Hey All!
Thank you to all of the generous sponsors for our first Western horse show for the UWO team which takes place this weekend.
My clients have been EXCEPTIONALLY supportive of the show and I'm so grateful!
Thank you to Mary Ellyn Karlson for a sponsorship for the UWO team and our trophy.
Thanks to Topline Farms - Teresa and George for their donation to go towards prizes for first place winners.
Thanks to Tim DeClarke and Jill DeClarke for their support and generous donations from A&P and Shur-Gain Feeds.
Huge thanks to Avon Feedmill and the Clarks for putting together some buckets and feed samples.
Thank-you to Electrgraphix for personalized "Western Challenge" t-shirts.
Thanks to Cathy Haggarty for use of her pilons and her time for the day as a horse handler!
Thanks to Lee Ann and Stacey from Bridgecreek Stables for their time. And thanks to Victoria who is going to be my sidekick for the day for her time and effort (Victoria I hope ou know what you're getting yourself into.... haha).
For anyone else looking to come out and support the team the show details are as follows:
*Note that all details are still being finalized, times are approximate.
8:00 Set-up (volunteers welcome!!)
9:30 Warm-ups start
11:00 First class of the day Beginner Equitation
to be followed by Beginner Horsemanship, Novice/Amateur Equitation, Novice/Amateur Horsemanship
12:30 Lunch Break - we will be having a roping demonstration and chance for you to learn the basics and try roping some pilons!
1:30 classes resume with Open Equitation and Open Horsemanship
3:00 Fun Class! TBA at show..... but I guarantee it's worth seeing!
3:30 Q and A session with Jess Cofell
4:00 Award Ceremony with our wonderful prizes!
6:00 After-dinner for competitors and volunteers!
Address:
20331 Cherryhill Road
Thamesford, N0M 2M0
See you there!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Western Challenge
The UWO vs. Guelph Horse Show is quickly approaching, and I have a few small requests for anybody who has offered to volunteer.
1. We NEED anyone who will be handling horses to sign a waiver. Even if you are not sure what duties you will be performing, can you please see me about filling out a waiver and emergency contact sheet within the next few days.
2. We need to confirm who will be available, and at what times during the day.
We are looking for:
-someone to direct parking in the morning
-set up crew first thing in the morning and then for patterns throughout the day
-horse handlers, ideally people who can stay throughout all, or most of the day with the same horse
-FOOD! Shelby from the UWO team is making some goodies but if anyone would like to donate some baked goods the proceeds will be going directly towards a show for the team for next year.
-clean up crew to help keep the grounds free of litter but mainly to help out with clean up at the end of the day when everyone else leaves. We will need help loading up the trailers, organizing tack to go back to the sponsors, putting cones back in their rightful spots, taking down our man made fence etc.
3. Prizes!
If anyone would like to donate something for us to use as prizes for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners for each class (a total of 21 classes) please let us know. We are still in the midst of putting these prizes together and would appreciate any help. Gift certificates, horsey products, etc.
Thanks everyone for your support - hope to see you at the show supporting our teams!
1. We NEED anyone who will be handling horses to sign a waiver. Even if you are not sure what duties you will be performing, can you please see me about filling out a waiver and emergency contact sheet within the next few days.
2. We need to confirm who will be available, and at what times during the day.
We are looking for:
-someone to direct parking in the morning
-set up crew first thing in the morning and then for patterns throughout the day
-horse handlers, ideally people who can stay throughout all, or most of the day with the same horse
-FOOD! Shelby from the UWO team is making some goodies but if anyone would like to donate some baked goods the proceeds will be going directly towards a show for the team for next year.
-clean up crew to help keep the grounds free of litter but mainly to help out with clean up at the end of the day when everyone else leaves. We will need help loading up the trailers, organizing tack to go back to the sponsors, putting cones back in their rightful spots, taking down our man made fence etc.
