This is not a horse-training manual but a people-training one. Master horseman and teacher Pat Parelli offers a philosophy he calls "Natural Horse-Man-Ship", a form of horse-human communication in which the human learns to speak "horse" to the horse. The text is a blend of concepts and exercises.

This is not a horse-training manual but a people-training one. Master horseman and teacher Pat Parelli offers a philosophy he calls "Natural Horse-Man-Ship", a form of horse-human communication in which the human learns to speak "horse" to the horse. The text is a blend of concepts and exercises. The exercises, or manoeuvres, are designed to help readers more fully comprehend the concepts and to help them communicate effectively with their horses. The volume is divided into three sections: "Natural Horse-Man-Ship - An Overview"; "Natural Horse-Man-Ship - On the Ground"; and "Natural Horse-Man-Ship - In the Saddle". Each section uses the six keys Pat has identified as vital in the development of a Natural Horse-Man - Attitude, Knowledge, Tools, Techniques, Time and Imagination. Like the petals of a flower, each key unfolds in the three sections until the heart of Natural Horse-Man-Ship is presented in its entirety.