Day 7:

Howdy Everyone!

So since we have to teach safe riding techniques to our campers that means we have LOTS of helmets for each one.

A few weeks ago we put together a shelf to hang the helmets and then taught the kids what the different riding safeties are, on and off the horse.

Each time we ride, we always wear helmets to protect our noggins, jeans/pants to protect our legs, and boots with a heel to help keep our stirrups from slipping when riding. 

On the ground we always make sure we are aware of where the horses are and make sure we don't sneak up on them on accident. The biggest safety tip is to make sure when walking around the horse you walk as close to them as possible and hug their bottoms when you walk behind them. This allows the horses to know where we are so they don't accidentally kick us. Along with this, if you are super close to them, if they happen to accidentally kick the momentum won't be able to build up in a short distance versus a foot away.

So with all that being said here is a photo of our safety shelf! I hope this helps with the basic safeties of horses.

Till next time,

~Mandy

Day 6:

Howdy Everyone!

Today we cleaned out the stables! We swept away cobwebs, the loose hay on the ground and worked in teams to clean out the stalls. This was very educational to both myself and the campers on how hard it is to take care of horses. 

It took several trips of loading and unloading the wet shavings to finally clean out each stall. Then we would work as a team to load the wheel-barrels with shavings to refill the stalls we had just cleaned out. This in and of itself gave each of us a pretty realistic idea of how much work goes into taking care of these big guys!

Till next time,

~Mandy

Day 5:

Howdy Everyone!

So do you remember the mare from last week who had rain rot? Well Ms. Sophie is doing much better, some of her hair is beginning to grow back and her sores are going away!

Here is a picture of this lovely lady!

Till next time,

~Mandy

Day 4:

Howdy Everyone!

Today while watering one of the back pastures I had one horse decide the hose was his personal fountain to spray on himself, haha! Here's a video of this grey being silly!

Till next time,

~Mandy

Day 3:

Howdy! 

Today we fed and watered all the horses around the property and taught the kids at camp the different types of horse colors around the stable. We have a mixture of bays, chestnuts/sorrels, grey, blacks, roans and even paints with a multitude of markings to make todays unmounted lesson super fun. 

Here are a few pictures of some of our four-legged friends:

Till next time, 

~Mandy

Day 2:

Howdy everyone! Today at the ranch we started giving one of our mares medicinal baths! For those of you who have never given a horse a bath before its like a mix between a large dog and a car, as funny as that sounds. The kids at camp absolutely loved helping as we taught Ms. Sophie how much fun a cold bath could be on a hot summer day! 

Sophie has a fungal infection called rain rot, where her hair on her back was falling off leaving her skin exposed to the elements. We are to give her a bath each day using medicinal soap that helps relieve the soreness of her infected skin, while also cleaning out the sores.

So with fingers crossed hopefully her hair will begin to grow back soon!

Till next time,

~Mandy

Day 1:

Today I did my normal chores around the barn such as watering/feeding all of the horses, which of course is entertaining with all of their personalities! Learning what to feed each horse based on their breed and amount of exercise was very fun and educational. 

Along with learning the different amounts of feed each horse should be given each day we watched the local Vet. come out and check up on a few horses as well as do a soundness exam on a mare being looked at for purchase. This was fun for both myself and the kids there at camp to see what a veterinary check-up entails for horses.

Till next time,

~Mandy