3. Prizes!
If anyone would like to donate something for us to use as prizes for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners for each class (a total of 21 classes) please let us know. We are still in the midst of putting these prizes together and would appreciate any help. Gift certificates, horsey products, etc.
Thanks everyone for your support - hope to see you at the show supporting our teams!
Congratulations Lomas Family - It's a Girl!!!
Blondie is still taking her time growing a healthy baby in her belly, but Congratulations to the Lomas family on their new addition!
Emily Lomas has been taking riding lessons since the fall with me, and riding Blondie. She was very excited with the idea of a new baby in the family when I last spoke to her. Emily's mom Nieve, has been sympathizing with Blondie as she gets bigger each week.
Ava Margaret-Ann Lomas was born Monday morning at 5:24 am, weighing 8 lbs 5 ozs. She is healthy and happy, as is Nieve and the rest of the family.
Nieve and Ava
Proud dad Will and Ava
Emily Lomas has been taking riding lessons since the fall with me, and riding Blondie. She was very excited with the idea of a new baby in the family when I last spoke to her. Emily's mom Nieve, has been sympathizing with Blondie as she gets bigger each week.
Ava Margaret-Ann Lomas was born Monday morning at 5:24 am, weighing 8 lbs 5 ozs. She is healthy and happy, as is Nieve and the rest of the family.
Nieve and AvaProud dad Will and Ava
Can't wait to see the whole family back out at the barn soon!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Horsemanship
Ok UWO Western riders, the countdown is ON! The show is March 28th and we are moving full steam ahead.
The mock show is scheduled for March 22nd (a Sunday), time TBA.
Students: we have been working on Equitation and Horsemanship in lessons, here's a great article to get you in the mood for the show whether as a competitor, volunteer or spectator.
Horsemanship
Trainer and judge Holly Hover offers her tips for a winning horsemanship ride.
By Marcia King
We've all heard it, maybe even said it ourselves: "If I could afford a $20,000 horse who moved like that I could win, too!" And to be perfectly honest, perhaps that's even partly true for some events, where championship status relies at least partially on the horse's exceptional way of going and conformation, while the rider's skill and dedication are secondary to the quality of horseflesh beneath.
Not so for western horsemanship. "Western horsemanship judges the rider as opposed to the horse," says Holly Hover, an AQHA judge, competitor, clinician, and Phoenix-based youth and amateur all-around trainer. "The event benefits people who don't have the opportunity to purchase the really fancy, expensive horses. It's an event where people can practice and gain momentum through their own hard work and be awarded for efforts in the arena. It's the rider's skill that earns a placing in the arena."
HorsemanshipWestern horsemanship judges on the correctness of the rider's seat, hands and feet, the finesse in riding, and the strength of his or her lines and angles as the competitor rides a series of maneuvers in a 30- to 60-second pattern devised by the judge and posted the day of the event.
The pattern may include a variety of different maneuvers, many of which mimic elements of western pleasure, reining, western riding and trail classes, says Holly. For example, "Straight lines — meaning walk trot, jog and lope on a straight line — and a lot of circles, arcs and turnarounds. There's always a stop and a back. Judges can ask for circles, spins, quarter-turns, half-turns, turn-and-a-half, any combination of turning on the haunches or forehand and sidepassing. Extending the gut to a hand gallop or extending the trot is very popular now. You'll commonly see straight-line patterns where the exhibitor is asked to maneuver up and down the arena in a straight line, adding different, difficult maneuvers."
The difficulty of the pattern varies according to the class. For novices, the patterns are simpler and may consist of some variety of walking to a marker, jogging a circle and loping a straight line to the end of the arena. For upper-level classes, the patterns are much quicker and tougher, says Holly. "Maybe four or five quick maneuvers, such as jog to a marker, spin to the right, extend the trot, rollback left, lope an arc around to the next marker. Quick patterns in and out utilizing a challenging variety of maneuvers (are what's usually expected)."
