Wednesday already?

Roux Camp is already at the half way mark. I'm sad about that!! My beautiful group of students this session are so amazing and it's going to be a wonderful rest of the week. I wish it wasn't for only a week!

Recaps:
Monday; we welcomed new faces and talked about being safe in our barn and what to do in case of emergency. We talked about chores that need to be done on a daily basis to keep our horses happy and healthy and most of all safe. In the class room we learned more about the history of the horse and how old the species is - 55 million years old! WOW!! Ask our students if horses have always had 1 hoof? Interesting topic and follow that up with is where did the toes go?

Tuesday; speaking of feet, we had our Farrier Jesse come out and spend some time with us addressing our need to trim our horses feet and why that is so important. Here at Dragonfly Farm we purposely grew the horses feet so the students to really see the difference between a "in need of" and what a good foot should look like after comparison. They were also able to see clippings of the horses feet and we were able to really look at the structure of the hoof. A beautiful moment was when the students had a conversation about why or why not a horse would need shoes. Their minds are working in a great direction for the comfort and needs of the future horses they will take care of.

We finished up today with a very interesting exercise for our students. Each student took a horse and did a pattern in hand while the other students looked on. When the first student finished the others had to replicate the pattern. Similar to Simon Says, but taking turns. To help them understand the concept that was behind the lesson, the students were told to watch the other student in the paddock and think about what they would do differently with their horse and how they could help the person in the paddock working their horse to do it better and more fluidly. At the end of the lesson it was then brought to the students attention they were actually at a show getting ready for their turn in the ring. They became constructive and helping one another rather than negative and critical of the competition! YEAH!!! and did I mention the horses added patience, confidence, and persistence ~ Love those horses!!