Volunteer Assessment Program

Transcription

1 Volunteer Assessment Program March 2018

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3 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program i Contents Welcome... 1 Assessment Program Overview... 2 How Training & Assessments Work... 3 Volunteer Assessments Overview... 6 Chore Difficulty Level Assessments Overview... 7 Horse Difficulty Level Assessments Overview... 9 Volunteer Assessment Levels How to Read Assessment Levels Stage 1 Getting Started Stage 2 Easier Horse Activities Stage 3 More Difficult Activities Stage 4 More Difficult Riding Activities Stage 5 Advanced Activities Specialized Activities Horse Assessment Difficulty Levels Leading & Grooming Assessments for Horses Assessments for Horses Riding Assessments for Horses... 31

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5 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program 1 Welcome It should be no surprise that we simply cannot do the work we do at Finally Home Horse Rescue (FHHR) without the help of our amazing and generous volunteers. We developed this assessment program to help clarify the skills and abilities needed to be safe when working around the Barn and with the rescue horses. The assessment program provides our volunteers with the training and practice needed to progress in responsibilities and privileges at Finally Home in a safe and consistent manner. Volunteers have an organized means to demonstrate competence in Assessment Levels before taking on new activities. Chores and horses are assigned difficulty levels to make it easier to match them to the Volunteer Assessment Levels. Our rescue horses are continuously evaluated throughout their time at Finally Home to keep their difficultly level up to date. Choosing horses and chores aligned with your skill level helps keep you safe. For example, new volunteers will only work with horses who have been trained and assessed to be generally easy to work with. Information about the difficulty of each horse is posted in the Barn. For your safety, we expect that you will only take on activities and horses within your Assessment Level and that you will stay within your physical capabilities. Please consult the horse difficulty ratings before working with a new horse. We hope this manual serves as a guide to help you understand how the assessment program works and how to progress through the various stages while you volunteer at Finally Home. We are happy to have you as part of the Finally Home family and hope you enjoy developing your skills and responsibilities. If you have questions or need clarifications on any information contained in this document, please contact the Volunteer Program Manager.

6 2 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program Assessment Program Overview When you begin volunteering, you will meet with the Volunteer Program Manager to discuss your experience and your volunteering goals. All volunteers start with Level 1, focusing on becoming independent with Barn chores. Beginning volunteers who want to work with horses are asked to attend the Supervised Volunteer Times. (The schedule for these sessions are posted in the Finally Home Volunteers group on Facebook.) These times are an opportunity to work with the Volunteer Program Manager and other experienced Volunteer coaches to learn and practice skills needed to work safely with the horses. We will teach the basics from catching and haltering, to grooming and leading, and eventually groundwork exercises. We have divided the Assessment Levels into stages to make it easier to track and progress through the levels. Assessment clinics further group the levels within a stage to facilitate training. Progressing through the Assessment Levels is not a race and it is not required to complete all levels. You will be able to move at your own pace while you learn. It is up to you to decide how far you want to go and how much time you want to put in. As you move higher in the levels, you will be eligible to work with a broader variety of horses and you will have more responsibilities and privileges at the Barn. There are also special activities and training identified that are only available to volunteers who reach specified Assessment Levels. For example, working with the Percherons requires special training open only to those who complete Stage 3 of the volunteer assessment ladder. And likewise, the privilege of using rescue horses for special events away from Strong Tower is available after completing Stage 4.

7 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program 3 There is no requirement to take on additional responsibilities or to work directly with horses, but we find that many of our volunteers want to spend time with the horses. Opportunities will be available throughout the year for further training and practice if you wish to increase your skills, many of these opportunities are free of charge. Some training opportunities provided by professional trainers is available for a fee (exact depends on the trainer and situation). The training we provide for free is focused on helping you work with our rescue horses and on skills needed as a volunteer. A reminder, however, that riding the horses is not guaranteed as a volunteer. While we know that our volunteers love horses and typically would like to ride, whether you will be able to ride will depend on the needs and availability of ridable horses and your Assessment Level. While we will work with you to help you learn how to care and work with the horses to rehabilitate them, we will not be providing riding lessons to improve your general horsemanship. We can recommend trainers if that is your goal. How Training & Assessments Work When beginning at FHHR, volunteers start in the first rung of the assessment model and focus on Barn chores that align with their physical abilities. Training for Barn chores takes place on the job. Introductory Barn chores are typically easy to learn and staff or experienced volunteers will walk you through how to perform the chores and how to decide what chores need to be done. As you become more comfortable, staff or experienced volunteers will help you learn more advanced chores. For the clinics and training events, the subject and details for each are sent to volunteers in advance as information is available. Dates and times for all volunteer training events are posted in the Finally Home Volunteers group on Facebook. For some clinics, RSVPs may be required in advance and space may be limited. Training Opportunities On the Job Training is provided by staff and experienced volunteers during your regular volunteering sessions. This includes Barn chores and day-to-day