Scoring for the pattern in AQHA western horsemanship classes ranges from 0 to 20, with 20 being a perfect score. The judge scores on each element, plus the overall impression. In evaluating the quality of a rider's performance in the pattern, judges look for smoothness of transition, flow and finesse. Mistakes, such as missed transitions, wrong leads, et cetera, subtract from the rider's score.
"Normally for a novice rider, a middle-of-the-road score like a 14 or 15 will win the class — a fault-free, no-mistakes pattern," says Holly. "But when you get to the world-class level, an average no-mistakes pattern won't win. You've got to be fancy. You must step up and attack the pattern."
Laying the Groundwork
Although beginning riders can compete in novice classes, before entering a competition, riders and horses should have a good working knowledge of basic horsemanship. Says Holly, "They should understand leads, the arc the horse can perform, how to make a horse go on a straight line, and upward and downward transitions. The horse and rider should be able to perform at home all the maneuvers that may be asked for at the show."
In choosing a horse on which to compete, Holly recommends one who is calm and forgiving. "We've seen trouble with horses who are easily agitated, nervous and maybe anticipatory of any kind of training," she says. Movement and way of going, while not as important as in, say a western pleasure class, can still influence a ride somewhat: "The horse needs to be a soft mover," says Holly. "A rough horse tends to make the rider look weak. We try to get horses who are extremely good lopers, although we can give a little on the quality of the jog. It is much easier through training to enhance the jog but rarely can you improve a poor loper."
As for conformation, Holly says larger horses tend to have difficulty with a lot of the western maneuvers, such as spins and lead changes, while smaller horses can't always impart the look necessary to make a rider appear taller and bolder. Holly prefers horses between 15.2 and 16.1 hands for her training program, although not necessarily from a judge's point of view.
Age range for competitive horses is wide. "At the world level, you'll see horses between the ages of 4 and 15," says Holly. "But some horses for the little kids are in their 20s and are still good horses."
Holly's training philosophy emphasizes teamwork between horse and rider. "It's important that the rider and horse are prepared as a team and not individually," she says. "There seems to be better timing when a rider and horse have prepared together a lot, as opposed to the trainer getting on the horse, fixing him and then the rider following the trainer. In addition, the rider who understands and knows the horse, who can prevent or cover up mistakes the horse makes is probably the rider who's going to win as opposed to a rider who comes in and gets on a trainer's horse and goes to show."
This teamwork is created through lots of exercises and drills: Many of Holly's students ride at least five times a week. "We work on exercises to strengthen the rider," says Holly. "Different calisthenics and balance exercises, such as riding their horses without stirrups and standing in their stirrups. This enhances the strength of a correct seat and feet." The team also practices the parts of the various maneuvers, including spinning, lead changes, riding with and without contact in the bridle, and so forth.
The mock show is scheduled for March 22nd (a Sunday), time TBA.
Students: we have been working on Equitation and Horsemanship in lessons, here's a great article to get you in the mood for the show whether as a competitor, volunteer or spectator.
Horsemanship
Trainer and judge Holly Hover offers her tips for a winning horsemanship ride.
By Marcia King
We've all heard it, maybe even said it ourselves: "If I could afford a $20,000 horse who moved like that I could win, too!" And to be perfectly honest, perhaps that's even partly true for some events, where championship status relies at least partially on the horse's exceptional way of going and conformation, while the rider's skill and dedication are secondary to the quality of horseflesh beneath.
Not so for western horsemanship. "Western horsemanship judges the rider as opposed to the horse," says Holly Hover, an AQHA judge, competitor, clinician, and Phoenix-based youth and amateur all-around trainer. "The event benefits people who don't have the opportunity to purchase the really fancy, expensive horses. It's an event where people can practice and gain momentum through their own hard work and be awarded for efforts in the arena. It's the rider's skill that earns a placing in the arena."
HorsemanshipWestern horsemanship judges on the correctness of the rider's seat, hands and feet, the finesse in riding, and the strength of his or her lines and angles as the competitor rides a series of maneuvers in a 30- to 60-second pattern devised by the judge and posted the day of the event.
