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A special thank you to Erin Burnside of Elkins High
School and all the riders that came to the benefit trail ride for SWAP. As her
Senior project Erin raised over $400. for SWAP. Kudos Erin. If we had 100 kids
do this as their senior project or even just as a fund raiser, they could pay to
feed all our horses for a year!! Please consider us kids when you are doing your
volunteer projects for school or if you want to do a fund raiser this summer.
One kid with the desire to help can make a huge difference, just like Erin did.
Bravo for a job well done!!
Congratulations
to our Executor for her selection and award for the International Who's Who of
Professional and Business Women for 2006/2007. Kudos!!
Yehaa, Kudos again to our Executor for her selection to
receive the National Leadership Award by the Republican Party.
Click here to put
a horse into our adoption program
Click here to
see what we have learned over the years and with thousands of horses.
If you can't adopt, think about a gift to one or
all of our horses: supplies, tack, dewormers, a donation, fly spray, or a new
halter. Click here to be a sponsor to
one of our horses
Great Goals for 2008:
1. Spend
an hour a day with your horses, not just feeding, training and turning out, but
real quality time doing something that is enjoyable for the both of you.
Grooming or hand walking is a great way to bond with your horse and good for
both you and the horse.
2. Get
your loved ones more involved in your horses. Divorce is the biggest reason we
see horses coming back to us. Don't just share the work, share the fun too and find
something they really enjoy doing with horses.
3. Learn
a new discipline, go to a clinic, a horse show, or equine affaire. Come to one
of our clinics or watch a training video. If you are an adopter you can check
out books and video's from SWAP's Library for just shipping costs. Take a lesson at least once a month or Bring your adoption horse
here and we will help you. The better you are, the more fun you will have.
4. Make a
plan for your horse after you are gone or if you have a major injury, let your
will executor know your plans. Make a plan for emergencies or financial bumps
along the way for your horse. Have a plan if you or your horse gets injured,
even for the tough times of year like winter (or summer down south). Ask friends, family and neighbors
to be part of your plan. Most people can not resist someone when they are asking
for help for the welfare of an innocent animal.
5. Get yourself healthy and in better shape to
prevent injury, to live a long life and to more enjoy your horses. Eat 1-1-1
(one ounce of dark chocolate, one ounce of fresh walnuts, one glass of red wine
daily) and 2-2-2 (2 servings of fresh vegis, 2 of fresh fruit and get 2 sources
of fat free calcium). Drink 100 ounces of spring water a day, get a whole
house water filter. Change over to Sea-salt. Take one teaspoon of apple cider
vinegar every morning to keep your body alkaline (cancer and disease can not
grow in an alkaline body). Eat more fish and chicken and less red meat. Get a
good air cleaner and do daily deep breathing exercises, get outside in the fresh
air and sunshine for at least 1/2 hour every day. Get away from high fat food,
processed foods, fast food, can or boxed food, sugar or artificial sweeteners,
soda and don't eat anything if you can't read all the ingredients and know
exactly what is in it. Clean all vegis and fruits thoroughly, buy organic, buy
ocean caught fish, not farm raised, buy fresh meat and raw milk, not packed or
processed. Eat only natural carbs (potatoes, rice, oats) bake/broil or steam
everything. Use your microwave for only heating water, it kills the nutrition
value in food. Get 8 hours of sleep, reduce stress/risk (reduce commuting by car
pooling, tight schedules, cell phone use in the car, watch or read the news only
once a day or better yet once a week, stay clear of
negative people
and those very negative chat rooms and bulletin boards). Stop Complaining and be
Thankful for what we each have. Do one hour of walking, yoga or weight
training every day and it will make you strong, lean, look great and you'll get
wonderful complements from friends, coworkers and loved ones and the horse work
will be easier and more enjoyable.
6. Read
at least one book on training your horse and one on care each year, if for nothing
else but just inspiration. SWAP has a great
library of books/videos that adopters can check out for just the cost of mailing
it. Click here to
see our Library
7. Get
carrots/apples every time you go to the store, your horses will love you for it and
always come running when you call. Don't feed candy or anything sweeter. Carrots
are sweet enough. Get rid of the sweet feeds and you'll get rid of the hot horse
once and for all.
8.
Realize that if you are having a problem with your horse, more likely than not,
the problem is you. Learn more, practice more, ask in a different way, be
patient, change their environment or daily schedule to better suit them. Taking
better care of a horse always brings out the best in that horse. Good
feed/hay, time to rest in a quiet stall out of the elements, lots of fresh water, time to be with you and time to
just be a horse, time with their buddies, farrier and vet care always done is a
good start. The biggest part of this relationship puzzle is you, not the horse.
If you are struggling, then you need to learn more and get better.
9. Ride
at least once a week, regardless of weather. Use this time as your down time for
healing, your therapy, your time to relieve stress and the pressures of daily
life. Even if you don't ride, go sit and read a book in the pasture with the
horses or sit in the barn and listen to them munch on dinner, away from the
crowd and noise of your day. Enjoy the peace and quiet, enjoy hearing happy
horses eating dinner or grass in the pasture.
