Before I began teaching I had made a list of many things I was not taught in lessons-years of lessons. The list of items was important for me to include in my program. The range of things was vast: from grooming and tacking up skills to handling on the ground, ground work, riding related things, communication, body language and herd behavior just to name a few. Every now and then someone will ask me why I teach that to everyone, since not everyone will be a horse owner. So, at least in part, here is my answer. A student can help prevent a MAJOR issue from forming, if they understand behavior well enough: Throughout the years I have had many students ‘catch’ or find my horse either choking or colicking. One 12 yr old once came out to get me while I was teaching to say, “I think Blue is choking.” And indeed he was. She noticed, and notified me early enough that hand walking got whatever it was dislodged and no vet visit was required. Pretty amazing. In another instance a new student in her second week of camp realized Lily was Colicing. Lily has quirks, but this was a bit much. She did downward dog in the aisle several times in a row. My students know my horses like to stretch, but repeatedly is not normal. This kid must’ve been maybe 10. She felt so good to know SHE caught that. And I did have to get a vet out. She had an impaction. I think those are things kids will remember. They actually helped a horse. Possibly saved a life. Yesterday, a student who I’ve been teaching over 8 years was here for her lesson. First you need to know that the horse is a lover of people: a stranger can go in his paddock and he’ll walk beside them. He’s curious, friendly and loves to be around people. So she goes in there and HE WALKS AWAY. weird. Second time HE TROTS AWAY. Then he decides to roll. After that he pawed, went to the gate and pawed some more. And about that time is when she told me he didn’t eat his breakfast. I’d like to point out that 2 years ago this horse was almost emaciated and he canters in from the field for his food. Very eagerly.

I’m in a Skool group where they make AI twins to use for ‘faceless YouTube etc….. I learned that really being specific is the key. The owner had her prompt available, so I tweaked it to make my twin. One, I wish I was that young again, two, if I was I would just have my pic taken with my really dirty grey horse…. I like it. Trying to tweak to be more realistic, but she’s a great start!

Let’s welcome Heather! Her daughter is riding with us and very excited to be! Happy to have Heather here. I hope she share her interesting background! She’s a great fit for riders!

Photo credit: Jack and Paula Curtis Horsemanship.

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