8 4 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program activities, such as feeding, cleaning, and turn in, that regularly need to be performed during your volunteer shift. Supervised Volunteer Times are offered regularly (usually weekly) for volunteers to practice skills and to work with different horses with supervision and coaching. This is available at no cost to volunteers. We typically start out with chores around the Barn and then move on to play with horses. These are times when you can perform the activities you have passed that are labelled supervised. Assessment Clinics are scheduled regularly to introduce volunteers to new Assessment Level activities. In addition to learning new skills, during the clinics when demonstrate adequate proficiency for specific activities, the level will get signed off. Special Clinics by Professional Trainers are made available to volunteers. o For every 10 volunteer hours you log, Finally Home will cover the cost for you to join a small, targeted clinic with professional trainer Michelle McVey. Clinics will be coordinated by the Volunteer Program Manager and subjects will be based on the needs of the participants in each clinic. o Kim McClelland of Five Star Horsemanship opens her clinics to Finally Home volunteers at a discount ($25). She usually offers two Thursday evening clinics per month. Space in these clinics is limited and experienced volunteers have priority. Clinic subjects typically target Stage 2 or above activities. o Nationally known trainers often come to the Puget Sound area. With approval from Kim Meyer, volunteers can use rescue horses to attend these clinics. Preference will be given to experienced Stage 4 volunteers and long-term volunteers with appropriate skills to participate. Because these clinics are not required, you can choose whether and when to participate. Categories for Difficulty Levels Both chores and horses are assigned a degree of difficulty to make it easy to know what chores and horses are safe for you as you progress. The Volunteer Assessment Level activities are mapped to difficulty ratings for chores, activities and horses. Each horse is continuously assessed while at Finally Home. For a detailed breakdown of the difficult levels for horses, see Horse Assessment Levels later in this document.

9 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program 5 Horse assessments are aligned with general horse activities: leading and grooming, groundwork, riding. Horses can be different levels for each area. For example, a horse that is identified as Easy for Leading and Grooming can be an Advanced horse for Riding. Volunteer assessments are divided into stages that contain levels of similar activities to make it easier to learn and navigate progress through the levels. As you demonstrate proficiency with skills, you achieve the new level and are approved to perform those activities. The levels are cumulative and are designed to build on top of learned skills while keeping you and the horses safe. Note that the Volunteer Assessment Program does not assess your physical stamina or abilities. We expect you to fully understand your physical limitations and work with us to ensure you stay safe. We require that you only perform activities that you have been approved to do, with horses or tools you have been approved to work with, and that you stay within your physically capabilities. We borrow from the generally accepted ski or trail run rating system for describing the technical difficulty of performing certain activities and working with certain horses. The table below describes our interpretation of the ratings in the context of volunteering at FHHR. These categories and their descriptions apply to horses, chores, and the stages of volunteer activities. Assessment Categories Easier More Difficult Advanced Specialized Description Generally easy to handle for almost everyone with minimal training or skills Requires some experience, training, or physical skills generally doable by most with practice May involve specialized equipment or skills that should be practiced before attempting Requires specialized skills, advanced training, or physical abilities (coordination, agility, stamina), may be dangerous Generally difficult for most and should not be attempted without appropriate training and supervision Requires special training or skills Generally not to be undertaken by volunteers without special approval by the FHHR Board of directors

10 6 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program Volunteer Assessments Overview We want to work with you to make sure you have a safe and rewarding experience volunteering with Finally Home Horse Rescue. Working with horses can sometimes be dangerous and this assessment program is intended to provide you with a step-by-step approach to learning and taking on new activities. Your goals, interests, and abilities will determine how far you will progress in the Assessment Levels. For example, if you are not interested in working directly with the rescue horses on training, you do not need to participate in Assessment Levels involving horse training. Likewise, if you are not able or interested in participating in specific physical activities, you do not need to. You are not required to push beyond your own skills and desires. There is always plenty of work to do and we need help with all kinds of activities that do not require special skills, physical strength, or the need to get dirty and train horses. Do not attempt to perform activities, work with machinery/tools, or interact with horses beyond your skill level. You may be inadvertently asked to perform an activity, but we depend on you to let us know if the activities are beyond your comfort or skill level. We will provide supervised occasions for you to increase your skills throughout your time volunteering with us, but it is up to you to participate in the training and practice that helps you reach your goals. Achievement of new skill levels enables you to take on additional responsibilities and work with new horses. We will work with you to progress at a pace that ensures you are comfortable and gain confidence along the way. The Assessment Levels are cumulative and are intended to ensure you and horses stay safe. See Volunteer Assessment Levels for details about activities for each level. Please note that Assessment Levels will be modified as appropriate in response to the needs and functioning of the horse rescue, our volunteers, and the horses we care for.

11 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program 7 When modifications to Assessment Level criteria take place, volunteers will be notified by the Volunteer Program Manager. How Volunteer Skills are Assessed All volunteers start at Stage 1, Assessment Level 1 and focus on easy-to-learn Barn chores and basic horse care that takes place every day at the Barn. Increases in Assessment Levels are granted when you can successfully demonstrate the activity details for the new level as defined in the Volunteer Assessment Levels section later in this document. To ensure that all volunteers have consistent baseline skills and knowledge, even experienced new volunteers will work through the levels and demonstrate skills. Assessments are performed by either the Volunteer Program Manager, or approved Volunteer coaches. Typically, assessments take place during Assessment clinics where you learn and have your skills assessed to determine when you are ready to advance to the next level. You can request special assessments from the Volunteer Program Manager at times that are mutually agreeable. Chore Difficulty Level Assessments Overview All volunteers start with chores and only begin working with horses when trained to do so safely. We will show you how to perform the basic Barn chores, the activities we all do at the Barn that provide a never-ending supply of opportunities for helping. New volunteers need to come to the Barn when supervision is available until they are approved for Stage 1 activities. Options are to attend the official Supervised Volunteer Times or to work weekday mornings/early afternoons when the Barn Manager or other onsite staff are available to introduce you to chores. If you have experience with power tools or have special skills that can be useful, you can be approved to take on more advanced chores and specialized activities, such as special construction projects or landscaping activities. We have a volunteer on staff who is responsible for our more advanced projects. He is typically available every Saturday at the Barn when you can collaborate on projects. Let us know if you would like to participate in any such projects.

