Schooling Coordinator, Katrina, working with Magic
Little Bit horses are essential partners in providing equine-assisted services to hundreds of children and adults with disabilities. Being a working horse at Little Bit comes with unique challenges, and these horses are specially selected and trained to make sure this is the right job for them and that they remain healthy and happy. As part of their comprehensive care, each horse has a personalized training plan based on their age, fitness level, temperament, health, history, work ethic, ability, and other factors. Training plans are in place for the entirety of a horse’s career at Little Bit and are regularly adjusted by the Equine Department to make sure every horse’s individual needs are being met.
Training plans for the horses may include groundwork, mock work to acquaint them with what they could encounter in Little Bit programs, and mounted work. Training plans are developed by the Equine Director with input from staff, including from instructors and/or therapists on how the horse has been performing in classes and/or treatments, plus any medical concerns, behavioral concerns, and other factors that may impact a horse’s ability to perform at their best.
Equine Director, Jenny, schooling Rhuna
Schooling is an essential piece of training. Every Little Bit horse is schooled by an experienced rider two or three times per week depending on their needs. The purpose of schooling is to make sure that horses are performing to the best of their ability by getting enough exercise, utilizing all their muscles to ensure they maintain strength and balance, working through any behavioral issues, and maintaining their confidence and variety of work.
You may see schoolers in the arena utilizing lots of circles and figures to work on bending and balance, trotting over ground poles to keep the horses engaged, riding around the track or walking throughout the property to help horses become comfortable with new sights, or climbing hills to strengthen the horses’ muscles.
Every horse has different schooling needs, and their schoolers will follow a training plan to ensure that they are preparing the horse to feel their best and be able to work in their classes and treatments. A younger or more sensitive horse may need a more robust schooling to exercise their mind and body, whereas an older horse may need a more relaxed ride with fewer or larger turns to work through any stiffness or other concerns.
Horses are schooled regularly throughout Little Bit sessions. If a horse has been out of work due to an injury, or unable to be turned out in their paddock due to inclement weather, or we have been on break from programs, they will always be schooled before returning to our programs. Horses can build up extra energy when they cannot exercise or need to stand in a stall over periods of time, and schooling prior to returning to classes helps Little Bit ensure the safety of our horses, patients, riders, volunteers, and staff.
Schooling is an essential part of the high-quality, comprehensive care that is provided for all Little Bit horses and is vital to their long-term health, training, and wellbeing. A horse that is happy and healthy is better able and more willing to perform the important job of providing equine-assisted services to Little Bit’s patients and riders.
Learn more about Little Bit’s horses and how to become a horse sponsor who helps provide for their care at www.littlebit.org/horses.
Written by Callie Hall
Photography by Kimberly Lind Photography
Instructor Zoe schooling Loki
