Riding Program Launches Equisplore Series

9/9/2020

On Sept. 6 the Riding Program, headed by leadership club Bit n' Spur, hosted its first Equisplore day at the barn. This was the first of several weekend opportunities for students and faculty members with little or no experience in working with horses.

The first Equisplore experience focused on teaching participants how to learn more about horses’ emotions from their facial expressions, especially their ears. The Bit n' Spur students shared how pulled back ears can be a sign that the horse might be grumpy and pricked forward ears might be a sign that the horse is alert.

Equisplorers also learned how to safely work around the horses in their stalls, making sure to stay close to the horses when moving around them and understanding where the horses can see - and where they can't. They learned how to groom a horse in the stall, including using correct brushes and giving baths with conditioner for the horses’ tails and good leg scrubs.

“It was fun to share the Chatham Hall horses with folks who haven't had the chance to work with them before,” said Frankie Beyer, assistant director of riding.

The next Equisploring experience will be on Saturday, Oct. 4 and will cover how to safely lead a horse, including getting them through an obstacle course. Sign-ups will be available at the end of September.

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