12 8 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program The Chores Details table below identifies the kinds of chores that are associated with each difficulty level. Volunteers are not required to perform intermediate or advanced chores unless you are both willing and able. We expect that you will consider your own physical fitness and abilities when agreeing to chores and projects. The assessments typically relate to the complexity/difficulty of the chore, not simply the physical efforts needed as that depends on your personal capabilities. Please do not take on tasks or projects for which you have not been approved or you do not feel safe or comfortable performing. Level Easier More Difficult Advanced Chore Details Activities within the Barn that require little or no specialized skills or training and can be learned quickly on the job, e.g.: o Sweeping, cleaning, dusting, raking o Filling water buckets in stalls o Organizing equipment and tack o Scrubbing water buckets, feed pans, corner feeders o Mucking stalls, emptying muck buckets o Participating in painting efforts o Feeding horses pre-measured meals Activities around the property/outside the Barn that require little or no specialized skills or training and can be learned quickly on the job, e.g.: o Filling, cleaning turnout water troughs o Mucking turnouts o Simple landscaping, weeding o Addressing mud issues in turnouts (rock, chips, etc.) Activities in the Barn that require some experience and may not be obvious without explanation or practice, e.g.: o Setting up stalls o Moving, carrying, organizing feed, tack, tools, equipment o Preparing pre-measured meals for horses Activities around the property that require use of specialized/power tools o Maintenance and repair of turnouts, gates, buildings, etc. o Sanding, painting, repairing Barn-related items o Landscaping, weeding that requires use of power tools o Assisting with building or demolition of structures (stalls, walls, flooring, shelving, etc.) o Using specialized tools or equipment Coordinating, architecting, leading construction projects Using heavy equipment on the property Administering medications to horses

13 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program 9 Horse Difficulty Level Assessments Overview Each rescue horse is assessed regularly by FHHR staff. You should only work with horses rated as appropriate for your skill level. Keeping you and the horses safe is essential. During the supervised volunteer times, you will have opportunities to get to know the horses and to learn and practice additional skills. Please be aware that all horses, but especially rescue horses, can be unpredictable. Just like people, even the calmest horses have good days and bad days and can react differently under different circumstances. Regardless of a horse s assessed difficulty level, always be alert and continuously assess the horse yourself before and while engaging with it. If a horse is having a bad day, consider ending on a good note and winding up the session with that horse. Be sure to note in the Horse Log any unexpected behaviors to help others with the horse. Whenever you start working with a horse, even a horse you know well, spend time walking it around, touching the horse, getting to know the horse s current mood and condition. Pay attention to the horse s body language and how the horses are interacting. Sometimes having new horses join the Barn or simply a change in the weather can cause horses to be more on edge or moodier than usual. Never make assumptions about horses and always be careful to assess the safety of each situation. When evaluating our horses, we divide the assessments into three primary groups. Find details about the Assessment Level definitions in the Horse Assessment Levels. section Leading/Grooming: the basics for interacting with the horse, including manners. : training exercises on the ground with the horse. Riding: training exercises in the saddle. Note that horses identified as trainer only for any specific area are typically either still being assessed or have issues that make them potentially unsafe. Special care is needed when working with them.

14 10 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program Volunteer Assessment Levels Assessment Levels identify the activities that need to be demonstrated safely and properly to achieve each level. The levels are cumulative and build on your skills over time. Stages are used to group level activities. Each level is associated with a designated category of horse or chore (easy: green circle, intermediate: blue square, and difficult: black diamond). Once achieved, activities that indicate they must be supervised can be performed during scheduled Supervised Volunteer Time with horses you are familiar with. You can use these times to work with volunteer coaches or staff to practice activities and become familiar with new horses. In many cases, you will be able to perform the activities on your own as long as supervision is at the Barn to check on you and help you out. Activities identified as independent can be completed during your normal volunteering sessions and do not require supervision once you are approved for the level. When working alone at the Barn, please limit yourself to activities you feel completely safe performing and work only with horses you are familiar with. Please remember to make good decisions and keep safety as your top priority when choosing activities and horses. Assessment Levels will be evaluated and modified regularly as best fits the needs of the horse rescue and our volunteers. How to Read Assessment Levels Each row in the list of levels has information about that level. Levels are organized into themed stages to help coordinate training and progression through the levels.

15 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program 11 Levels. Levels are numbered starting at 1 to make it easier to work through the progression. Activity Details. This section has a title identifying the activity and the level of horse that can be used for the activity at that level. After the title are a bullet list of activities and expectations for that level. Category. The category identifies the horse training group of activities that the level refers to, such as Leading & Grooming,, and Riding. For example, if the category is and the activity says Easy horses, you work with horses identified as Easy for. Approval milestones. These are marked in red after specific levels. These indicate that after achieving the level before it, that those special activities are available to you as a volunteer. You can think of the as achievements that are unlocked like in the video games. Assessment Stages Defined Stage 1 Getting Started: Introductory activities that enable you to be a productive volunteer with the focus on Barn chores. You are introduced to horses in a safe and supervised way. Stage 2 Easier Horse Activities: In Stage 1 you are introduced to horses with supervision. In Stage 2 you begin to learn how to work directly with horses, with the introduction of basic activities. Stage 3 More Difficult Activities: If you are interested in training the horses, Stage 3 prepares you to work more independently with the horses and to advance your skills. Stage 4 More Difficult Riding Activities: This stage continues to build skills as well as learning to train horses with riding exercises. Note that achieving this level assume you are participating in more advanced horsemanship clinics. Stage 5 Advanced Activities: At this stage, you become a Finally Home Trainer and participate in training more difficult horses.