The pattern may include a variety of different maneuvers, many of which mimic elements of western pleasure, reining, western riding and trail classes, says Holly. For example, "Straight lines — meaning walk trot, jog and lope on a straight line — and a lot of circles, arcs and turnarounds. There's always a stop and a back. Judges can ask for circles, spins, quarter-turns, half-turns, turn-and-a-half, any combination of turning on the haunches or forehand and sidepassing. Extending the gut to a hand gallop or extending the trot is very popular now. You'll commonly see straight-line patterns where the exhibitor is asked to maneuver up and down the arena in a straight line, adding different, difficult maneuvers."
The difficulty of the pattern varies according to the class. For novices, the patterns are simpler and may consist of some variety of walking to a marker, jogging a circle and loping a straight line to the end of the arena. For upper-level classes, the patterns are much quicker and tougher, says Holly. "Maybe four or five quick maneuvers, such as jog to a marker, spin to the right, extend the trot, rollback left, lope an arc around to the next marker. Quick patterns in and out utilizing a challenging variety of maneuvers (are what's usually expected)."
Scoring for the pattern in AQHA western horsemanship classes ranges from 0 to 20, with 20 being a perfect score. The judge scores on each element, plus the overall impression. In evaluating the quality of a rider's performance in the pattern, judges look for smoothness of transition, flow and finesse. Mistakes, such as missed transitions, wrong leads, et cetera, subtract from the rider's score.
"Normally for a novice rider, a middle-of-the-road score like a 14 or 15 will win the class — a fault-free, no-mistakes pattern," says Holly. "But when you get to the world-class level, an average no-mistakes pattern won't win. You've got to be fancy. You must step up and attack the pattern."
Laying the Groundwork
Although beginning riders can compete in novice classes, before entering a competition, riders and horses should have a good working knowledge of basic horsemanship. Says Holly, "They should understand leads, the arc the horse can perform, how to make a horse go on a straight line, and upward and downward transitions. The horse and rider should be able to perform at home all the maneuvers that may be asked for at the show."
In choosing a horse on which to compete, Holly recommends one who is calm and forgiving. "We've seen trouble with horses who are easily agitated, nervous and maybe anticipatory of any kind of training," she says. Movement and way of going, while not as important as in, say a western pleasure class, can still influence a ride somewhat: "The horse needs to be a soft mover," says Holly. "A rough horse tends to make the rider look weak. We try to get horses who are extremely good lopers, although we can give a little on the quality of the jog. It is much easier through training to enhance the jog but rarely can you improve a poor loper."
As for conformation, Holly says larger horses tend to have difficulty with a lot of the western maneuvers, such as spins and lead changes, while smaller horses can't always impart the look necessary to make a rider appear taller and bolder. Holly prefers horses between 15.2 and 16.1 hands for her training program, although not necessarily from a judge's point of view.
Age range for competitive horses is wide. "At the world level, you'll see horses between the ages of 4 and 15," says Holly. "But some horses for the little kids are in their 20s and are still good horses."
Holly's training philosophy emphasizes teamwork between horse and rider. "It's important that the rider and horse are prepared as a team and not individually," she says. "There seems to be better timing when a rider and horse have prepared together a lot, as opposed to the trainer getting on the horse, fixing him and then the rider following the trainer. In addition, the rider who understands and knows the horse, who can prevent or cover up mistakes the horse makes is probably the rider who's going to win as opposed to a rider who comes in and gets on a trainer's horse and goes to show."
This teamwork is created through lots of exercises and drills: Many of Holly's students ride at least five times a week. "We work on exercises to strengthen the rider," says Holly. "Different calisthenics and balance exercises, such as riding their horses without stirrups and standing in their stirrups. This enhances the strength of a correct seat and feet." The team also practices the parts of the various maneuvers, including spinning, lead changes, riding with and without contact in the bridle, and so forth.
