Sin pecado

From half December until half January, I have been working as a groom for Karin Donckers.
I learned a lot of working with all kind of horses (stallions, foals, etc..) during that month.

Karin gave me to opportunity to go to an international competition (the start of the eventing season) in Portugal. Barroca d'alva!
I couldn't say no! For me this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
I'll be going to Portugal for 3 weeks! This also means I have to sleep in a big lorry for 3 weeks together with 4 other people and 6 horses. :)

I'll try to keep my blog updated!

Anyway.. It's still 2 weeks before we leave, but I'm already exited!

The Endurance competition in Helchteren (Belgium) today..
My first day as a groom ;)
(or did I need an excuse for taking pictures?) :p

It was a very pleasant experience.. very friendy people and relaxed atmosphere!!! :) :)

Next time I'm in ! (for the 20 km)

Here are the pics!

Endurance Helchteren

1
Attach your horse while brushing him.
This is really important because an attached horse is less able to bite you and is not able to turn around and kick you.
Don't make the rope too short, this is not pleasant for him (imagine yourself being attached to a wall with only a 20 inch rope). But don't make it too long either (it should not touch the ground), because the horse could step on the rope, panic and hurt himself or others.. Buy a rope with a safety release, so you can release your horse before he injures himself.
If you attach him use a special safety knot as well (use google or ask an experienced person to show you how).

2
Never wrap ropes (lead ropes, etc..) around your hands or fingers.
Don't put your wrist through the strap at the end.
Many people lost fingers or their entire hand by not holding the rope in a safe way..
When a horse panics and takes off, you don't have time to un-tie a knot.
Always keep that in mind!

3
I like rope halters a lot, they're very useful for doing groundwork.
They are easy to carry with you and good when you go for a walk with your horse, because you have more to say (the horse feels more pressure on his nose than with a regular halter).
But if you use it to attach a horse to a wall or for transport it becomes a dangerous tool. The pressure on the nose is too high in case of panic, and your horse could get injured. Use a regular halter for transport, and make sure this one fits good as well. (too large = bad)

4
Don't approach a horse from the back (except when it's your intention to scare him, but why would you do that? :D). If you're behind his hindquarters he is not able to see you. Some horses react extremely to things showing up in this area.. and kick without hesitation. If you approach a horse from the back and get kicked.. don't punish the horse.. You asked for it :D

5
When leading a horse from A to B, the best position is in front of the horse, not next to his shoulder. If you walk in front of him you are in the most dominant position (excellent when leading a horse you don't really know well, or in case of a really frightened or dominant horse). Don 't walk right in front of him, so he won't jump on you when he scares. Instead walk a little bit beside him, his nose behind your elbow.

6
Never ever allow your horse to enter your personal space in a brutal manner.
You can choose to enter his space, but he is not allowed to enter yours..
You define the amount of personal space you need, make no exceptions for his pushy behaviour. If he enters your personal space, make him go a few steps backwards.
By defending 'your territory' you defend your position as a (his) leader.
Of course, depending on the horse's character, you could sometimes allow him to enter your space. Ears to the front, friendly look, moving slowly towards you with his head low, this means he wants to be your friend. When you're not sure how to tell the difference, keep him out of your space.. He needs your leadership more than your friendship.

7
To break the habit of biting, or to avoid teaching him to bite: stop letting him eat out of your hand.
This simple rule can solve many problems... why?
Easily: in herds the horse with highest rank gets the best food first. If you give food to your horse, you are the weaker horse that leaves the best bit for the leader. You lose your position as a leader by letting him eat out of your hands.

8
Wear a cap when doing groundwork. A head-butt given to you happens quickly and a horse's head is not soft :D

9
When brushing or cleaning the horse's hoofs or legs, don't sit down on the ground. It's much safer to squat. If the horse scares and jumps in your direction, or if he kicks, you are much faster to jump or fall backwards when squatting. When you sit you are more vulnerable and slower.

10
Keep in mind: horses are flight animals .. no matter how good you think you know your horse, an animal is an animal, and animals can react unexpectedly and unpredictably.. Don't take any risk, you don't have to act like a cowboy or -girl. Use your head.. ;)


I hope you liked my tips.. please leave me a comment if you like them or disagree or whatever ;)
I'm learning new things every day, and I like to share them.. but one can always make a mistake ;)

So you want to buy a horse! Great idea! But is having a horse really what you want? Are you damn sure? Because the dream of having a horse is very different from daily reality.
I've written down ten things to consider before buying a horse. Of course they don’t cover everything, but they can be summed up by the word "dedication", which I think does cover (almost) everything. :-)

Please find below my 10 considerations! And let me know whether you agree or not!

1) You and only you will be fully responsible for the horse's mental and physical health, and the conditions he will live in. A horse can not fend for itself, it depends on you to stay sane, healthy and fit.

2 ) The price you pay for buying a horse will (in most cases) not be the biggest cost. If you want to take care of him properly the cost of daily care is not to be underestimated! Are you willing to give up other things you like (books, DVD’s, games, expensive food, holidays) in order to pay for your horse's next deworm treatment or another visit to the vet?

3) It takes a lot of energy... So give it a try first! Try to look after a 'lease' horse for at least a month and see if that is what you really want, because cleaning out stables and cleaning hoofs are going to be daily reality.

4) It takes a lot of attention, think about the impact on your social life, the housekeeping and your relationships with partner and/or children.
Realize that you won't have that much time to spend on other hobbies anymore. This hobby will occupy most of your time.