16 12 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program Stage 1 Getting Started You begin with Level 1 Barn chores while you get to know the lay of the land and then you can quickly move to basic horse care activities while supervised. These activities need to be done regularly most daily, so we all spend time performing these chores. Experienced volunteers or Barn staff will introduce and train you on these activities. Reminder you are the expert on your physical abilities. Do not agree to perform activities that are beyond your physical abilities. There are plenty of chores at all physical levels for everyone. We do not want you to get hurt, so please know your limits and communicate with staff/lead volunteers when you are not comfortable performing specific tasks. Level Activity Details Category Supervised Basic Barn Chores Barn Chores 1 Sweeping, cleaning, dusting, raking in and around the Barn Filling water buckets in stalls Scrubbing buckets, feed pans in wash area Cleaning salt blocks, corner feeders Emptying muck buckets, garbage cans Independent Basic Barn Chores Barn Chores 2 Any activities identified in the Volunteer Chore list Filling, cleaning water troughs in turnouts Organizing equipment and tack Mucking stalls and turnouts Helping with supervised projects, general manual labor, landscaping Approved for independent Barn chores 3 Supervised Grooming of Easy horses Understanding of the basic different brushes and how to use them properly on the horse s body Safely groom the horse, keeping the horse still Demonstrate safe approach for moving around the horse in the tack area Horse is brought to/tied up in tack area by another Leading & Grooming

17 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program 13 Level Activity Details Category Supervised Leading of Easy horses Leading & 4 Able to safely enter/exit stalls, turnouts, tack area and the arena Grooming with the horse demonstrating appropriate etiquette when others are using the space Able to keep horse from crowding the gate, horse yields hindquarters after coming through the gates Able to have appropriate loose lead, soft hands when walking while keeping control of the horse, steering horse away from other horses and hazards, horse not crowding you Horse walks calmly alongside in appropriate position, able to stop and turn the horse, change directions Able to help with turn in/turn out activities for Easy horses 5 Supervised Basic Yielding with Easy horses Light hands, patient approach, calm demeanor, bonding with horse Able to yield the poll, horse yields its head down and stays there: using the halter, using the lead, and using hand on neck/poll to yield head down Able to yield the hindquarters to ensure safety when leading, going through gates, entering tack area and stalls Able to reset exercises if mistakes made 6 Escorted Riding on Easy horses Horse is saddled, bridled by another Supervision by experienced volunteer required the whole time Able to safely mount/dismount (forward lean/bent knee) with supervision Lead by experienced volunteer at a walk in the arena Understanding of emergency dismount Riding

18 14 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program Stage 2 Easier Horse Activities The levels in this stage focus on preparing you to perform basic day-to-day horse care activities and introductory training exercises, such as haltering, leading, grooming and basic manners groundwork. Independent activities apply to horses rated as Easy horses for Leading and Grooming and Easy for. When working independently only work with horses you have worked with before. It is expected that you will use the Supervised Volunteer Times to become acquainted with new horses. When indicated, Intermediate horses can be used in supervised situations. Be aware that not all horses Easy for Leading and Grooming are Easy for or Riding. Be sure to check the horse s levels for each specific level s category. Level Activity Details Category Independent Capturing/Release of Easy horses Leading & 7 Able to safely catch/release the horse and lead the horse in/out Grooming through the gates, horse does not push, horse yields hindquarters If another horse is in the turnout, it does not escape or interfere Demonstrates understanding of safety and positioning of your body to ensure horse does not escape Able to close/reattach the gate while holding the horse safely 8 Independent Haltering of Easy horses Able to safely enter stall or turnout and catch and halter the horse Use arm over the neck to get horse s head down, turn horse s head toward you using thumb, touch ears Keep control of horse throughout haltering Halter is tightened and knotted properly Appropriate safety applied to ensure horse does not escape 9 Independent Leading of Easy horses Able to safely send the horse through gates/doors, horse does not push, horse yields hindquarters, appropriate etiquette when others are in area Able to lead horse with appropriate loose lead while keeping control of the horse and keeping horse away from other horses and hazards Demonstrate hooking on exercises on the lead Able to keep other horses in turnouts from escaping Supervised for Intermediate horses; supervised for Advanced horses if appropriate specialized activity training completed Able to help with turn in/turn out activities for Easy, Intermediate horses Approved for turnout/in of easy horses Leading & Grooming Leading & Grooming

19 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program 15 Level Activity Details Category Independent Removing, Putting on Blankets & Fly Masks Leading & 10 Able to remove a blanket safely, starting with rear straps Grooming Able to put on a blanket safely, starting with chest straps Able to remove and put on a fly mask 11 Independent Grooming in the Stall/Turnout with Easy horses Demonstrate understanding of when to halter vs allowing horse(s) to be free Able to tie the horse in the stall using the safety knots Demonstrate safe approach for moving around the horse in the stall or turnout, especially if multiple horses in the turnout Able to safely remove/put on blankets, fly masks Supervised for Intermediate/Advanced horses 12 Independent Grooming in Tack up Area of Easy horses Organize and place grooming materials in safe and convenient location before haltering/tying the horse Able to send the horse into the tack area without moving your feet, moving the horse to be in the best position Able to pick the horse s feet, control placing them down Clean and return grooming supplies to proper location Supervised for Intermediate/Advanced horses Approved for grooming during volunteer sessions 13 Independent Yielding with Easy horses Light hands, patient approach, calm demeanor, bonding with horse Demonstrate methods for yielding the poll, horse yields its head down and stays there: using the halter, using the lead, and using hand on neck/poll to yield head down Able to touch horse all over the head, including muzzle; able to put your hand in the mouth, able to put the lead rope in the mouth Carrot stretch, flexing the head to each side, touching all over Supervised for Intermediate/Advanced horses 14 Independent Disengaging of the Hindquarters with Easy horses Light hands, patient approach, calm demeanor; soft when you can be, escalate when necessary Tip the nose, walk toward rear to yielding hindquarters Able to yield hindquarters in small circles with inside hind leg crossing over outside hind leg; front legs pivoting Able to move one step at a time each direction Supervised for Intermediate/Advanced horses Leading & Grooming Leading & Grooming