Holly also teaches her students to think and react swiftly — something that is especially crucial when the unexpected happens in the showring. "I do drills with them where I send them down the center of the arena and then call out different maneuvers. I might ask them to jog a straight line, counter-canter, circle to the right, change leads, continue a straight line, stop, rollback left, extend the jog, circle right. Having them move their horses in and out of maneuvers that they aren't even aware are going to happen creates very quick thinking in the pattern, and that's important."
Show Day
Once horse and rider understand and are successfully performing the maneuvers that will be asked for at their level, they're ready to show. On show day, the judge posts the pattern he or she has devised a minimum of 1 hour before the class. "Normally all those maneuvers are ones that we've worked on at home, but in a different order," says Holly. "As far as having a lot of prior knowledge of the exact pattern, we don't. That's what makes it fun!"
She copies the pattern down, then discusses and analyzes it with her students to identify its "pattern psychology." Explains Holly, "A lot of times judges depict the pattern using heavy adjectives and adverbs; anytime a judge is specific about things, we try to read into the pattern what the judge is looking for. Also, almost every judge has one pet peeve or one maneuver that he or she is really wanting to see done well. So we go through the pattern with the exhibitors, trying to decide where the 'meat' of the pattern is, and really work on getting that portrayed to the judge."
At the same time, Holly warns about putting so much emphasis on the meat of the pattern that the exhibitor gets sloppy with basic elements, such as the straight lines, or smooth transitions. "The judge marks on each element, so the rider really needs the whole package, not just the meat."
When riding the pattern, riders should concentrate on the elements the horse is good at and not dwell on the parts of the pattern where the horse is weak. "The biggest mistake is when riders try to enhance a maneuver that they know their horse isn't really good at," Holly cautions. In trying to punch up a weak maneuver, many riders end up spurring the horse or getting anxious or angry. "The judge can really pick up on that. You end up having a rough maneuver or maybe an abusive look, and you'll lose more points than you'll ever gain.
"Instead, where you're not so strong, just try to get by as best as possible. Remember that judges mark each maneuver, so try for a 0 score (an adequate, no-points-taken-off move) on the weak element, and spotlight your pattern where you're good," she says. For instance, if your horse is a beautiful mover but hasn't quite mastered the 360-degree turn, in a pattern that would call for a spin, she suggests "the rider should ease through the turns and then show off the rest of the pattern. Be bold."
Even though Holly suggests you don't obsess about your weakness, keep in mind that one of the most important keys to putting together a winning pattern is striving for the whole package, rather than just certain parts. Maintain correct but relaxed feet, leg, arm and seat positions, and strive for a flowing ride, avoiding jerky movements from maneuver to maneuver. Greener riders should aim for nothing more than a good, clean safe pattern, says Holly, while advanced competitors need to be fancier in their maneuvers and step up and attack the pattern. "Never make a judge wait," advises Holly. "Be up and ready when the judge calls for you to perform. This exudes confidence. Assess your pattern and ride boldly through the maneuvers you know you have mastered. At the end of the pattern, turn and acknowledge the judge with a nod and retire to the end of the arena as directed by the judge. A smile of confidence is a subliminal sign that you have succeeded."
But perhaps the real key to winning is the attitude and resolve the rider develops at home. Holly is convinced that through hard work and practice, anyone who's determined to can be a winner in western horsemanship. "It's really important that people sit down at the beginning of the year and say, 'This is what I want to do. How can I get there? How much will I need to spend? How hard do I need to work?' I've never had one person who has had long-range goals and stuck to them not get done what they wanted to get done. And that's what's fun about this event: If you stick with it and work and knock it out, you're going to find success."
Monday, March 2, 2009
Blondie's Baby!
I know, I know....FINALLY!
Here they are:
About a week old, Mama Bear was a little protective at first...
Check out Blondie's foot position in this picture....
...as if to say "You can look, but you can't touch!"
