How can I gain experience?

[Sarah_T]

I really want to learn about the basics of horses - riding, health, nutritional needs, behaviour etc. I really wish I went to a different college and studied an Equine course instead of blimmin Public Services which I have no interest in! I don't have much going for me atm as in I am not yet driving, I don't have a lot of spare time as my partner and I have a pet shop which keeps us busy and I have very little knowledge of Horses. I do however have a passion for them and riding (and some very basic riding experience) and desperately want to take it further! Some friends and I went for an hours ride last Sunday and we are going to make it a monthly routine which is great, I might suggest we do the odd lesson as well as rides.

Anyone got any advice for me? How did you start out? Whats more frustrating is I know of people with horses, my mums cousin has two - I have ridden one - but they are about half hours drive away plus I don't want to force myself on them! I'd love to be a stable hand or something where I could just be around horses and pick things up as I go or if I could meet someone local who would allow me to help them out with theirs.

Also if anyone can recommend good books, courses etc too.

I can't devote much of my time to it, the shop and my dogs take up most of that but this is a passion I have always wanted to explore further!

 

[hnmisty]

I got my hands on every single book I could (aged 8) and I helped out at my riding stables.

Get yourself some riding lessons- they'll be invaluable, one every other week would be enough

I've just seen that my riding instructor is doing a 8 week "introduction to horse ownership" course (evening not a full time course!). Maybe you could find someone near you offering something similar?

I have also just remembered that I used to have some riding tapes. Have a look on horse hero- they have loads of vids on all sorts of stuff. YouTube will probably have something as well

And never stop asking questions

 

[Fionalex]

I really want to learn about the basics of horses - riding, health, nutritional needs, behaviour etc. I really wish I went to a different college and studied an Equine course instead of blimmin Public Services which I have no interest in! I don't have much going for me atm as in I am not yet driving, I don't have a lot of spare time as my partner and I have a pet shop which keeps us busy and I have very little knowledge of Horses. I do however have a passion for them and riding (and some very basic riding experience) and desperately want to take it further! Some friends and I went for an hours ride last Sunday and we are going to make it a monthly routine which is great, I might suggest we do the odd lesson as well as rides.

Anyone got any advice for me? How did you start out? Whats more frustrating is I know of people with horses, my mums cousin has two - I have ridden one - but they are about half hours drive away plus I don't want to force myself on them! I'd love to be a stable hand or something where I could just be around horses and pick things up as I go or if I could meet someone local who would allow me to help them out with theirs.

Also if anyone can recommend good books, courses etc too.

I can't devote much of my time to it, the shop and my dogs take up most of that but this is a passion I have always wanted to explore further!

I've been having riding lessons on an off for quite a number of years, but always found apart from the riding, the stables I went to never really wanted to teach me anything else, you would get there, the horse would already be tacked up, you would have your lesson and that was it. But recently I moved area found a lovely stables 10minutes drive away, went and spoke with them and explained to them that I was willing to do anything to learn about ownership and stable management not just riding. I felt I couldn’t be a good rider and/or owner if I didn’t have any experience on the ground. Now I go an hour or so before my lesson and I get to groom, tack up etc. They also teach me the BHS level one once a week. I think finding a nice friendly riding school you feel comfortable at is important. You could also see if there is anywhere you could volunteer, like a horse rescue? I’ve basically said to the yard I have lessons at, if you ever just want a stable mucked out or the yard swept I will do it, because I want to learn. And I think if you have that attitude and are willing, then they will help you.

Would be interested to see other people answers, as this too will help me.
Good luck ,

 

[Dry Rot]

Have a word with the librarian at your local public library. Libraries are a tremendous resource and it would be a pity to lose them, but that's what's going to happen if they are not used!

Tell the librarian what you are interested in and she will research it for you. If they don't have the books you want on their shelves, they can get them for you through Inter-Library Loan. Basically, you may have to pay postage but otherwise it is free. I think you can probably loan tapes/DVDs as well. That's a lot cheaper than buying!

 

[Sarah_T]

Thanks all. I am not too far from Dartmoor and there are rescues for the Dartmoor ponies - could be somewhere to start if I can find time to volunteer! I would love that!

Great idea about the library, I have my card I just haven't been in so long!

The stables my friends and I went to last were nice, the young girls that took us out were really friendly and talkative, perhaps they will be open to letting us arrive early and showing us a thing or two!

 

[RainbowDash]

Ask the stables if you can arrive early to groom and be shown how to tack up before your lesson. Or find a riding centre, rescue, or RDA where you can offer your time for free in exchange for 'on the job' training. xx Good luck and keep us posted xx

 

[Skib]

I was a late starter - I was shown how to untack my horse, put him away and rug him after my lesson. I then paid to have a couple of lessons in what the riding school called "Stable management". I learned how to pick up the feet and groom and how to tack up. After that I could help on the yard.
The riding school had an evening class covering the BHS Stage 1 Stable Management exam and I then went to that. So I did pay to learn.
But I gather that is quite unusual. Once you have some idea what you are doing (reading books and watching vids helps), you can get practice either helping out at a yard or by finding a horse owner who is looking for a sharer who will help with the care.

 

[iang]

Hi Sarah,
I'm in the same position as you. I've been going to my lessons early for a while now to groom, tack up then stay a little longer at the end to un tack, make sure everything's ok etc...
I'm at the point now where I'm looking for someone who wants a bit of help with stable duties in exchange for some time in the saddle. If you're a competent rider (on your own) why not try something similar.

Good luck!
Ian

 

[Sarah_T]

Thanks for your replies, very helpful. A friend of a friend has a horse or two, I may see if my friend can drop a few hints to her for me as her parents live down the road from me and her horses could well be kept nearby!