10. Spend
time leisurely grooming your horse once a week. Rubber curries are shine makers.
You will have a beautiful horse and a very loyal friend who will do anything for
you.
11. Come and spend a week at SWAP HQ,
volunteering and focusing on helping a horse and giving will change your life
plus it will be the best vacation you ever had. Help
an animal in need, whether fostering, being one of our state reps that goes out
to check on our horses in their homes or helps us approve adopters in their
area. Find horses in need and help us find them homes. Buy a horse at a slaughter
auction, get it fat and trained and we'll help you place it into a good home. Foster and
volunteer for your local small animal adoption program. I promise, the good
things you do will come back to you a hundred times over. Every person has a
talent they can offer and if you help one horse or one dog or cat find a good
home, you have changed their life forever.
12.
Know that every goal is obtainable and it starts with a single step.
Take that first step today!! No matter what it is or how big, YOU CAN DO IT!!
Every goal that is written down will come true (really!). Every famous person,
every great or notable scientist, author, trainer/rider, parent or friend
started out as just a thought, just a goal. Remember to take one step today to
reach your goals.
13. Start
every day with thinking about, what is the most important thing I can do
today to change my life and make it better. Do that one thing and in 30 days
your life will be totally different. Can you imagine what your life would be
like if you did that for 60, 90 or even 365 days a year. The opportunities are
endless.
14. Want to keep your horse sound for life? (That should be every horse owners
number one goal) do a
long slow warm up (cold muscle is easy to injure, a warm one is nearly
impossible to injure). The very best cool down is hand walking your horse for 1 hour after every work out.
Yes, get off the horse and walk with it. Its great exercise for you and a good
time for you to bond. Stop riding your horse during cool downs and stop using a
hot walker, do something good for you and the horse, hand walking. Its also the
best rehab for over work and injuries, the only thing better is hydro therapy
and swimming your horse. Allow soft tissue and hard tissue to
become more conditioned before going into any training program... that usually
means 3 months of at least 3 days a week for soft tissues and 10 months of work for bones to become strong
enough to jump or do any strenuous training program. Don't start any upper level
work, jumping or extensive training until the horse is fit and at least between
age 4 and 6 and has been conditioned for at least 10 months (especially if the
horse has never been jumped/worked or not been jumped or worked in the last
year).
15. Appreciate what you have and be thankful.
Instead of looking at what you don't have, look at what you do. Thank those
people who have helped you and supported you. The more you give, the more that
will come back to you. When you give something away or give something to
someone/something in need, you make space in your life for something good to
come to you. We are all very blessed, if we just take a moment to look
around and enjoy those things.
16. Get used to using favorite mantra's and visualizations
every day, simple ones that are easy to remember, like 'I can do this, I will do
this', 'this isn't going to get the best of me' or even, 'I deserve the best' or
'the gift of love, caring, and support always comes back' and take two minutes
every morning as you wake and at night as you go to sleep to visualize the life
you want, the you you want to be, Our thoughts become things, what you see
is what you get, if you expect the best, the best will happen, change your
self-talk from negative to positive and I promise your life will change for the
better..
17. Each person is put on this earth for a reason, each of
us has a mission. What is yours? Seek and you shall find, finding is a journey
... in the journey and the search you'll find your life purpose. If you died in
your sleep tonight is there something you haven't done that you need to do or
want to do? Someone you need to mend fences with, burnt bridges to fix? People
you need to tell them how much you love them? Have you fulfilled your purpose in
your life? Ask yourself, Why am I here? How can I make this better? Who do
I want to be? Who am I suppose to be? What reason was I put on this earth? What
is my purpose?
18. Be an inspiration to your family, co workers and
friends. We all fall on our face, we all make mistakes, we all get discouraged,
most times we all get up and try again.... sometimes we need a nudge. Instead of
being negative or doing negative things, be their inspiration. You do believe
they can do it, so why not tell them. If their self talk is negative, then you
be their positive self talk.... eventually they will start to say it and believe
it too. Life is self fulfilling, failure feeds on itself or causes more failure,
achieving does as well. So if you or your love ones are in a negative cycle,
break the cycle by changing your thoughts, your self talk, achieve something
small to get yourself and your family back into the cycle of achievement.
19. We all file a flight plan every single day for our
life. Where is your flight going today? Just like a pilot flying, the winds, the
gravitational pull will change your flight plan and take you off course, so you
must make small corrections along the way to make sure you make your
destination. Have you selected your destination? Have you picked the steps in
your flight plan to get there? Every goal is really that easy, pick the goal and
figure out how to get there. The easiest way to pick your flight path/plan is
find someone who has done it before you, then do what they did. Its all baby
steps you know. Just keep an eye on that destination and keep saying...."here is
my destination, this is where I'm going, this is where I am now, this is how I'm
going to get there.... I will arrive at this time on this day. You can do
it..... its just like getting in your car to go to the store, its just deciding
where you want to go and how to get there, then take that first step. You can do
it!! No matter how big or how outlandish you may think your dream to be...
it is obtainable.
