What exactly makes this alternative paradigm to our present equine training and manipulation so 'different?' Well actually, everything! Different philosophy. Different perception. Different values. Different association and interactives. Different goals. Different relationship!
Logically, that would equate to different (and better) results. In fact the only thing the alternative paradigm in this new world of horsemanship has in common with ANY 'training format' in the world is that we have a horse and a human interacting together for a common purpose.
And perhaps that different 'purpose' is a good place to start.
No matter what we do (or don't do) with our horses, we inevitably are forming some type of relationship each time we interact with them.
There are two basic relationships (other than stallion/mare and mare foal) that horses may experience in their natural environment. One is the normal harem intra-herd relationship.
Equine ethologists and research scientists refer to the other type of relationship as affiliated pairing, nonsexual bonding, mutually beneficial coalitions, preferred associates and/or Peer Attachment.
In the normal intra-herd relationship, herd rank is an extremely important aspect of herd dynamics. Intimidation, pressure, discomfort and if needed, physical punishment is used to establish and maintain the highest herd rank possible (not unlike many of our modern day'natural horsemanship' training formats). Especially in unrelated, short term association domesticated herds, this type of relationship can be extremely adversarial and confrontational (not unlike our present day 'natural horsemanship' training formats). Each horse will react differently to a challenge to their herd rank (which is why no one 'cookie-cutter' training format 'works with all horses').
But in the Peer Attachment relationship, two horses form a very intimate, bonded friendship.
Each horse unconditionally accepts the other horse's herd rank. It is an extremely non adversarial, non-confrontational, harmonious, 'herd of two within the herd,' intimate relationship that has no need for intimidation, pressure, discomfort or physical punishment.
Crossing all boundaries of breed, age and gender, this intimate, inter-reliant relationship is found in herds all over the world (and universally share very similar steps to reach those levels of trust and intimacy).
Logic would dictate that if a human could establish the Peer Attachment relationship with a horse instead of the adversarial intra-herd relationship, it would be a much more harmonious relationship than the one that results from our present day 'training formats.' That is one reason why the 'alternative paradigm' in this new world of horsemanship is completely different from any other 'training format' ever known.