Open day April 2008

A day of openness and sharing

 

Carin and Kieron threw open the doors of Gilfach-y-Rhiw earlier this year to a group of horse owners, ranging from novice first time owners to show jumpers and breeders. The aim was to learn by sharing. Everybody who spends time around horses appreciates that each horse is different and has personality and it is only by mixing with other horse owners that some aspects of personality can be over come!

The day started with tea and toast with a chat around Carin's kitchen table. This allowed the group to get to know each other and open up their expectations. A short inspiring video followed before heading up to the round pen to start with the basics - what join up is and how to do it.

Kieron got the ball rolling - sending his own horse Monty around the pen and making it look easy. He then allowed a few visitors into the ring following Monty Roberts opinion in that it is best to learn join-up with an old hand.

Monty was then replaced by Mata as the lesson advanced to long reining and de-sensitisation using simple tools - plastic bags, sheets and streamers. What a brave girl!

Over lunch we discussed the mornings work and different aspects of trouble areas, the group then had hands one experience - taking the one year old filly through a series of obstacles, and the un-handled before today - Shetland into the horse box.