Galop 2Knowledge
Contents
- 01WelcomeOverview
- 02The five sensesKnowledge
- 03Life in the herdKnowledge
- 04The mouth and mealsKnowledge
- 05Feed, water, mealsCaring for the horse
- 06Housing, catching, turning outKnowledge
- 07More coats and patchesKnowledge
- 08The legsKnowledge
- 09Three breedsKnowledge
- 10GroomingCaring for the horse
- 11Quick-release knot and bridleCaring for the horse
- 12Saddling, saddle careCaring for the horse
- 13Work on footOn foot
- 14Mounting, girth, reinsIn the saddle
- 15Going forward, changing gaitIn the saddle
- 16Sitting or light seatIn the saddle
- 17Figures and arena rulesKnowledge
- 18The first fenceIn the saddle
- 19Equestrian activitiesKnowledge
- 20RevisionRevision
Where horses live: approaching them, turning them out
Field, paddock, open barn, loose box or stall: each kind of housing has its advantages and its drawbacks. And in each one, you approach and let go of a horse in a slightly different way.
In the exam programme
- Describe the different ways horses are housed: field, paddock, open barn, loose box, stall.Common module B
- Approach a horse or pony in a barn, a paddock or a field.Common module A
- Turn it loose in its stable, its field or the barn.Common module A
The field
Grass, shelter and water, in company.
The paddock
A small pen, on sand.
The open barn
An open building, in a group, on straw.
The loose box
Alone, free to move about.
The stall
Narrow; tied up, facing the wall.
| Housing | What it is like | For the horse |
|---|---|---|
| The field | A large fenced area of grass, with water and shelter: a hedge, trees or a built field shelter. | It can move, graze and live in a group as it pleases, but it is exposed to the weather and harder to keep an eye on. |
| The paddock | A small enclosure, often with a sand or earth floor, and little or no grass. | It goes out there for a few hours to unwind, roll and let off steam. |
| The open barn | An open or half-open building, often with an outdoor yard attached, where several horses live together, loose. | It lives in a group and under cover; meals and places at the hay rack need watching. |
| The loose box | A closed individual stable, big enough for the horse to lie down, get up and turn round. | It can move freely, it is sheltered and easy to watch, but it is alone and not very active: it needs to go out every day. |
| The stall | A narrow compartment where the horse stands tied up, head towards the manger. | It cannot turn round and moves very little. This kind of housing is becoming rare. |
Approaching a horse in a field, a paddock or an open barn
- Get your kitHeadcollar and lead rope in your hand, the rope folded, never wrapped round your hand. Leave treats and the bucket of grain outside: they would draw the whole herd.
- Go in safelyOpen the gate, go through and shut it behind you at once. Cross an electric fence by its insulated handle, or with the power off — never by ducking under the wire with a horse.
- Let it see and hear youWalk calmly towards the horse’s shoulder, on a curve, talking to it. Never straight at its head, never from behind.
- Watch the othersKeep an eye on horses that come up or threaten each other. In an open barn, be wary around the hay rack.
- Put the headcollar onAt the shoulder, first pass the lead rope round the neck to hold the horse, then put the headcollar on as you did in Galop 1.
- Lead it outOpen the gate just wide enough, bring the horse through without it knocking itself, and shut the gate at once so the others do not follow.
Tip
If it walks off, do not chase it. Stop, stand a little to one side, wait until it looks at you, then set off again quietly towards its shoulder.
Turning the horse loose
- In the stable: go in, turn the horse round so its head faces the door, take off the headcollar, come out without turning your back on it, and shut the door.
- In the field or open barn: go in, shut the gate, walk a few steps inside, then turn the horse to face the gate. Wait until it is calm and standing still, take off the headcollar and step back away from it: many horses gallop off with a kick of joy.
- Several at once: let all the horses go at the same time, on a signal, well spaced out and all facing the gate.
Safety
Never let go of a horse whose quarters are turned towards you, and do not let it pull away from you: it would learn to do it again.
A word from the instructor
A horse just turned out will often roll in the muddiest corner of the field. You have just spent half an hour grooming it: try not to take it personally.