20. Laugh every day and try (as hard as it is sometimes)
to find the positive and the humor in each situation (and have at least one bite
of a truly decadent desert once a week). Life is just too short to not enjoy it
thoroughly.
21. We learn the most and do our best work when we have
fallen on our face, when we are struggling, when we are worried, scared or
frustrated, when we anguishing over something or troubled by it. It is then that
you have true motivation, when you think clearer. The most brilliant ideas come
to people when they feel lost, frustrated, or at the bottom, helpless or
hopeless. Cherish these times because its when you can come up with your best
ideas to your biggest problems and challenges. You see, there is a reason for
the rainy days.
22. You can't make everyone happy, its useless to try and
wasted energy to think you can. 50% of all people will not agree with you at any
given time, don't worry about it and don't let it stop you. 50% becomes a lot of
people when you are in the public eye. As long as you are not hurting anyone and
you believe you are doing the right thing, then go ahead and do it. If you are
wondering what is the right thing to do, its usually the harder thing to do, the
toughest path to take. The easy way out is rarely the right thing to do.
Instead of worrying over what someone thinks of you or says about you, do
something amazing and outstanding to inspire them or at least have them sitting
on the side lines being jealous, secretly saying, "wow, she has guts". One
person with purpose becomes the majority, one way or another.
This should
probably be taped to your bathroom mirror where one could read it every day.
1. There
are at least two people in this world that you would die for.
2. At least
15 people in this world love you in some way.
3. The only
reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you
4. A smile
from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
5. Every
night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
6. You mean
the world to someone.
7. You are
special and unique.
8. Someone
that you don't even know exists loves you.
9. When you
make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.
10 When you
think the world has turned its back on you take another look.
11 Always
remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
Good
friends are like stars.......
You don't
always see them, But you know they are always there.
"Whenever
God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another,
I would
rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend while I'm here than a whole
truck load when I'm gone.
Always in hope and admiration, Celeita
| | 
INTERNSHIPS
"you can because you think you can....
Life is a self fulfilling prophecy"
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Congratulations to Kathryn
Byerly of New Richmond, Ohio for being selected as SWAP's 2004 Intern of the
Year. Kat has been critical to the mission of SWAP and helped us stay on our
feet during a very tough time. She has trained horses, answered phone calls
and emails, helped manage the barns and the large number of horses coming
and going, she's developed strong working relationships with adopters and
potential adopters a like, reviewed adoption applications and completed a
big portion of the tasks that must be done 7 days a week on a horse farm. No
task too large, Kat has taken it on with zeal and a fun loving attitude.
Besides being talented in so many ways, she always has a ton of energy and a
huge smile on her face, even when facing adversity and huge challenges. The
SWAP horses (and dogs) love her and so do all of us at SWAP. She will be
sorely missed. As SWAP's 2004 Intern of the Year, Kat will receive a $500.
Scholarship that will go to Ohio University where Kat is completing an
under-graduate program in Journalism. Congratulations Kat for a job well
done. Bravo!!
Congratulations to Teresa Rainey of Kings Mountain, NC.
She was selected as our 2003 Intern of the Year and
received the $500. SWAP scholarship for her great work and endless
devotion to our mission. This was Teresa's second summer at SWAP
and this year she really excelled. She took on all the
responsibilities of the Executor (barn manager, volunteer
coordinator, trainer, assistant vet and farrier, councilor,
advisor, evaluator, quality control manager, matchmaker,
communicator, administrator, accountant, lawyer, transport
coordinator, logistics manager and the care taker of all the
horses just to name a few) and did them all admirably. A couple
more years and I think she could run this program alone. Since
Teresa has a full scholarship to the University of Florida, her
scholarship has been applied to any supplies she will need during
her last year of undergraduate school. Kudos Teresa for a job well
done and a very big THANK YOU from all the SWAP family and
horses!!
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IN OUR
RIDING, OFFICE AND BARN INTERNS
-age 17 and up
-experience with horses required
-RIDING INTERNS MUST BE: a good riding seat required, at least
a strong intermediate rider (have been riding at least 3 times a week for the
last 3 years, have ridden hot horses, ridden more than just lesson horses,
ridden young or horses in training, can handle a buck and stay stuck in the
saddle, professionally trained, has a good
understanding of when to get on and when not to get on a horse.
-Neat and detailed person, will keep everything in its place and puts
everything back where it belongs, keeps themselves, their room, the office and
the barn clean, neat and picked up
-loves animals and wants to help animals
-good work ethic, hard work does not scare you at all, in fact you thrive
on it.
