In a moment of madness, I have volunteered to help out at my local stables tomorrow. I know bu***r all about about horses, but am happy to shovel poo etc. Any helpful hints so that I don't look a total twit??

You will love it :) Prepare to be hooked. Don't fall over in the muckheap , stay away from the back ends, get grooming, and enjoy :D

Thanks Chloe for the tips:) I've been having lessons there for the last 2yrs, but hands on............Noooooooooo. :)
Must admit falling in the muck heap has me slightly worried, but I'm more concerned about receiving a kick

liberty ;)

But you are about to get to the best bit! I worked at the stables for years when I was younger...I loved the smell of the horses, the early mornings, the mist of the horses breath in the cold, the smell of the leather...oooh, sends shivers down my spine. And now I get to do it every day and I love it :D

I love mucking out, grooming, picking out hooves, fussing over them... its brilliant. Just stay away from the back ends and you will be fine (till you get to know them anyway).

Thanks Chloe!! I'm really looking forward to it...most of the horses seem pretty sound as far as kicking goes, but I was never a confident rider,(my instructor assures me I'm inproving)
If I could give up my full time job, I would. I'll let you know how me, the trainee, gets on tomorrow, if I'm still awake :)

liberty

I know how you feel, I was never a confident rider, until I got Josh.... I was always a one-horse-woman, but now I can appreciate how all that riding of different ponies has helped :) even though I only ride Josh now. Definitely let me know how you get on :)

good luck Liberty :) i'm sure you'll have agreat time, have you got to go early?

Hi Jackie

Fortunately. I don't need to be there till 11.30pm.Just hoping I don't make any major boo-boo's

liberty :)

how can you make boo boo's shovelling poo poo's :D

Trust me........... I can :D

liberty

Thanks ChloeH. Will do. I do aprreciate your encouragement :D

liberty :)

Re 'orses back ends - make sure, whatever you're doing, that the horse knows you are there - keep chatting, humming, singing, whatever you're comfortable with, it reassures the horse to know that you're not going to sneak up on them, 'cos horses know that the creatures that want to sneak up on them are the ones who want to eat them........

And always double check when you're given an instruction which relates to a particular horse, that you know EXACTLEY which horse they are talking about ;-) and if you're cleaning tack that you put the bit back in the right way up ;-)

Digger! thanks for taking the time to reply to my post.
I'll bear in mind your valuable comments, when I start tomorrow as Junior stable girl :)

liberty

Digger makes a good point. Always approach a horse at the shoulder - the chatting thing is good too :)

Hi Chloe, Digger and all others who replied to my post.

I sit here, totally wiped-out, and unable to move, my back is killing me and my arms feel as if they've been pulled out of their sockets, with blisters on my hands and one broken nail I mucked out 6 horses, filled 12 water buckets, soaked 5 haynets, groomed 3 horses, took 3 horses to the field, avoided falling in the muck heap, wasn't kicked or bitten (got a couple of dirty looks though :) ) Am covered in horsey dribble, hay etc And loved every minute of it :D

Can't wait until I can go again, so thanks all for your input and good advice :)

liberty

I am sooooooo envious of you - would give anything to swop this creaky old body for one that could tackle that sort of work again... Bet there's straw down your boots and in your hair, probably muck smears on your face, and the smell of wet hay up your nose........... sigh!!........

digger, you wouldn't want to know where I've got hay I must smell great too, because my dogs can't keep away :D
I had a brilliant day, and surprised myself with the amount I did, but what a great feeling of satisfaction and a good healthy glow too; even forgot to crave a cigarette
Now I need a hot bath, and s*d the cooking, the takeaway is on it's way :D

liberty ;)

Don't forget to take the dogs some hoof trimmings when the farrier has been ;-) Look forward to hearing about your next day (and the day after that, and the day after that - gotta get my horsey dose from somewhere <G>)

Blimey liberty...try doing that EVERY day, (6 horses in at the moment) ....and being finished by 9 or 10am & you will know how I feel! :) Then the excercising starts!!!

You forgot to mention the front end as well. I have had many a bitten bottom by a hungry horse :D :D

Oh - and don't try to take the short cut under the horses head - I've had a couple of nasty bruises on my shouldars. And don't try to ask a horse to turn in towards you from a stand still - they weigh a bit heavy when they stand on your tootsies! Infact it's best for the horse not to turn from a stand still at all - but to take a couple of strides in a straight line first. When mucking out the wet and yucky stuff will fall to the floor first when tossed in the air - letting your scrape the cleaner stuff from the top - and don't forget to ask what sort of system the horses are bedded on - you won't be popular (and you WILL be knackered) if you try to clean out a horse whose on deep litter down to the concrete, nor if you skep out a horse whose on straw......... and don't think you can leave the banks around the side of a straw bed because somebody else will do it tomorrow - if you want to be invited back that is - if you wouldn't consider sleeping on that straw -w hy should you expect the horse too?

Oh you are so lucky - chloe is right, there is something really special about the smell of horses, the sounds they make and a cool crisp early morning. Its the only thing that would get me out of bed voluntarily!

Had the vet out today to check over my "adopted" OAP pony - she's knocking on.... have re-wormed her today, got her back on the cortaflex, and because of her bad teeth I have to feed her 3 times a day now (she was losing weight). I love her to bits though and would do anything to make her last years happy :) even get up early