Curious about us, and a little skittish, she would let Don come up and touch her......and then she thought twice about it as I snapped the pic! Don is the man who cares for Blondie and her foals every day at the breeding farm where Blondie goes every year.
All the visitors and all the excitement make a girl thirsty!
SO. If Blondie is a Palomino. And the sire "Mr. Boomerjac" is an even lighter Palomino than Blondie...... and their baby is a sorrel. What colour do you think her baby will be this year if the sire is a light Dun colour??????
Here they are:
About a week old, Mama Bear was a little protective at first...
Check out Blondie's foot position in this picture....
...as if to say "You can look, but you can't touch!"
Curious about us, and a little skittish, she would let Don come up and touch her......and then she thought twice about it as I snapped the pic! Don is the man who cares for Blondie and her foals every day at the breeding farm where Blondie goes every year.
All the visitors and all the excitement make a girl thirsty!
SO. If Blondie is a Palomino. And the sire "Mr. Boomerjac" is an even lighter Palomino than Blondie...... and their baby is a sorrel. What colour do you think her baby will be this year if the sire is a light Dun colour??????
Equine Massage Therapy - UWO
Thanks to the girls from the UWO Equestrain team who came out for the Massage Therapy Clinic on Sunday!
We were able to get through several of the major muscles, 2 basic strokes and try a little bit of each on two VERY different horses.
J. lo enjoyed every bit of her massage - you can see the dreamy look on her face having her neck massaged. 
Peanut was very animated during the majority if her massage. She leaned right in to the Effleurage the girls performed. She stretched her legs out like Inspector Gadget for the leg stretches and was very expressive with her face for her hind end. She was an excellent example of a horse with some tension through her back. The girls got to see what I call "butterflies fluttering" just under her skin.
Great job ladies and on behalf of the horses THANK YOU!
Rules of the Barn
I borrowed these from another blog I read (http://risingrainbow.blogspot.com/), they were too funny not to share. I have added my own at the bottom, feel free to comment and add your own.
1. I am human. You are horse. What I say goes. Please take that into consideration when you are standing on my foot.
2. Spilled grain is not "fair game", especially when it is spilled in another horse's stall. It still belongs to that particular horse. You have no reason to go in and eat it.
3. Poop does not need to be hidden. I clean your stall every day. I will Find it. Do not hide it.
4. I do not need your help when I clean the barn, nor do I need your supervision, or even your presence. I have been cleaning the barn and stalls ever since you lived here. I know what I am doing. Standing at the door staring at me, will not make me clean faster.
5. There is no need to go into the barn and help yourself to the feed. Meals Are given at specific times of the day -am and pm. There is a feed schedule. You know the schedule. I know you know the schedule. You know that I know that you know the schedule. There is no need to help yourself.
6. Water buckets are not toys. Neither is the gate, pitchfork, wheel barrow, whatever is in the wheel barrow, fence,or the occasional dog.
7. The wheel barrow is there for a reason. Please do not try to move it while I am cleaning your stall.
8. Just because I go into the Barn doesn't mean you automatically get food. There is other stuff in the barn. Stuff you don't want. Like de wormer and fly spray , shots, medicine.
9. Sheath cleaning will NOT be enjoyed...by anyone.
10. Water travels through the hose. If you are thirsty, do not stand on the hose. The water buckets will fill much faster.
11. Not everything has to be high drama. None of the following things will kill you: fly spray, plastic bags, balloons, hoses, chipmunks and other small rodents, or bright blue tarps.
12. Although I understand the need for you to go to the bathroom, it is not necessary to hold it in all day until the moment I finish cleaning you r stall and put away the wheel barrow.
13. Accidents happen. However, I'm not altogether sure you're not trying to kill yourself. Next time you decide to impale yourself on some sort of object, please try to do it when it's not hailing, midnight, the weekend, or Christmas.
14. While I appreciate your need to be clean, pooping in your water bucket does not make my job easier, and it deprives you of water. Please find a new spot.
