Saddle Club Sundays
The next Saddle Club will meet December 16, 2012.
Cost: $5
Time: 12/noon to 2pm
Previous Saddle Clubs have focused on getting a horse ready for a show–braiding, banding, tail wigs, hoof color/shine, whitening socks, stars, stripes, and blazes, putting on sleezies, and getting that ready-to-show shine.
RSVP: The first 10 students to call (517) 332-7669 will be registered. There are only 10 slots and the cost is very low–the slots always go quickly. You do not have to be a current student at Firefly Farm in order to participate–all are welcome for one club meeting or every club meeting. You MUST re-register for each Sunday–you are not automatically entered as a club member by coming to one meeting.
Activities: We have a meeting at the beginning of each Saddle Club. During the meeting we talk about what is expected of students within the Club and what we’ll be doing during the two hours. This is followed by a demonstration of barn chores, which may include (but are not limited to) filling hay bags, properly cleaning and disinfecting stalls, and cleaning and oiling saddles. All of this is valuable hands-on experience. After learning about horse care, we spend another hour exploring something within the horse world. The topics vary–some weeks it may be how to braid a mane and tail if you’re riding in a show, some weeks it may be how to care for an injury. We may discuss riding styles and clothing, or have a horse “fashion show.” Each Saddle Club is, in essence, an unmounted lesson–this means that students will NOT be riding.
Students: There is a limit of 10 students per Saddle Club Sunday. Prior horse experience is not necessary. Students should be between the ages of 8 and 16 years old. There are sometimes exceptions based on maturity, so feel free to ask.
Adults: If you are a parent, you are welcome to stay for the fun. I appreciate other pairs of eyes who can help me watch over the students.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Each student attending a Saddle Club Sunday MUST have a signed permission/release form before a parent leaves Firefly Farm. We are insured here, so in order to participate in any activity a release form is MANDATORY. NO EXCEPTIONS. If your child does not have a release form signed by a parent/guardian before the parent/guardian leaves the property, the child will not be able to participate in the planned activities for the day.
SAMPLE: First Saddle Club Sunday Worksheet
Firefly Farm’s Saddle Club
Introduction
-Who is Sarah?
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Tour
Main tack room * bathroom * barn aisle * stalls * bathing stall * indoor arena * pastures * lesson student tack and brushes
Horses
Name the horses at Firefly Farm.
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Who is the youngest horse here?
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Who is the oldest horse here?
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Who is my favorite?
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Stalls
-What’s a stall?
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-Why do we put horses in stalls?
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-Who gets put in a stall?
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-What are some different kinds of stalls we have at Firefly Farm?
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-What kind of floors do we have in the stalls, and why?
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Bathing Stall
-What do we use the bathing stall for?
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-Why is there a heater above it?
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-Why do we have both hot and cold
water?
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-Why do we have stall mats in the
bathing stall?
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-Why is there a floor drain in the bathing stall?
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Aisle
-What are the hanging ropes with clips on them?
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-Why do we have bars on the stalls?
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-Why do some stalls have bars and some are removed?
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-What are the handles on the stalls?
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-Do we use them as handles?
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-What’s the hose for? ______________________________
-Where do I find things to clean the stalls and the aisles? ______________________________
-What are all those containers above the office and stall? ______________________________
-What’s the chalk board for? ______________________________
Chores
Stall Cleaning
-How do I set up a stall?
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-How do I clean the buckets and feed trough?
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-What’s bedding, and what do we use?
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-Why?_________________________
-What do we use to soak up urine?
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-What’s manure?
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-How can you tell where the urine is?
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-Which parts do I get rid of?
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-Where do I put it?
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-I had the chance to clean a stall
YES NO
-Where do I put manure?
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-Where does the manure go after I put it there?
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-What does the manure do when it ends up there?
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-Is this a good thing?
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Tools
What tools might I use to clean a stall?
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What’s the easiest tool to pick manure?
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What do I use to scoop urine?
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What do I use to clean the aisle?
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Approaching Horses
-How can you tell what a horse is thinking? Check their___________
And_________________________
-How to tell if a horse allows you to approach
NO-___________________________
Maybe-________________________
Yes-___________________________
“Mother May I”
-Play “Mother May I” with Sarah as Boss Mare, using your hands and body language.
-When I meet a new horse, what should I do with my hands?
CLAW PAW
-Why would the wrong type of hand movement be scary to a horse?
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-How can you tell if a horse stomps at flies?__________________________
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-How can you tell if a horse is nervous?
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-How can I calm down a horse?
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-What can I do to put a horse at ease?
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How can I tell when I am given permission to approach?
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When should I get away from a horse?
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What are some warning signs I should move away from the horse?
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How should I approach a horse that isn’t used to me yet?
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Why would a horse dislike people?
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Why would some people dislike horses?
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What is the difference between being afraid of horses and afraid of riding horses?
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