what happened to her and Pilgrim in the accident. But what always gets me is when Tom tells her he thinks that horse loved her so much that he reared up to protect her from the truck.

That concept of a horse facing death to protect his owner strikes deep to the core of those of us who want to be true horsemen. To have a relationship with one’s horse on that level would be mythic, spiritual and the ultimate harmony.

Watching the Horse Whisperer again made think back to my conversation with Robin and once again rethink natural horsemanship. Maybe there is something to it. Maybe it’s a way for us to revisit why we are really horsemen, why we spend our lives with these animals. Maybe it’s another way to achieve the harmony we all desire with our mounts. Maybe it’s a way to be more grounded and remind ourselves that horsemanship is not about ribbons or money.

Or maybe it’s just Robert Redford, ‘cause, dang, he still looks good.