-physically fit
-can keep a positive attitude no matter how badly things seem
to be
-patient with people and animals, especially when they don’t
know as much as you
-mentally flexible, can handle most any change or surprise
well
-can work independently at times
-Heart and willingness means more than knowledge
-knows how to do at least basic things like feed, water, deworm,
wrap legs, clean a stall
Duties of ALL Interns (we can
teach you everything below but riding interns must come with a very good
seat): Doing anything we need to help, feedings, turn out, cleaning and
filling troughs, bathing horses/dogs, grooming/clipping horses, preparing
horses for visitors, helping visitors decide on the best horse for them by
getting to know the horses and getting to know the adopter, cleaning up after
yourself and cleaning the barn/tack/tack room/office and guest house, showing
adopters horses, answering the phone, making calls and getting updates on
horses in their homes, reviewing applications and calling references, hand
walking, wrapping horses legs, doing barn laundry, cleaning stalls at times,
unloading/stacking hay or pick up hay in the hay field, ground working horses,
driving horses, working on the website, taking pictures/video of horses in
hand, in round pen and in arena being ridden and driven, help the executor put
them together and put on website, answer emails, follow up with people
approved to adopt or that have asked for horses, host adopters visits, teach
other interns/help other interns learn/work as a team, teach one class or
lesson, assist with clinics, train horses, work on areas they are having
problems/concerns either physically, mentally or emotionally, figure out what
each horse needs and attempt to provide it, do initial evaluations of horses
and the paperwork, filing, updating horse files, updating the horses
description on the website, give lessons and help adopters with problems
Application Dates and Selection
Dates
1 May (Selection of Summer Interns, all applications must be in)
1 August
(applications are due for fall semester/quarters, selections shortly there
after)
1 December (applications are due for spring semester/quarters, selections
shortly there after)
Internship starting Dates (and
dates to Remember)
15 May (6 slots available for the 1st summer session) (we may
not fill the May session because we are still moving)
15 June (6 slots
available for the second summer session)
15 July (6 slots available for the third summer session)
Fall
Semester/Quarters run between August to December (college credit and 4 slots
available)
Spring Semester/Quarters run between January to May (college
credit available and 4 slots available)
Levels of Internships (summer)
Freshman (first year interns regardless of age)
Sophomore (second
year intern and at least 30 days internship experience at SWAP)
Junior (3rd year
intern and at least 60 days of internship experience at SWAP)
Senior (4th year intern and at least 90 days of internship experience at
SWAP)
Assistant Trainer
(5th year intern and at least 120 days of internship experience at SWAP)
Trainer (6th year intern and at least 150 days of internship experience
at SWAP)
-Summer interns stay 4 weeks with us (adults or highly experienced volunteers can come as their schedule allows, if they just
want to get away from home and help, too!).
-Selection of Interns are done May 1st of summer
interns, August 1st for fall interns and December 1st for spring interns.
Advanced approvals can be done to fit college schedules.
-School year interns must stay at least a
semester or Quarter is your college is on the Quarter system (August - December or January - May).
-College Credit is available (ask about the
requirements if you are interested)
-Directions to
Crossed Sabers/Second Wind International Headquarters
-There is a liability release that all
persons, and parents
or guardian (s) must sign if anyone under 18 wants to ride here. It
would be simplest to print it out from this site and bring it with you
already filled out. Both Parents are required to sign this form for any
person under 18 to be able to ride at CSS & SWAP.
-It is recommended that you bring your own
saddle if you ride a lot, as you will be more
comfortable in your own gear, and we will provide the bridle, girth and bit
to fit the horse. We will also provide a saddle if your saddle does not fit the particular horse you are
riding.
-No bit except a simple
snaffle (or less, like a bosal or hackamore) will be used on adoption horses
while in the program. Extreme bits will never be allowed or used on any
adoption horse or any other attachments that force the horse into a
collected frame. If the horse has no brakes, the horse needs more training,
not a more stringent bit.
-The required uniform for
riding is either breeches or jeans (with or without) chaps and either paddock boots,
dress riding boots or field boots for riding hunt seat or dressage saddles,
for show saddles or cut back saddles the appropriate attire is jodhpur pants
and jodhpur boots (or jeans and paddock boots). For riding in a western or a stock seat saddle jeans
with either cowboy boots, lacers/paddock boots, riding tennis shoes or any smooth sole shoes with
a smooth short heel. Dress shoes or boots with any sort of tread will not be
allowed. Riding helmets are required for all riders riding all seats. Riders should
come prepared for all types of weather as all our riding facilities are
outside but clothes should not be loose or extremely big. It is not only dangerous
because the clothes can get hooked on the horses saddle but its really not
functional. Long hair should be pulled back in a pony tail or braid and away from the face in a way
that the rider has all peripheral vision and allows for your helmet to fit as
it is designed. Jewelry should be kept to a minimum, especially no hoop
earrings and rings that can get caught on saddles and tack.
-All riding starts in the
facility round pen with a join up and then once we realize you can handle the horse you are
riding, you can move to the large arena. Only riders that have proven they
can ride the horse in all gaits easily will be allowed to venture out beyond
the round pen. Horses are never taken out on the trail or outside the round pen
and arena without a second rider and another experienced trail horse as lead.
