This post is for the "horse crazy" person (usually, a kid) who has absolutely no connection with horses to start with. While some people have horses in their family, most of us start with no access, and often are living in the city or good ol' suburbia, from which we have to drive miles into the country.
And yet that horse bug still tugs at our hearts and gives us a sense of yearning that our family and friends only shake their heads at.
"Horses stink!"
"Horses are expensive!"
"You really want to do all that hard work just to ride?"
And so it goes.
But if you're one of those people who are truly motivated, you will find a way. You'll beg for that car ride that takes you to the barn. You'll get up early and be ready just so you can be on time for the morning chores. And you'll be willing to put in the sweat and time.
That's the only way it can really be done.
These days, old timers often complain that being a true horse person can't happen just through riding. And I tend to agree.
Horses are complicated creatures. Yes, they're cute and gorgeous and you want to give them a huge bear hug around the neck.
But being a real horse person takes a lot of knowledge, common sense, skills, and... well, I can't think of another way to say it: horse listening. And you need to know what you're actually hearing when you listen.
It goes without saying that all of this takes time. Usually, years and years. And you surely can develop these skills while you learn to ride. It's not that becoming a horse person should be done before you ride - they can happen at the same time. But honestly, truly knowing horses is not only about riding. It's so much more!
Barn Management
If you start by volunteering or working at a barn, the first thing you'll probably be exposed to is "the chores." There is no horse caring without the work, and so learning the intricacies of running a barn ad the horses in it will go a long way to helping you understand how horses really tick.
There really is an art to pretty much everything in the barn, from stall cleaning, to routine creation and evaluation and change - sometimes urgently - to meet someone's needs, to being effective and efficient at the same time, and to managing all the personalities - horse and human. All at the same time!
When outsiders walk into a clean, quiet barn, they really have no idea what it takes to make it that way!
Tack
There's no better way to know and understand tack than getting down and dirty and cleaning it. Sounds fairly easy until you have to take all the pieces apart, and then put them back together! Then, do it again with another item. If you can have the opportunity to clean a variety of different types of tack, you can literally get your hands on all kinds of saddles, bridles, pads, leg protectors, and more.
Then watch as they're used, fitted, and changed up for specific purposes or horses. You'll probably never know everything there is to know about tack, but you should learn enough so that when you're on your own and having to make choices, you can make informed decisions, even if the tack is new to you.
Nutrition
You also will never learn everything there is to know about horse feed and supplements, but surely, you'll learn the basics. You'll learn how to make and combine the feed, give specific feed for particular needs, and how to time everything so that it's best for the horse. Every barn has their feed routine, so you'll learn different methods from different barns, and eventually know what your own preference is.
Horse
You won't be able to help learning all about the horses. Just like people, horses are different. They have their personalities, their preferences and their needs. One horse likes to be in the middle stall so he can see everything that's going on, while the other horse much prefers the corner stall so she can stay in a cozy, quiet bubble.
You'll know the one that needs the blanket on just for one more chilly spring morning, and the one that should be turned in first because his antics makes the rest of the herd anxious.
You'll learn to listen, and your mentor will teach you what everything means. Then you can listen accurately!
Ground Work and Manners
If you get a chance to handle a variety of horses, you'll learn about the importance of ground work, and the necessity of good manners in horses. In the blink of an eye, a horse can spin around and kick out, or bite, or just spook in your direction and break your toes. The sheer size of horses gives them the potential to be a hazard, and it's our responsibility to teach them how to walk beside us so that we can reduce the risks.
A good mentor will give you a serious "leg up" in the ground work department, as there really is no way to learn other than to be taught, try yourself, make mistakes, and then fine tune what you're doing. Getting the chance to walk numerous horses in and out for turnout is a great place to start!
Grooming
We don't all learn to be professional groomers (that's yet another art) but basic grooming skills can help you learn a lot about a horse - and give the horse a good shine while you're at it! Every ride starts and ends with a good grooming. Once you get to know the horse, you'll be able to spot tiny nuances that might give you clues about how the horse is doing that day - yet another listening skill.
That's a lot to know, isn't it? And this is just a small list. I'm sure you can think of many other things that help make a real horse person.
It's like taking a PhD in all things related to equines. And it's a life.
This is why, occasionally, you might be blessed to find a real horse person who will take you under her wing, and share with you her lifetime of knowledge so that you can become a better horse person faster. And if you're good at taking it all in, you can learn from several such people over the course of your lifetime, and then share it with young people that come your way in the distant future.
Even if you have absolutely no background in horses, there might be barns that will accept to train you while you get paid. But if that doesn't seem to be in the cards, many places will take on volunteers. Something that seems like a very part-time position could turn into a paid position and who knows - there could be plenty of riding lessons thrown into the mix!
We all start somewhere. And most of us weren't born horse people. I'd actually bet that many of us have fond stories about how we started by cleaning tack, walking horses, and mucking out stalls. All these experiences contribute to becoming the best horse person you can be - for the sake of the horse, of course!
Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!