20 16 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program Level Activity Details Category Independent Forequarter Turns with Easy horses 15 Light hands, patient approach, calm demeanor; soft when you can be, escalate when necessary Standing beside horse, walk into horse s head with lead in your hand, hands up, use body position to flex horse s neck to turn in a circle, front feet cross over, back feet pivot Supervised for Intermediate/Advanced horses 16 Independent Backing Up with Easy horses Backing up holding halter knot under chin, thumb down, head down, chin tipped in (not head toward chest), side-to-side pressure, working halter nose band back and forth Back horse using hand raise/lead wiggle, horse respects your space, appropriate softness but escalate as appropriate Backing with soft feel, flexion in horse s neck Light, soft when you can be, firm when you need to be; releasing during positive moments Supervised for Intermediate/Advanced horses 17 Independent Leading Serpentines, Figure 8s with Easy horses Able to safely and calmly lead horse in arena while alternating between turning left and right Serpentines maintain speed and general direction, equal turns each direction Figure 8s demonstrate smooth turn in direction, maintaining consistent circles and flex in the horse Light, soft when you can be, firm when you need to be to make horse respect your space, maintain speed Supervised for Intermediate/Advanced horses 18 Supervised Basic Sending in Circles with Easy horses Quiet hands and body, timing on cue, voice, swinging/whip allow horse to think through the request, avoid nagging but escalate as needed Able to get horse to pay attention using the lead; able to tell when horse is paying attention Back up horse at beginning and end of exercises to maintain safe bubble, respect and attention Forequarters reach out first foot in the direction sent and horse moves around you, instead of walking toward you Able to keep horse moving consistent speed in unified circle until you yield hindquarters to stop (step toward hindquarters) Horse keeps appropriate bend, nose tips in, inside shoulder does not come in to crowd you, good round consistent circles You walk forward in circles, advancing toward the back of the front leg, horse circles around you in controlled way Swinger, whip, verbal cues only used as needed, no nagging

21 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program 17 Level Activity Details Category Supervised Sending in Different Directions with Easy horses 19 Demonstrate knowledge of good, united circles before changing direction Able to tip nose and yield hindquarters to move to small circles then return to unified circle, keeping horse appropriate distance from you, stay on hindquarters until they look good, soft Switch hands and turn horse in opposite direction, your feet keep moving forward while switching hands, swinger drives horse in new direction Step toward rear to yield hindquarters and face you to stop Slow and smooth transition between actions, maintaining control and speed of horse throughout 20 Supervised Cowboy Shuffle with Easy horses Arc turn facing the direction the horse is going, thumb down Transition smoothly to hindquarters Transition smoothly to backing up Supervised Riding on Easy horses 21 Horse is saddled, bridled by another Able to safely mount/dismount (forward lean/bent knee) Riding at a walk in the arena with supervision, holding reins properly, proper form with seat and feet Demonstrate awareness of arena etiquette when riding Able to perform emergency one reined turn to stop 22 Coaching Volunteers and Training Horses on Stage 1 & 2 Activities with Easy horses Demonstrated understanding of Stage 1&2 activities and Easy, Intermediate FHHR rescue horses For Stage 1 volunteers, safely and properly demonstrate and explain how to halter, lead, groom horses for new volunteers during supervised volunteer times (or as assigned) For Stage 2 volunteers, safely and properly demonstrate and explain basic groundwork Help and coach volunteers as they learn and practice with a positive approach Assist with Stage 2 Assessment clinics demonstrating and coaching volunteers Eligible to train for Special Activities: o o o Run Stage 1 Assessment clinics and assess volunteers appropriately Holding horses for vets, farriers Loading/unloading trailers; driving the truck/trailer Approved to coach Stage 1 clinics Approved for Stage 2 demos in clinics Approved for Stage 1 & 2 horse training Riding Training

22 18 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program Stage 3 More Difficult Activities Volunteer activities defined in this stage apply to both Easy (green circle) and more difficult Intermediate (blue square) horses as indicated. These activities are expected to take some time and practice to achieve, but do not require specialized skills or physical abilities. With rescue horses, most the training we do is with to establish manners and teach the horse to cooperate with humans. is the most important work we do with the rehabilitation of our rescue horses and merits dedicated time and attention from our volunteers. Achieving levels with independent activities indicates that you do not need to attend Supervised Volunteer Times or have the Volunteer Program Manager present to work with horses and/or tools you are familiar with, instead you can perform these activities during your normal volunteer sessions. Even when you are approved to work independently, please remember that working with horses can be dangerous and consider only performing activities when others are in the Barn. Note that you are required to have other people in the Barn to ride any rescue horse. Never ride alone.