Only very experienced riders can venture out of the round pen and arena,
visitors are never allowed to ride outside of the round pen or arena.
Interns of the Year selected every year!!
$500 in scholarship money goes to the Intern of
the year. Applied to your college bill or for full ride students or high school
students can be applied to anything educational.
Interns of the year also get a written
recommendation to one of the grand prix riders we have worked with, of course,
in your discipline.
Must be an upperclassman Intern or trainer to be
selected for Intern of the Year. If there are no upperclassman here during the
summer, then a freshman or sophomore level intern will be considered.
- (put your name on everything)
-$ for food (or food) and activities (roughly $50. a week depending on how much you
eat and how much we do as a group)
-Remember to bring healthy food for meals as well.
-barn clothes for all weather, including wet weather
-riding clothes (english and western)
-For english, bring breeches or jods, paddock/dress or field
boots
-For western, bring jeans and cowboy boots or lacers
-riding boots (smooth sole only, with short heel) or riding tennis shoes (no
regular tennis shoes or any type of street shoe will be worn riding)
-muck boots that mud or manure won’t ruin
-riding helmet
-your saddle (the saddle you prefer to ride in if its already broke in
and you are most comfortable)
-pajamas
-shorts/shirts or casual non-working clothes
-toiletries/shower supplies
-bath towels and wash clothe
-laundry supplies (there is a farm laundry in the farm garage)
-alarm clock
-notebook (3 ring binder) for notes and information
-Laptop with wireless, there is broadband on the farm that reaches to
the guest house
-dress clothes for a couple of activities like (movies, going to the
races, going to events like Equine Affaire or shows)
-camera and film or digital camera (not required but recommended)
-phone cards to call home, your cell phone or lap top if you have one
-swim suit and beach towel (there is an inground pool at the farm)
-all bathing/grooming/first aid equipment for your horse
(only for school year interns who are bringing their horse)
-bug spray
-sun screen
-chap stick
-contacts or glasses (if you wear them)
-health care and insurance information
-picture ID card and drivers license, health insurance information,
emergency contact information
-big water bottle, bottled water or jug (staying hydrated becomes critical)
-healthy snacks (granola bars, fruit, etc) anything to keep
blood sugar up on hot and long days
- -Summer interns stay with us at least 4 weeks with us (adult or highly experienced volunteers can come as their schedule allows, if they just
want to get away from home and help, too!).
- -Selection of Interns are done May 1st of summer
interns, August 1st for fall interns and December 1st for spring interns.
- -School year interns must stay at least a
semester (or a quarter if your college is on a quarter system) (August - December or January - May).
- -College Credit is available (ask about the
requirements if you are interested)
- -Directions to
Crossed Sabers/Second Wind
Adoption Center
- -There is a liability release that all
persons, and parents
or guardian (s) must sign if anyone under 18 wants to ride here. It
would be simplest to print it out from this site and bring it with you
already filled out. Both Parents are required to sign this form for any
person under 18 to be able to ride at CSS & SWAP.
-
- -It is recommended that you bring your own
saddle, if you will be more
comfortable in your own gear, and we will provide the bridle, girth and bit
to fit the horse. We will also provide a saddle if your saddle does not fit the particular horse you are
looking at.
-
- -No bit except a simple
snaffle (or less, like a bosal or hackamore) will be used on adoption horses
while in the program. Extreme bits will never be allowed or used on any
adoption horse or any other attachments that force the horse into a
collected frame. If the horse has no brakes, the horse needs more training,
not a more stringent bit.
-
- -The required uniform for
riding is either breeches or jeans (with or without) chaps and either paddock boots,
dress riding boots or field boots for riding hunt seat or dressage saddles,
for show saddles or cut back saddles the appropriate attire is jodhpur pants
and jodhpur boots (or jeans and paddock boots). For riding in a western or a stock seat saddle jeans
with either cowboy boots, lacers/paddock boots, riding tennis shoes or any smooth sole shoes with
a smooth short heel. Dress shoes or boots with any sort of tread will not be
allowed. Riding helmets are required for all riders riding all seats. Riders should
come prepared for all types of weather as all our riding facilities are
outside but clothes should not be loose or extremely big. It is not only dangerous
because the clothes can get hooked on the horses saddle but its really not
functional. Long hair should be pulled back in a pony tail or braid and away from the face in a way
that the rider has all peripheral vision and allows for your helmet to fit as
it is designed. Jewelry should be kept to a minimum, especially no hoop
earrings and rings that can get caught on saddles and tack.
-
-
-All riding starts in the
facility round pen with a join up and then once we realize you can handle the horse you are
riding, you can move to the large arena. Only riders that have proven they
can ride the horse in all gaits easily will be allowed to venture out beyond
the round pen. Horses are never taken out on the trail or outside the round pen
and arena without a second rider and another experienced trail horse as lead.
Only very experienced riders can venture out of the round pen and arena,
visitors are never allowed to ride outside of the round pen or arena.
