Juliana Czekala

Commonly used methods of horse training vs. more natural ways of training I used a combination of both, which seemed right for my horse Every horse is different Able to learn more about horses’ thought process, natural instincts, communication with one another Helped me understand concise ways to communicate the behaviors I desired RESEARCH

I chose training a horse because I have been riding horses for twelve years and I know how to ask them for things, how to communicate what they need to do and how they should respond to certain leg aids, etc. Finally had the chance to actually implement what I have studied, or to see firsthand how they learn these commands, or whether I would be able to actually do this naturally and successfully My product was originally going to be different until I talked to Heather about a young OTTB Heather described the horse in a different way BACKGROUND

Edith Landrum First trainer to teach me the reality of horseback riding, she has trained horses all of her life, and I really respect the way she goes about training. She was there every step of the way to help PROJECT FACILITATOR

EDEN Eden is the smartest and weirdest horse I have ever been around We share several similar traits/characteristics

EDEN AT THE OLD BARN I was unable to start training until January because of her poor health. Almost all race horses that aren't good enough to keep are put into a pasture with little human contact and poor living conditions until sold, packed onto a boat for the long trip to Canada/Mexico, and put into Alpo. Heather bought Eden after she had spent a year out in the pasture with no one taking care of her Because of the way she was treated and the racing shoes, her heels touched the ground when I got her. They feel what we feel when we ut our nails too short

TRAILERING Deathly afraid of trailers… Didn’t go well the first time we tried to trailer her Trailers go against a horses instincts Positive reinforcement goes a long way I had a natural horsemanship trainer come work with her on the day we moved her to Arden Farm.

HER PERSONAL SPACE PROBLEM The day we moved her to Arden Farm…

Became more high maintenance Hates being clean Keeps her feed bucket dirty in her own way ONCE SHE STARTED GETTING HEALTHIER

FIRST DAY WITH TACK

LUNGING

RACETRACK PROBLEMS Racehorses are only given peppermints as treats, it took her 4 months to try an apple, and she still doesn’t like it Old injury surfaced due to the poor condition of her feet during racing days “Gulps” her food down, a habit a lot of racehorses develop Holds her foot up when she eats Chain on her nose Ulcers No trust

TESTING HER REACTION

FIRST TIME ON EDEN

BABY STEPS

SHE ENJOYS HER NEW JOB Thoroughbred's have a great work ethic Has her own routine Loves ground poles

RIDING

TRAILERING

My final product is a racehorse, retrained to be what I wanted, a hunter/jumper. She’s not Alpo; rather, she has a job she enjoys and is very good at, a girl of her own and a pleasant life. FINAL PRODUCT

Some challenges were the weather, her poor health, her getting hurt, kicking me, having a project that depended on an animal as a partner Ways I overcame challenges Time management I would definitely pursue this topic further, very difficult but extremely rewarding Senior project forced me to do something that I had always wanted to do, but had never taken the time to do Received an internship helping Edith train 2 of her young horses, while continuing to work with Eden. CONCLUSION

ANY QUESTIONS?