5) Again time and dedication. Consider you can’t leave the horse all by itself... If you want to go on holiday 3 times a year, you need someone capable of looking after your horse for the time you are gone. Are you willing to stay at home (instead of skiing, lying on a sunny beach or making a city trip to Barcelona?) because you can't find someone suitable to look after your horse?

6) Consider the responsibility towards other people/parties... Hopefully it's something you will not come across, but you should always be aware that in case your horse causes damage to other people's goods, or causes an accident, you will most likely be held responsible. It's a good idea to talk to your insurance advisor before buying a horse.

7) Your horse needs social contact with other animals, preferably (but not necessarily) other horses... Is this something you can offer him?

8) Your horse needs hoof care, daily care and exercise, a visit from the veterinary now and then, regular deworm treatment, good food, a warm stable, lots of training (lessons cost money too), a saddle that fits... Can you provide all of this?

9) Do you know enough about horses to take immediate action in case something goes wrong? Or do you have people near you to help, assist or give you advice? Make sure you know at least one person who is able to answer all your questions.

10) Dedication: you have to be there for your horse every day again...
On those rainy days, when you would prefer to stay at home to watch television, you still have to go out to give him the necessary attention.
After a busy working day you still have to go and give him exercise. Are you prepared to do all this?

I’ve collected these 10 tips because I see what happens when people buy a horse without being aware of the impact of ownership. And maybe I am one of them. :-)
I know I must sound very negative, but it really does have an enormous impact on your life. I am a ‘happy horse owner’ and I would do it all over again, but you really have to love horses A LOT to be able to keep it up. And your horse deserves care and dedication every single day!
But if you find that one special horse, the one that rubs his nose softly against your shoulder, and gives you the feeling that “he is the one” when you look at hem, then by all means go for it! A horse is a wonderful creature, a kind friend and a good listener. Just make sure you can be a kind friend and good listener for him too!

Did you find these tips useful? Please write a comment to let me know!
(thank you darling for the review! X!)

Or can they?

They say, Spanish horses are not made to jump.
Well I must say, my Spanish horses surprised me last sunday.
It seems I am the one who has to learn how to jump..
Remind myself to give him more space, and try to keep him going after landing.
I need to take some lessons.

Anyway, Go Zingie!

J.

From Zingaro

1. The most important thing is to make sure your horse is healthy. If he has any pain anywhere he can't be happy.
So have a look at him. Is there a sparkle in his eyes? Does he look lively? Is his coat shining? If he looks good, he is most probably healthy. Do check that you deworme and vaccinate regularly to prevent health problems and to maintain good health.

Also have the dentist check his teeth at least once a year. And don't forget to clean his hoofs daily and let them get trimmed every 4 to 6 weeks (barefoot) or 6 - 8 weeks (with shoes) by the farrier.

2. Spend a lot of time on grooming your horse, it's important for his health to groom him regularly. You can check on little wounds, or anything else that needs attention. It’s good for their coat and blood circulation. Plus they like it anyway.
Also part of grooming is cleaning his hoofs, this is done preferably before and after riding.

You could also give him a massage once in a while, but first read some books about it. If you know what you are doing this can be very advantageous for the relation between you and your horse (making a daily habit of it is even better!)

3. Feed him little but often and feed him on time. Feed him lots of fiber. They like to chew for hours on it and it keeps the boredom away. If you feed your horse regularly, the chance of getting colic is remarkably decreasing.

4. Make sure his tack fits well. Tack that doesn't fit well could cause injuries and pain.

5. Give him enough movement, moving around is very important for his mental health but also for his physical health. Try to vary his training-schema, make some jumps, do groundwork, play a game, or take him on a hack.. This way it stays enjoyable for him too. Always making circles in the arena makes him a dull horse.

Do try to train him on a daily basis. Sure don't leave him in the stables for two days.

6. On the other hand : make sure he's got enough relaxation. Give him a day off sometimes.. Leave him a day outside with his friends to play around and to stretch his legs. Allow the horse to be a horse. A horse's natural environment is a herd.. So let him play and discover his place in hierarchy. It's important for him to get enough social contact with other horses.

So again, giving him a day off doesn't have to mean: leave him in the stables. I hope this example makes this clear enough.

7. Give him a nice and comfortable stable with a deep bed. Make sure he's not alone and he can see the other horses.
His stable is like a home to him.. It's a place he can lay down in a an environment he trusts. An excellent treat after his daily training session.

Clean bedding and fresh air are of immense importance for your horse’s health.

8. Show your appreciation to your horse, be proud of him… show you love him. Horses have a very strong sense for this.
Believe in him, and set your- and himself some achievable goals. This means don't push your horse if you're not sure he is ready for it, whatever 'it' is. Give him fysical contact (like with grooming) but also with caressing, rubbing or scratching .. This is how you show him you love him (it's how a horse would show it)

9. Be a good leader to your horse. Don't punish him without a reason. Be consistant not rough.
Being a good leader is not gaining leadership through dominance but through respect.
If your horse behaves, and follows your instructions because he knows he has to listen because otherwhise he gets slapped, he will never trust you. If your horse doesn't trust you he'll never be happy with you as his leader.

10. Do something special for him once in a while or on special occasions.. Give him a big carrot cake on his birthday.
Buy him the sweetest apples available for World Animal Day. Or a warm (horse)meal on Christmas…

Ok, most of things here include food and are categorized under spoiling.. and I am myself not really convinced that this last one is necessary to keep your horse happy. But it is certainly fun for you.. And a horse is much happier with a happy owner! :)

J.