-
- -Arrival dates are all set for the 15th of
each month, there are no waivers for arrival times as we have set training times
and dates after everyone's arrival, (waviers can be made for upper classman
and trainer level interns). There are only 18 slots
available for the entire summer, 6 for May, 6 for June and 6 for July, 2 of
those are for trainer level interns during each session. There are 8 intern slots for fall
and spring semesters, 6 for fall semester and 6 for spring semester.
- -expect to learn a lot
- -expect hot humid weather in summer and cold, wet winters with both mud
and snow in winter, bugs and sun in summer
- -expect night turn out in summer and day in winter, horses are in
during all inclement weather (sometimes out for a warm summer rain as long as
its brief and lightning/thunder is not in forecast).
- -expect 16 to 40 stalls and at least 16 horses, many times more than 16 and sometimes
as many as 55 horses, if we’ve
done a rescue
- -expect long hours that some times go beyond the normal work day of 9am to 6pm
- -expect a daily work out session in the farm gym (either yoga, training
with a video, dance, weight training, spinning, swimming in the farm pool or
circuit course) Yes, this is in addition to riding daily.
- -expect a wide array of horses (young, old,
all training levels, gaited, race horses, harness horses, hunter/jumpers,
rodeo, with various training and health issues) and cats and dogs to play
with, work with and care for.
- -expect a hectic schedule (this always surprises every one how busy we
stay)
- -expect a fun environment, work hard and play hard types
(but the work must be done before we play)
- -expect to attend clinics for free and
assist with clinics
- -Watching different training films of various trainers and training
techniques weekly
- -getting weekly free lessons from the head trainer
or a more experienced intern/assistant trainer
- -Expect to learn about all riding disciplines, all training techniques,
traveling and lameness considerations/care, injuries and illnesses and even
learn to drive
- -helping horses be safe under saddle and in hand
- -helping horses get healthy, fit and fat
- -helping horses get the right home, helping
them be successful in their new home
- -helping people find the right horse and helping them be successful
with that horse
- -helping adopters who may be having problems with their
horses (or horses that may be having problems with their adopters)
- -helping us evaluate every horse that comes to us
- -work day starts at 9am and goes until 6pm on most days (which includes feeding, cleaning stalls
on weekends or when our regular stall cleaner does not come, health care, turn out, grooming, getting pictures/video, sometimes
riding/working horses, working in the office, preparing for a stable event,
giving or taking classes, etc) but on some days we will ride in the
evening when its cooler and do office work or have projects inside during the
day.
Many evenings are just to rest and relax and watch the 62" big screen TV, read
or surf the web.
- -on rainy days, we usually get our barn work done and do bathing/grooming
or office work throughout the day, plus sometimes just regrouping, having
meetings or brain storming sessions.
- -feedings are at 8am and 5pm.
- -Viewing is scheduled daily by appointment,
which is the time when visitors come to look and ride potential adoption
horses, every
morning we clean the barn, groom horses and prep paperwork (horse lists,
applications, etc)…... Sometimes we may have to ride a horse for an
adopter or ride a horse before an adopter…… sometimes our time with a
potential adopter ends up being a lesson for them because they are
inexperienced.
- -Tuesdays are our staff meetings, everyone attends (noon). We
review all stable and office issues, go over incoming horses, out going horses
and just general updates for both the office and stable. Each intern reviews
their current projects with the group.
- -The normal stable crew is off on Saturday
and Sunday. Sunday is everyone's day off but we schedule 2 people each week to
feed and turn out and do the very basic things that have to be done in the
barn and if visitors are coming, then they work with the visitors. Sometimes
on Sundays if we have horses in the barn that are experienced we might do a
group trail ride or just sit by the pool. Saturday and Sunday are also laundry
days.
- -Bring at least 7 days of work/riding clothes because we can't wash on
a daily basis, it will run the well dry.
- -Everyone sort of takes care of their own food and clean up but sometimes
we all eat together, sometimes we get lucky enough to get someone in that
likes to cook, then we eat good, many times we go out and get fast food and
sometimes we are running to the barn with a sandwich and a piece of fruit.
Eating will be on the run on many occasions so bring things that you can make
quickly. The microwave, a sandwich and cereal
becomes your closest buddies but try to select healthy choices to keep your
engine running.
- -Each intern will have either a private room or will share a room with a
same sex room mate. All the female interns use the bath in the guest house.
Every intern will have their own bed. We will have room for as many as 6 live
in interns at any given time. Because we have many more female interns than
male, its very hard to find room for male interns for housing. Lower classman
have the bunk beds and upper classman and trainers have either private rooms
or rooms they share with regular full sized beds.
-
- "If your hearts in the right place, it will be a summer you will never
forget. It will be the work that wears you out but you love it anyway."
A myth: Interns only clean
stalls.... not at CSS and SWAP!! Interns become a vital part of the process for
us to evaluate, train and find homes for horses. They advise us and the adopter
on the horse. They are critical to us being able to find the right fit for each
horse and adopter.