23 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program 19 Level Activity Details Independent Grooming of Easy, Intermediate, Advanced horses 23 Able to catch, lead, and position the horse to safely groom the horse Demonstrate ability to safely deal with/accommodate the horse s behavior or medical issues appropriately, especially Intermediate horses Demonstrate safe approach for moving around and dealing with the horse in the tack area, stall, or turnout For Intermediate, Advanced horses, use grooming as training opportunities to improve relationship/trust with the horse; patience to make progress with the horse s training or medical issues Supervised Desensitization with Easy, Intermediate horses 24 Desensitize using the lead, whips, flags, obstacles Maintain control of the horse throughout while staying safe Demonstrate understanding of how to introduce and carefully escalate desensitizing activities and their impact on the horse Demonstrate ability to tell when the horse has relaxed to take 25 away pressure Independent Training of Easy, Intermediate horses to Yield Yield the poll using the halter, horse yields its head down and stays there; able to use hand on neck/poll to yield head down Able to touch horse all over the head, including muzzle; roll head, hand in nose band wrap head around your forearm; able to put your hand in the mouth, able to put the lead rope in the mouth Yield the hindquarters Supervised for Advanced horses 26 Supervised Lead By with Easy, Intermediate horses Step in direction you want to go, tip nose in to shift weight back, front foot moves out in direction you are sending, horse moves into the circle, shoulder does not lean in Untrack/roll the hind, switch hands and then walk forward and send/roll the front end so horse changes direction and passes in front of you Hindquarters and front end move in separate pieces (hind to left, front to right; hind to right, front to left) Horse has steady flow of energy and moves feet; able to escalate to get horse moving Category Leading & Grooming

24 20 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program Level Activity Details Supervised Squeeze Game with Easy, Intermediate horses 27 Use Lead By motions to send to one direction, horse walks in front of you, tip nose and yield hindquarters to other direction, continue turning horse in half circles Walk toward wall during each half circle, slowly getting closer to wall Horse yields hindquarters and willingly goes through increasingly smaller space Maintain control of horse and smoothly switch directions, smooth, soft use of hands, your feet smoothly moving toward wall Independent with Easy, Intermediate horses 28 Able to maintain control with smooth, soft touch, appropriate flexion throughout exercise; address attitude/respect issues while staying safe Sending in Circles: with smooth light touch to change directions Cowboy Shuffle: able to move from arc circle to yield hindquarters to back up smoothly Squeeze Game: smoothly moving back and forth, able to reset and address issues along the way Independent Desensitization, Trust Building with Easy, 29 Intermediate horses Desensitize using the lead, whips, flags, flags, obstacles Maintain control of the horse throughout while staying safe; soft hands Demonstrate ability to tell when the horse has relaxed to take away pressure Supervised for Advanced horses Independent Sending to the Wall with Easy, Intermediate horses 30 Place horse in good position to start (backing up as needed) Send horse into wall, yield hindquarters to line up with wall Smooth, soft hands Supervised for Advanced horses Independent Side Stepping on the Ground with Easy, Intermediate 31 horses Able to side-step the horse, sending into the wall and using body position to have horse side step along wall Supervised for Advanced horses Independent Half Circle Exercise with Easy, Intermediate horses 32 Independent with Easy; Supervised with Intermediate horses Horse smoothly yields hindquarters then front quarters, soft flexing and reaching out on front quarters You walk a straight line without stopping using flag or swinger Supervised for Advanced horses Category

25 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program 21 Level Activity Details Independent Intermediate Backing with Easy, Intermediate horses 33 Able to hold halter knot, thumb down and back horse in circles, using head to flex body into circle Able to use lead to back horse in circles Able to alternate between backing straight and in circles Softly rocking/alternating backward and forward, no bracing when horse comes forward Horse s chin down and in with good flexion, soft feel but escalate, choke up on halter and get firm as needed Supervised for Advanced horses Coaching Volunteers and Training Horses on Stage 3 Activities with 34 Easy, Intermediate horses Demonstrated understanding of Stage 3 activities and Easy, Intermediate FHHR rescue horses Safely and properly demonstrate and explain the basics of yielding, backing and variations on sending for volunteers during supervised volunteer times (or as assigned) Help and coach volunteers as they learn and practice with positive approach Assist with Stage 3 Assessment clinics demonstrating and coaching volunteers Eligible to train for Special Activities: o Run Stage 2 Assessment clinics and assess volunteers appropriately o Working with Percherons o Running New Volunteer Orientation o Finally Home Volunteer Coach Approved to coach Stage 2 clinics Approved for Stage 3 demos in clinics Approved for Stage 1-3 horse training Category Training

26 22 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program Stage 4 More Difficult Riding Activities In Stage 4, volunteers have demonstrated proficiency to work independently with Easy and Intermediate horses on groundwork. In this stage, volunteers demonstrate the ability to ride and work with horses from the saddle. Progressing through this stage is dependent on ridable horses at Finally Home. Again, never ride alone at the Barn and helmets are absolutely required. Level Activity Details Independent Saddling of a Ridable Easy, Intermediate horses 35 Select the right saddle and pad for the horse, know difference between English and Western saddles Desensitize the horse to the saddle pad, swing it around and over the back Able to keep horse standing still during saddling Able to properly put a saddle on: swing saddle onto horse s back, cinch the saddle, put breast collar on properly after the cinch Able to properly remove a saddle: unhook breast collar first, then cinch; properly assemble saddle for storage (cinch keeper, breast collar, latigo, stirrups for English) Return tack to appropriate locations in tack room 36 Independent in Saddle with Easy, Intermediate horses Able to explain why to do groundwork with saddle and halter Perform groundwork basics (sending, backing, etc.) Desensitizing the saddle Standing still at mounting block, putting weight on saddle 37 Independent Bridling of a Ridable Easy, Intermediate horses Select the right bridle for the horse, know difference between English and Western bridles Able to yield the poll, keep horse calm while bridling; right forearm over horse s head, head turned in toward you Insert bit, push ears forward through headstall Able to remove the halter while the bridle is on, moving the halter over the bit Able to put a halter on while the bridle is on through the bit 38 Supervised Riding of Easy, Intermediate horses Volunteer Program Manager needs to be on site, but not actively escorting you Able to mount safely; able to do emergency dismount Able to control horse with proper reins; walk, stop Proper use of leg pressure to walk on Category Riding Riding Riding

