Teagasc Skills Course for Horse Producers

Teagasc are running an eight week skills course starting on Tuesday 6th May in Ballyrafter Equestrian Centre, Lismore, Co. Waterford. The course will run every Tuesday for eight consecutive weeks and will finish with a small competition for participants to display their newly acquired skills. The type of animal best suited is an unbroken three year old but older horses will also be accepted. You must provide your own horse to attend the course. Each participant will be allocated a time for attendance. The chief instructor for the course is David Young of Horetown Equestrian Centre.

Course Contents:

In-hand showing

The participant will learn about the correct use of equipment, appropriate turnout for show, sale, how to evaluate conformation and movement of the horse, how to school a horse to stand, walk and trot in-hand. It is also beneficial to the horses to be schooled in the company of other horses.

Lunging

The theory and technique of lunging are explained. The participant will learn how to begin lunging an unbroken horse and how to progress to lunging correctly with side reins. The course will cover the correct use of the equipment and the fitting of tack necessary for lunging, including the proper use of the whip.

Loose schooling

Loose schooling of the horse over a small vertical, a spread and through a double. The horse is loose and therefore not under the direct influence of the trainer. You will be shown how to school the loose horse calmly, how to turn it effectively without fuss, how to help it get to the fence in an appropriate way and what to look for in the horse's jump in order to evaluate it.

The cost for the course is €200. Places on this course will be limited to 12 and will be reserved on a first come first served basis. To book your place ring Ruth Fennell on 087-9602537.