SUBJECT: INTERNS OBTAINING COLLEGE CREDIT (THE EXECUTOR
HAS A MASTERS DEGREE IN EDUCATION AND EQUINE SCIENCE AND SHE WILL WORK WITH
ANY COLLEGE TO MEET INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS/REPORTING AND GRADING).
WE REQUIRE EACH STUDENT TO DO THE FOLLOWING OVER THE COURSE OF
THE SCHOOL YEAR:
-
-TRAIN TWO HORSES (CUSTOMER, ADOPTION OR STABLE HORSES
)
-
-TEACH RIDING LESSONS TO AT LEAST ONE CUSTOMER/ADOPTER
-
-COORDINATE/COMPLETE ONE ADVERTISEMENT AND 2 NEWS RELEASES
-
-PLAN ONE
STABLE EVENT
-
-TEACH ONE
CLASS TO THE BARN STAFF
-
-COMPLETE
THEIR PRIMARY & SECONDARY DUTIES (SEE ATTACHED) AS STABLE HELP, BARN
MANAGER, INSTRUCTOR OR TRAINER
-
-EACH HAVE
2 MONTHS OF PLANNING, COORDINATING & IMPLEMENTING ALL HEALTH RELATED DUTIES
(VET, FARRIER, WORMING, MEDICAL RELATED WORK)
-
-COMPLETE AT
LEAST 20 INITIAL EVALUATIONS ON NEWLY ARRIVED ADOPTION HORSES
-
-DO ONE
QUALITY CONTROL EVALUATION
-
-DO ONE
SAFETY EVALUATION
-
-DO ONE
MONTH OF COMPLETING ALL ADMINISTRATIVE/FINANCIAL/LOGISTICAL PLANNING/RECORD
KEEPING FOR THE STABLE
EACH STUDENT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO KEEP A NOTEBOOK FILLED WITH
ALL RECORDS, JOURNALS, EVALUATIONS, ETC TO TURN IN AT THE END OF THE YEAR. I
WOULD EVALUATE EACH STUDENT AND YOUR COLLEGE ADVISOR WOULD BE THE SENIOR
EVALUATOR (AND FINAL GRADER).
STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURES (RULES & REGULATIONS
THAT WE LIVE BY) ARE COVERED UPON ARRIVAL
 | EMERGENCY, STABLE ALERT ROSTER |
| BUDDY SYSTEM (TRAILS, RIDING, PADDOCK,
GOING OFF THE FARM OR OUT) |
| EMERGENCY NUMBERS, HORSE SICK OR HURT |
| T/O NOT IN RAIN OR WHEN GROUND IS SATURATED |
| T/O IN ARENA (NOT MORE THAN 3 GELDINGS, 2 MARES OR 4 YOUNGSTERS,
ONLY ONES THAT GET ALONG |
| FARRIER, WORMING, DENTIST |
| CLINICS, OPEN HOUSES, ACTIVITIES |
| RESPECT OF OTHERS, THEIR HORSES & EQUIPMENT, DO NOT USE
W/O ASKING, CLEAN/DO NOT BREAK |
| SAFETY FIRST, NO HORSE GETS HURT, NO PERSON
GETS HURT! |
| ASSUME NOTHING, ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU DON'T
KNOW |
| USE OF FACILITIES, CLEANING
|
| NO TAKING STABLE EQUIPMENT/BOOKS/VIDEOS OFF PREMISES |
| ELECTRIC, WATER, LIGHTS |
| SMOKING, DRINKING, BURNING CANDLES IN
BEDROOMS, MUSIC AT THE HOUSE AND BARN |
| NO STORING FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS |
| APPROPRIATE CLOTHING |
| REPRESENTING THE STABLE |
| PROPRIETARY INFORMATION |
| ADDRESSING PROBLEMS WITH BARN MANAGER, TRAINER,
EXECUTOR |
| USE OF ARENA, ROUND PEN |
| USE OF ADOPTION HORSES |
| PUNISHMENT OF HORSES OR NEGATIVE
REINFORCEMENT/POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT, |
| RIDING OTHER PEOPLE’S HORSES |
| LIABILITY RELEASE |
| USE OF HOT WALKER, TRAILS, PADDOCK |
| DON’T CHANGE EQUIPMENT OF STABLE, IF YOU
HAVE TO CHANGE A BIT, CHANGE IT BACK WHEN FINISHED |
| USE OF STABLE TACK, OTHER TACK, CLEANING TACK |
| CLEANLINESS |
| GROOMING EQUIPMENT |
|
STABLE
HATS/SHIRTS AVAILABLE |
| TACK BOX SECURITY |
| SECURITY OF TACK ROOM/FEED ROOM |
| CAN NOT RIDE STABLE HORSES W/O TALKING TO OWNER |
| NO LOOSE HORSES IN ISLE WAY, CLEANING UP AFTER HORSES |
| NO MOUNTING IN BARN, ONLY IN ARENA AND ROUND PEN |
| NATURAL PROGRESSION OF TRAINING…. ROUND PEN, ARENA, PADDOCK, TRAILS |
|
HANDLING
VISITORS, POTENTIAL ADOPTERS AND DONORS |
| NO JUMPING |
