Work Experience

Last week was Jades first week on work experience with us here at Roble Stud.  Jade is a student of Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester.  It was a varied week which included handling some of the youngsters and teaching them to stand still (sounds small but is oh so important for the rest of their lives) and lead.  We trimmed up some of the mares and youngsters, Spanish style!.  Alan had a mane wash and plait up and a our young colt had a vet visit for a hoof abscess (flint cut).  

We had a visit from a friend studying an Equine science course which involves training methods based on how the horse thinks and learns.  The horses responded well and Jade picked up the training very quickly.  

On Saturday we popped down to Haberton, near Totnes to Heather Moffetts yard for an In-Hand clinic with Becky Holden.  I have to admit it wasn't what i expected and I have come away with some new ideas and am looking forward to trying some of it out.  I think Jade enjoyed it too, although i think maybe our (my) navigational skills need a little work before any future road trips :-).  I hardly ever use a sat nav but thought that it would help with the back roads in Devon.  The Sat Nav decided to give up just as we were about to turn off the main road (the bit i knew) so we arrived late having been down several lanes incorrectly including those with grass growing down the middle. 

The challenge for me is to do things how they should be done and not necessarily how i do them when in a hurry!.  I am pleased to see how the horses respond to Jade and have so far been well behaved.  It was a bit of an unknown as youngsters are so very different to school horses but Jade has been quiet and confident.  

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