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Visit to Nick Alexander's '60 Ranch |
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This week was a very busy week for the Spring riders. Not only was it their LAST week riding, but they also had a number of exciting opportunities presented to them. On Monday the riders got a tour of Board President Nick Alexander's '60 Thoroughbred Ranch. The students saw all the mothers and their newborn foals as well as some soon-to-be mothers! LaQoia Thompson '14 wanted to live there with the mothers and foals and their lush, vast pastures! Not a bad life...
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Equestrian Drill |
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During Alumni/ae, Parents and Friends Weekend, on April 30th, students in the Spring Horse Program put on a performance in the arena where they did various equestrian drills.
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New Riding Season |
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The Spring Horse (and Mule) Program has begun! Rain has slowed things down a bit, but students are busily learning the basics of gathering up their horses, bringing them in to the barn, and preparing them for a lesson. Nine happy students make up this season's group, with experience ranging from "lots" to "never been on a horse." Eliad Becker '11 has the distinct honor of riding Timmy the Mule for Timmy's first lesson season.
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New Hitching Rails |
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Celeste Carlisle, Katie Isaacson, Gillian Kinnear '04 and Ben Munger '79 installed new hitching rails for the horses by the Horse Barn. Sad as it was to say goodbye to the weathered wooden posts outside of the big, redwood barn (filled with acorns by ever-present woodpeckers), it was time to shore up the hitching racks. Used oil pipe was procured from B&B Steel, and welded into hitching rails over Winter Break. Celeste, Gillian, Ben and Katie spent an afternoon digging holes (well, the auger dug the holes), mixing cement, and readying the new posts for the Spring Horses program.
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Wild Horses |
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In late January, Rouven Krauer, a local horse trainer, came to demonstrate some training techniques to the Foal Training class. Rouven demonstrated the effectiveness of timing, pressure, and release when working with young horses. He emphasized working with a horse in small steps, so that the horse can be as comfortable and as unworried as possible. Rouven talked about the importance of always returning to a horse's "sweet spot," or that point in their training where they are completely content - so that the horse can rely on its handler. Rouven worked primarily with sisters Zosia, a three year old, and Willa, a yearling. These mustangs have roots in Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon - their parents (Freedom and Adeer) were rounded up from that area in 1997.
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Field Trip to the Alamo Pintado Medical Center |
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The Fall riders took a break from riding their faithful steeds and went on a tour of the Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center located here in Los Olivos. Christina Barnes led a wonderful tour showing them the Hyperbaric Chamber, Aquatred, the state-of-the-art bone scanner, MRI and CAT scan machines. It was a great opportunity to see where sick or injured horses go to get treatment.
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New Riders Day |
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Four students, Martin Huerta '11, Kaya Lindsay '11, Sunny Pang '14 and LaQoia Thompson '14 all enjoyed a lesson and horse ride in the arena one Half Holiday afternoon. It was their first time riding a horse, and before mounting her horse, LaQoia said, "This is the closest I've ever been to a horse!" They all had a great first experience, thanks to Gillian Kinnear '04 and Celeste Carlisle.
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Foal Training With Visiting Fillies |
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The horse program has four visiting horses who arrived at Midland on Monday, November 8th. These three fillies and one gelding were born at Return to Freedom, a wild horse sanctuary in Lompoc, CA. Their parents were once rounded up in wild herds with helicopters and brought to auctions to be sold. Young and untrained - the horses be with us for the Winter Sports Season. They are friendly and curious, but unreliable. Kevin Jung '11, Meghan Brown '11, Ruby Goldberg '11 and Gabriela Rocco '14 are our first "Foal Training Class" students. The students are working around the clock to familiarize them with human presence. Meghan and her filly Annabell have already begun working with the halter! Meanwhile, Kevin, Ruby and Gabriella have been spending countless hours just talking to their less bold babies. In class, the students will be learning about the history of these wild herds and their future as a breed.
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