| NO HELMET, NO RIDING |
| IF YOU BREAK IT OR LOSE IT . . YOU PAY FOR IT OR REPLACE IT
IF NEGLIGENCE IS INVOLVED |
| PUT AWAY EQUIPMENT |
| GENERAL STABLE RULES |
| USE OF PHONE (OFFICE AND BARN) AND OFFICE COMPUTERS, OFF DUTY HOURS, DO NOT
CHANGE CONFIGURATION OF ANY COMPUTER, NO OPENING ATTACHMENTS |
| NO REMOVING STABLE EQUIPMENT |
| HOURS OF OPERATION |
| REPLACEMENTS FOR WORK, IF YOU CAN NOT BE THERE |
| BEING PUNCTUAL, CONSIDERATE TO OTHERS |
| SECURITY |
| FIRE |
| GATES CLOSED AT ALL TIMES |
| ATTIRE AND PROFESSIONALISM |
| SAFE DRIVING |
| ALL TACK IS KEPT IN TACK ROOM |
| PUT NAME ON ALL EQUIPMENT |
| FRONT OF STALLS WILL BE CLEAN
|
| USE OF PERSONAL TACK BOXES |
| BUDDY SYSTEM AND SIGN OUT SHEET FOR TRAIL RIDES W/ ETR & ETD |
| USE OF ROUND PEN |
| WORMING, SHOTS, HEALTH CERTIFICATES, COGGINS, HEALTH CARE OF
HORSES |
| THINGS THAT COME WITH ADOPTION HORSES,
TACK, SUPPLIES, SUPPLEMENTS |
| FARRIER AND VET DAYS |
| LIABILITY LAW |
| COATS, CLOTHES HUNG UP |
| DIRTY TOWELS, LEG WRAPS, SADDLE PADS IN LAUNDRY |
| PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR, CLOTHES/SHOES TO RIDE IN, DRESS CODE,
|
| 20 PERCENT RULE AND WEIGHT OF RIDER |
| EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER/ POLICE PHONE NUMBER/ FIRE |
| ONLY STABLE OWNER, BARN MANAGER OR TRAINER CAN CHANGE THE FEED
AMOUNT OF HORSES |
| NO DRUGS ARE GIVEN TO ANY HORSES, BUTE AND
SMZ'S ARE GOVERNED BY THE EXECUTOR AND ONLY USED WHEN NECESSARY, PENICILLIN OR
BANAMINE SHOTS ARE ONLY GIVEN BY THE EXECUTOR OR HEAD TRAINER
|
| ACE IS NEVER USED BUT IN EXTREME CASES WHEN
THE HORSE WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT LOAD (EVERYTHING HAS BEEN TRIED) OR WHEN A HORSE
IS GOING OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER A VERY LONG STALL REST. |
| ACE OR BUTE ARE NEVER GIVEN TO ANY HORSES
FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING THE HORSE EASIER TO RIDE... AND DOING SO WILL MEAN
IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL FROM THE INTERN PROGRAM. |
| NOT LEAVING PADDOCK W/0 PERMISSION (TELL
SOMEONE YOUR GOING) AND RIDING TEST BEFORE GOING OFF W/ BUDDY |
| HAND WALK SICK HORSES (THAT ARE NOT RESTRICTED TO STALL) |
| QUARANTINED HORSES |
| OUR WAY OF DOING THINGS IS FINE TUNED, DO
NOT CHANGE ANYTHING WITHOUT ASKING. IF YOU THINK YOU KNOW OF A BETTER WAY, WE
NEED TO DISCUSS IT IN A PROGRAM MEETING BEFORE HAND |
| WHEN IN DOUBT ABOUT ANYTHING, ASK THE
EXECUTOR |
| DO NOT RIDE, TURN OUT OR FEED NEW HORSES UNTIL YOU READ THEIR
PAPERWORK FROM OWNER (LOOK AT CURRENT FEED, CURRENT WORK OUT SCHEDULE, SPECIAL
CARE, SPECIAL SHOES, LAST DATE RIDDEN/DRIVEN, PHYSICAL PROBLEMS, TRAINING
ISSUES AND CONDITIONING LEVEL) |
| READING A
HORSE, UNDERSTANDING THEIR LANGUAGE, KNOWING WHEN TO STOP AND WHEN TO
CONTINUE, BE 100% AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND YOU AND WHAT THE HORSE IS
DOING |
| BLANKETS/SHEETS REMOVAL |
| HANDLING
STALLIONS,
BABIES AND UNTRAINED HORSES |
| NOTHING WILL BE GIVEN TO STABLE, BOARDER HORSES, HORSES IN
TRAINING OR ADOPTION HORSES WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL FROM THE BARN MANAGER OR
HEAD TRAINER |
| COMMUNICATION MUST BE CONSTANT WITH BARN
MANAGER, TRAINER AND EXECUTOR! |
| |
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