15. Whinnying as loudly as you can in my face does not make me feed you any faster.
16. I have to wait patiently too while you are having your shoes tacked on. There is no need to bite me.
I added:
17. Stallions: there is no need to call out to EVERY horse that walks by your stall. If you must, please limit it to only horses of the opposite sex, not during lesson time, not when I am leading a horse by (or any students, boarders, owners, etc.), not during feed time, not when the mare is in heat, not to Blondie (she's already pregnant), and not Promise (your mom). OR, just don't do it. Ever.
18. Your consideration is appreciated during farm tours for prospective students, boarders, and training clients. Do not feel the need to run away from me when I try to catch you, pin your ears, or swish your tail at me. Bucking and broncing during this time should be kept to a minimum.
19. Going bananas in your stall doesn't impress me.
20. I don't know how you manage to escape from your stall, but it seems that once a year there is an episode. Should you escape from your stall, please remain calm. There is no need to rip blankets down from their hanging places and poop on them, or to help free your friends.
1. I am human. You are horse. What I say goes. Please take that into consideration when you are standing on my foot.
2. Spilled grain is not "fair game", especially when it is spilled in another horse's stall. It still belongs to that particular horse. You have no reason to go in and eat it.
3. Poop does not need to be hidden. I clean your stall every day. I will Find it. Do not hide it.
4. I do not need your help when I clean the barn, nor do I need your supervision, or even your presence. I have been cleaning the barn and stalls ever since you lived here. I know what I am doing. Standing at the door staring at me, will not make me clean faster.
5. There is no need to go into the barn and help yourself to the feed. Meals Are given at specific times of the day -am and pm. There is a feed schedule. You know the schedule. I know you know the schedule. You know that I know that you know the schedule. There is no need to help yourself.
6. Water buckets are not toys. Neither is the gate, pitchfork, wheel barrow, whatever is in the wheel barrow, fence,or the occasional dog.
7. The wheel barrow is there for a reason. Please do not try to move it while I am cleaning your stall.
8. Just because I go into the Barn doesn't mean you automatically get food. There is other stuff in the barn. Stuff you don't want. Like de wormer and fly spray , shots, medicine.
9. Sheath cleaning will NOT be enjoyed...by anyone.
10. Water travels through the hose. If you are thirsty, do not stand on the hose. The water buckets will fill much faster.
11. Not everything has to be high drama. None of the following things will kill you: fly spray, plastic bags, balloons, hoses, chipmunks and other small rodents, or bright blue tarps.
12. Although I understand the need for you to go to the bathroom, it is not necessary to hold it in all day until the moment I finish cleaning you r stall and put away the wheel barrow.
13. Accidents happen. However, I'm not altogether sure you're not trying to kill yourself. Next time you decide to impale yourself on some sort of object, please try to do it when it's not hailing, midnight, the weekend, or Christmas.
14. While I appreciate your need to be clean, pooping in your water bucket does not make my job easier, and it deprives you of water. Please find a new spot.
15. Whinnying as loudly as you can in my face does not make me feed you any faster.
16. I have to wait patiently too while you are having your shoes tacked on. There is no need to bite me.
I added:
17. Stallions: there is no need to call out to EVERY horse that walks by your stall. If you must, please limit it to only horses of the opposite sex, not during lesson time, not when I am leading a horse by (or any students, boarders, owners, etc.), not during feed time, not when the mare is in heat, not to Blondie (she's already pregnant), and not Promise (your mom). OR, just don't do it. Ever.
18. Your consideration is appreciated during farm tours for prospective students, boarders, and training clients. Do not feel the need to run away from me when I try to catch you, pin your ears, or swish your tail at me. Bucking and broncing during this time should be kept to a minimum.
19. Going bananas in your stall doesn't impress me.
20. I don't know how you manage to escape from your stall, but it seems that once a year there is an episode. Should you escape from your stall, please remain calm. There is no need to rip blankets down from their hanging places and poop on them, or to help free your friends.
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