27 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program 23 Level Activity Details Supervised Riding of Easy horses Soft Feel 39 Volunteer Program Manager needs to be on site Proper athletic stance in saddle, position 1, 2, 3 of pelvis, position 1, 2, 3 of feet Proper use of reins to reward soft feel, light feel on reins, wide hands, even hands Flexing left and right, release/reward with good timing Soft feel standing still, at walk, soft feel to prepare for stop To stop, soft feel in position 2, transition to position 3 and stop Supervised Riding of Easy horses Back Up 40 Volunteer Program Manager needs to be on site Using soft feel, able to control horse with proper reins Able to back up with release on each foot movement Able to back up using only leg motion Alternate smoothly between back up and move forward, alternate between position 2 to walk, 3 to stop Supervised Riding of Easy horses Engaging Hindquarters 41 Volunteer Program Manager needs to be on site Using legs to move hindquarters without moving forward Quickly correct forward movement with reins Maintain soft feel on reins Supervised Riding of Easy horses Forequarter Reach 42 Volunteer Program Manager needs to be on site Able to use leg yield and open rein for reaching step Using legs to drive forequarter turn (position 3) Able to switch weight on front feet without taking steps Maintain soft feel on reins Supervised Riding Easy horses Leg Yielding Serpentines 43 Volunteer Program Manager needs to be on site Using soft feel, able to control horse with proper loose reins Walking using scissoring of legs to make alternating small arcs to left and right Wide hands with light alternating opening of reins Horse flexing to each side, using legs to drive direction changes Looking where you are going, legs alternating smoothly, pelvis moves in new direction Maintain horses forward energy throughout exercise Category Riding Riding Riding Riding Riding

28 24 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program Level Activity Details Supervised Riding Easy horses Open Connected Circles 44 Volunteer Program Manager needs to be on site Maintain soft feel during gate changes, able to control horse with proper loose reins Walking, trotting in connected, open circles with hips and feet shifting appropriately with each direction change Gate changes in connected, open circles with hips and feet shifting appropriately with each direction change Supervised Riding Easy horses Large, Small Circles 45 Volunteer Program Manager needs to be on site Using soft feel, able to control horse with proper loose reins Walking large, even circles with small yielding circles (alternate hindquarter and forequarter) interspersed along the way Supervised Riding Easy horses Half Circles 46 Volunteer Program Manager needs to be on site Using soft feel, able to control horse with proper loose reins Alternating half circles, hindquarter turns, forequarter turns Coaching Volunteers and Training Horses on Stage 4 Activities with 47 Easy, Intermediate horses Demonstrated understanding of Stage 4 activities and all FHHR rescue horses Safely and properly demonstrate and explain more advanced groundwork and riding exercises for volunteers during supervised volunteer times (or as assigned) Help and coach volunteers as they learn and practice with positive approach Assist with Stage 4 Assessment clinics demonstrating and coaching volunteers Approved to coach Stage 3 clinics Approved for Stage 4 demos in clinics Eligible to be a Horse Trainer Eligible to take FHHR horses to clinics/events Category Riding Riding Riding Training

29 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program 25 Stage 5 Advanced Activities Volunteer activities defined in this section apply to the more challenging horses, both Advanced (black diamond) and more difficult Intermediate (blue square) horses as indicated. Advanced activities are performed primarily by experienced staff and volunteers with solid horsemanship skills and typically involved advanced training techniques and working with challenging horses. By the time a volunteer reaches stage 5, they are typically volunteer coaches and are responsible for training rescue horses. These are our cream of the crop and we can t make progress without them. While at this stage, volunteers are typically approved to work independently, for safety it is always recommended to have others available at the Barn while working with challenging or unknown horses. Reminder Riding should never be done without others at the Barn and a helmet. When working with Advanced horses, consider working with a partner. Level Activity Details Independent Riding of Easy horses 48 Note: someone else must be at the Barn. Do not ride alone. Soft yielding exercises with horse giving head with soft hands Timed leg/rein cues for turning, hindquarters, forequarter reaching, backing Leg yielding, serpentines, circles Supervised for Intermediate/Advanced horses as approved by Volunteer Program Manager Independent with Easy, Intermediate horses 49 Teaching the Leg Introducing horse to respond to leg pressure Using stirrup rhythm to teach horse to move away from leg pressure Halter Breaking a New or Advanced horses 50 Safely touching face, ears; introduce yielding of the poll with hands, soft feel with lowered respectful head Able to halter horse and do simple leading Able to adjust approach to accommodate needs of different horses Independent Basic with Advanced horses 51 Able to maintain control of the horse and keeping horse away from other horses and hazards Able to adjust approach to accommodate needs of different horses Yielding, sending exercises Level Areas Riding Leading & Grooming

