1) I think I'm most proud of how much I learned through senior project. I never used to read many of the articles in horse magazines, just looked at the pictures, but now that I've read them and tried their reasoning, I've experienced and learned so much. I've learned things that helped me in training my horse and have helped me in bettering myself as a rider.
2) a. I felt really confident about my presentation, and everyone seem interested. My activities seemed to be enjoyable, and a lot of the juniors came up to me and said I did a really good job and it was really interesting. I loved answering their questions about horses! Thus, I would give myself an AE. Not to sound too confident or anything, but because I worked really hard and put a lot of time and effort into it.
b. On my overall senior project, I'd have to say at least a P, if not a P/AE. I put in a lot of hours for service learning, which wasn't easy as my service learner isn't the most effective communicator. I devoted a lot of time to research, which taught me a lot about not only training horses, but gave me insight into their world and being. I was able to change my horse into a well rounded competitor, and will continue to work and making him better, and bettering myself by continuing to research and study horse training.
3) I'd have to say that research worked the best for me. I was able to find a lot of good research, and learned a ton from it. There are so many informational TV shows about training horses that I didn't get a chance to completely watch, but I definitely will in the future because my research has made me really interested in training horses and getting to know how they function.
4) Really, everything tended to work well for me. There were some speed bumps though, like when my horse would be a total jerk and put limits on our work. Such as him being gate sour, or not breaking his tack. It did help me become a better horsewoman though, as I learned to work through the problems and correct his behavior. My service learner was also occasionally uncommunicative, but it all worked out in the end as I was able to get my service learning done, and even got some extra hours.
5) Senior project has helped me so much for the future. I've gotten a head start on the experience of training horses, and have made a lot of connections. I've even been offered a job at the WK Kellogg Arabian Horse Center in the fall! My horse experience is much needed there, as a lot of their current workers are graduating this year. I know I'll be able to use my research for the rest of my life.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Service Learning
Literal:
On right hand side of blog.
Interpretive:
I've gained so much from my service learning, I'm not sure how I can just choose one to consider the most important. So, I'd have to say that time devotion is probably the overall most important thing service learning has taught me. Training a horse takes a lot of time, as you can't just go twice a week and ride the horse for twenty minutes. You must work with the horse every day, and develop a schedule that includes both riding and groundwork, with maybe one of those days counting as a day off. Your work must also have a purpose, which can consume a lot of time seeing as some horses need lots of repetition to learn/improve a skill. Time and consistency can also make a horse well trained, as the more patience given and time spent on training a horse will give you a well rounded, well adjusted horse.
On top of training horses, a trainer must make time to train their clients. Lessons take up a large amount of time, seeing as a prime lesson lasts for an hour. For example, my trainer and service learner Kris devotes Wednesdays and Fridays to lessons. Starting at 8am and finishing at around 7pm, she gives lessons to her variety of students that range from beginners to advanced, jumping to reining. One must really be devoted to be a trainer.
Applied:
My service learning helped answer my essential question of "what is most important to becoming a successful western horse trainer?" by allowing me to analyze first hand what a horse trainer does each day, the different horses and clients they deal with, different problematic situations (such as loosing a shoe on a horse, ect.), and training techniques and methods. I've been able to apply everything I've learned in service learning to my senior project, and have gained a lot of experience and tools I can use in the future.
I've also been able to make some connections, and have hopefully landed the task of gentling and breaking a two year old Quarter Horse colt my friend owns, my first training job! This will allow me to test my findings, and see if I have what it takes to make it to a successful western horse trainer.
Service Learning Contact Info:
J. Kristen Keeler, head of JKK Performance Horses.
Phone #: (951)201-7110
On right hand side of blog.
Interpretive:
I've gained so much from my service learning, I'm not sure how I can just choose one to consider the most important. So, I'd have to say that time devotion is probably the overall most important thing service learning has taught me. Training a horse takes a lot of time, as you can't just go twice a week and ride the horse for twenty minutes. You must work with the horse every day, and develop a schedule that includes both riding and groundwork, with maybe one of those days counting as a day off. Your work must also have a purpose, which can consume a lot of time seeing as some horses need lots of repetition to learn/improve a skill. Time and consistency can also make a horse well trained, as the more patience given and time spent on training a horse will give you a well rounded, well adjusted horse.
On top of training horses, a trainer must make time to train their clients. Lessons take up a large amount of time, seeing as a prime lesson lasts for an hour. For example, my trainer and service learner Kris devotes Wednesdays and Fridays to lessons. Starting at 8am and finishing at around 7pm, she gives lessons to her variety of students that range from beginners to advanced, jumping to reining. One must really be devoted to be a trainer.
Applied:
My service learning helped answer my essential question of "what is most important to becoming a successful western horse trainer?" by allowing me to analyze first hand what a horse trainer does each day, the different horses and clients they deal with, different problematic situations (such as loosing a shoe on a horse, ect.), and training techniques and methods. I've been able to apply everything I've learned in service learning to my senior project, and have gained a lot of experience and tools I can use in the future.
I've also been able to make some connections, and have hopefully landed the task of gentling and breaking a two year old Quarter Horse colt my friend owns, my first training job! This will allow me to test my findings, and see if I have what it takes to make it to a successful western horse trainer.
Service Learning Contact Info:
J. Kristen Keeler, head of JKK Performance Horses.
Phone #: (951)201-7110
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