Horsemanship Level 4: Saddlery pt III Finally (yes, it's been a couple of months!) the last part of the Horsemanship Level 4 requirements is demonstrating how to correctly put on and remove a horse blanket. First take a look at these two videos, the first of Ali & Noah from Pony Prep series. BlanketingWatch this…
Horsemanship Level 4: Saddlery pt II For Level 4 Horsemanship you will need to be able to fit not just your own tack, but other common parts of saddlery as well. This week we'll consider nosebands. Why a noseband? The variety of nosebands used today is a relatively modern invention. Mediaeval and early modern riders…
Horsemanship Level 4: Saddlery pt I The final checklist item for Horsemanship 4 is: 10. Saddlery. Fit and care of own tack. Identify & fit nosebands, girths & common tack. Put on & remove a blanket. Once more, this is a large topic that we'll break down into several posts, looking at saddle fitting this…
Horsemanship Level 4: Vet & First Aid pt III Last week for this topic we looked at discerning emergency versus non-emergency ailments of the horse. This week we'll cover treatments of some minor illnesses and injuries. Thrush Thrush is a foul-smelling infection that occurs in the grooves (sulci) of the hoof on either side of…
Horsemanship Level 4: Vet & First Aid pt II The second check box for Level 4 Vet & First Aid is: 9. Signs of cold, laminitis. Causes of colic. Cause & treatment of thrush, abscess, minor injuries. When to call the vet and what to tell her. Again, you have learned much of this in…
Horsemanship Level 4: Vet & First Aid The Vet & First Aid section of Level 4 Horsemanship is very similar to the Level 3 requirements, the difference being you are expected to know the subject more thoroughly. 8. Vet & First Aid. T, P, R; Identify minor wounds; cause, care & treatment. Since these topics…
Horsemanship Level 4: Conditioning pt I The checklist item for Level 4 conditioning read: 7. Work vs. exercise. Warm-up and cooling out, reasons why. This week we will examine fitness, work, and excercise, and then look at warm-up and cool-down next week. Condition Along with his conformation, your horse's condition determines the type of activities…
Horsemanship Level 4: Identifying Lameness When you deepen your study of conformation you will begin to look at its effects on a horse's movement, which can tell you much about its ability, soundness, and scope. For Level 4 Horsemanship, we ask you to begin sharpening your eye by identifying unsoundness and distinguishing which leg is…
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Horsemanship Level 4: Conformation & Unsoundness pt II Previously we looked at types of horses, their differing builds and their abilities. This week we'll examine general conformation, and what to look for when assessing any horse. Over centuries of domestication, selective breeding has created the variety of breeds and types we looked at in the…
Horsemanship Level 4: Conformation & Unsoundness pt I Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but good conformation is a matter of physics. A horse that is well-built for his job will stay sound and perform better than one that has poor conformation. For Level 4 we want you to be able to…
Horsemanship Level 4: Foot and Shoeing pt II For the first part of this topic we looked at the external structures of the foot and their functions. This week we'll address the pros and cons of leaving a horse barefoot versus shod, and when to shoe or re-shoe. Horseshoes in History Millions of years of…
Horsemanship Level 4: Foot and Shoeing pt I For want of a nail, the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost ... This proverb cautioning us to attend to detail continues to the loss of the battle, but as horse-keepers we don't need to follow the butterfly effect any further. The old…
Horsemanship Level 4: Feeding (pt II) Last week we looked at the nine rules of good feeding as part of your Feeding topic for Level 4. This week we'll cover: Common grains, concentrates & processing methods. Own routine & ration. In an ideal situation a horse is able to get all the food it needs…
Horsemanship Level 4: Feeding The Feeding section of the Level Four checklist is quite large: 4. Feeding rules & how implemented. Common grains, concentrates & processing methods. Own routine & ration. This week in the blog we'll take a look at the rules of feeding, and next week we will examine types of grain. In…
Horsemanship Level 4: Full Practical Grooming For Level 3 you had to identify and show knowledge of all the items in a complete grooming kit. For Level 4 you will need to put them to use: 4. Full practical grooming, complete kit. The good news is we do not watch you groom. Instead you are expected to…
Horsemanship Level 4: Stable & Pasture The Stable & Pasture assessment for Level 4 requires you to: 2. Identify good & bad features of setup, emphasizing safety. Clean a stall, choice of tools. This means you now need to apply judgement to your knowledge. Very few stables are ideal. We often wish our pastures, paddocks,…
Horsemanship Level 4: Turnout Horsemanship 4 is the first level in our program in which you will be examined on your appearance. 1. Candidate’s turnout. Safe, tidy, clean, AD shirt, footwear, hair, gloves. At first glance it may seem superficial or trivial to have a dress code. Indeed, at earlier levels we only require that…