30 26 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program Level Activity Details Independent Desensitization, Trust Building with Advanced horse 52 Desensitize using the lead, whips, flags, flags, obstacles Maintain control of the horse throughout while staying safe Respecting space, maintaining distance Independent Introduction to for Advanced horses 53 Safely introduce, train, and reinforce appropriate manners for leading and basic groundwork, respecting space Demonstrate knowledge of natural horsemanship principles and exercises Demonstrate ability to use proper blocking with hands, lead, whip to help horse learn, address issues Celebrate small wins, start with soft feel, escalate as appropriate, insist on punctuality in movements, consistent approach Supervised Riding New or Advanced horses 54 Direct supervision required during mounting, riding Able to safely saddle and bridle horse Safely test weight on horse, noise on steps, teaching standing still during mounting Safely mount and work with partner on ground to introduce riding to the horse Know when to get off, call it good for the day Independent Riding New or Advanced horses 55 Never ride Advanced horses without a partner Teaching standing still during mounting Safely mount and work with partner on ground Introduce basic riding exercises (walk on, stop, serpentines, yield hindquarters, etc.) using natural horsemanship principles and exercises Coaching Volunteers and Training Horses on Stage 5 Activities 56 Demonstrated understanding of Stage 5 activities and all FHHR rescue horses Demonstrated understanding of the FHR Volunteer Handbook Demonstrated understanding of the FHHR Assessment Program Safely and properly demonstrate and explain Stage 5 riding exercises and horse training activities for volunteers during supervised volunteer times (or as assigned) Approved to coach Stage 4 & 5 clinics Level Areas Riding Riding Training

31 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program 27 Specialized Activities Volunteer activities defined in this section apply only to people who have been specially trained to perform them safely. The table indicates the stage that needs to be completed before the volunteer is eligible to be trained to perform the special activity. These activities are purely optional and are not required. Volunteers should not take on such activities without approval and appropriate training to be safe. Special activities also include privileges that can be earned and approved. Volunteers become eligible for these privileges after completing the identified stage of Assessment Levels. All special activity training requires the approval of the Volunteer Program Manager and/or the Executive Director of Finally Home Horse Rescue. Minimum Level to be eligible Stage 1 completed Stage 1 completed Stage 2 completed Stage 2 completed Stage 2 complete and/or special approval Stage 2 completed Activity Details Preparing and Feeding Horses Understanding feeding instructions Attention to detail Ability to lift and pull heavy weights Preparing and Administering Medications to Horses Requires attention to detail and ability to follow detailed instructions Holding Horses for Farriers or Vets Safely hold the horse still and keep the horse calm during vet or farrier visits Loading/Unloading Horses into Trailers Safely and patiently load the horse into the trailer Tie the horse safely in the trailer Safely and patiently unload the horse from the trailer Driving the FHHR Truck with Horse Trailer Requires special approval by the Executive Director of Finally Home Must have valid driver s license and insurance Running Assessment Clinics Run assessment clinics for volunteers, assessing whether volunteers demonstrate knowledge of the skills Ensure training of volunteers is consistent and follows the Assessment Program outline and the FHHR Volunteer Handbook Able to run Assessment clinics after completing the following stage (e.g., completing Stage 4 makes you eligible to give Stage 3 Assessment clinics)

32 28 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program Minimum Level to be eligible Stage 3 completed Stage 3 or 1 yr with FHHR Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 4 Level 3 & special approval Activity Details Working with the Percherons Safely capture and halter the percherons Lead and control the horses during turn in/turn out Able to perform basic groundwork with percherons Supervised if Stage 3 completed; independent when approved by Volunteer Program Manager or Barn owner Drive New Volunteer Orientations Run the new volunteer orientation meeting for new volunteers Deep understanding of the Volunteer Handbook Finally Home Volunteer Coach Participate in Finally Home planning and coordination activities for the Volunteer Program Help determine training needs for volunteers Schedule and run special training clinics Taking Horses to Clinics or Other Event Haul and use designated rescue horse at clinics or other events Finally Home Horse Trainer Participate in Finally Home planning and coordination activities for training rescued horses Help determine training needs for rescue horses Responsibility for training Advanced and Special Activity horses so they can progress to be Intermediate/Advanced horses Assessing new horses to determine its level of training, fitness, and capabilities Determine when horses are ready to move from one level to another Driving FHHR Tractors Must be approved by the Executive Director of Finally Home Must be trained and supervised by Rob Arthur until deemed to be able to work independently

33 Finally Home Horse Rescue Assessment Program 29 Horse Assessment Difficulty Levels Horse difficulty levels change over time as each horse progresses in its rehabilitation. Our horses are continuously assessed while at Finally Home. The Volunteer Log Book in the Barn has information about each horse s difficulty rating. The Volunteer Assessment Levels refer to Easy, Intermediate, and Advanced horses. Do not assume that an Easy Leading and Grooming horse is Easy for or Riding. Always check before working with a horse, and only work with new horses during Supervised Volunteer Times. Leading & Grooming Assessments for Horses The assessment area indicates how well the horse behaves for the basics of catching, haltering, leading a horse to/from stalls or turn outs, including the horse s general manners and handling. Assessments determine whether the horse is gentle and easy to work with during grooming and walking in and around the Barn. Levels Easy Intermediate Description of Horse s Abilities/Temperament Generally follows instructions well, friendly and easy to handle Easy to catch, stands still for haltering Good manners, easy to correct Leads, walks with little problem Requires some experience to work with comfortably Needs more manners work, but is not mean Can be more difficult to catch and halter (in stall or turnout) Sometimes disrespectful, needs practice standing still Pushy, especially when leading, rushes in/out of gates