Advice for first time day camp horse counseler?

Question

I will be working at a barn as a camp counselor. We have to tack and groom in the morning, and watch the kids and supervise. It sounds easy, but I'm still not sure. Any advice on tacking and grooming? I know how to groom and tack, but usually thre stable hands will groom and tack the school horses for me. Tips, hints, and grooming and tacking run throughs please.

Answer 1

when u are grooming always use the curry comb first and make sure to got in the oppositte direction of the horse's hair and go in circles. and after currying use a hard bristled brush to brush the hair back into place and get off all the dirt.  use on the horses face a very soft brush so u dont scratch their eyes.  and then use a sponge to wipe their eyes and their nose area and use it to wipe inside the ears.  then after that make sure u put the saddle pad right on their withers and then put the saddle on the withers on top of the pad.  When using the girth tighten the non-elastic side side though otherwise it is very very difficult to tighten using the leather side.  wen putting the bridle on stick your finger into the horses mouth where they have no teeth to make them open up so u can slide the bit in but hold the bridle by the top and then pull upward on the bridal when you put the bit in its mouth.  GOOD LUCK! o and dont forget use a wet towel to wipe down his legs before you actually wrap them with polo wraps and brush out their tail and mane.

Answer 2

It depends on what kind of camp it is (western or english, etc) but most of the basics are all the same:

-Curry comb first

-Hard brush second

-Hoof pick

-mane and tail combing

-fly spray (if you have flies, I sure do lol!)

Once the girth is tightened, it really helps to pull the horses front legs forward to "stretch" them out so the girth doesnt end up pinching their underbelly!

Giving the kids "legs up" if you dont have a mounting block, from my experience kids were always shy to ask for help so being around and watching is key!

After a ride:

-Curry comb (loosens the dried and caked on sweat and dirt)

-Brush their legs well so they dont develop "scratches"

-Either hose them down or wash them (depending on how dirty)

-Towel dry their legs so they dont get "scratches"

-Make sure they are cool before putting them back in their stalls/pasture since they can colic if they eat or drink while still hot.

Usually the kids do most of the work haha, your just there to help which is still tiring but worth it also its pretty fun! I was a counselor at a western camp for 3 years (even though I own english horses and Im a hunter/jumper)....western is how I started.

*Watch the grooms at your barn closely, just by watching you'll get a feel for what needs to be done.

I hope you have fun!!!