Rain roars against the roof of the barn, so loud that we all have to shout a little to hear each other. I’m already absolutely soaked from head to toe but the precipitation shows no signs of slowing down. Hay clings to my hands and shirt as I duck out into the downpour and around the corner to the north side of the barn where empty stalls wait to be cleaned. I’ve already started on the first one – it belongs to Berwick, a dark gelding with no sense of personal space. I drop the hay in the corner of his stall and pull my wheelbarrow along the narrow walkway to the next one. There are over 25 stalls on the property, and I’ve only just begun.
A look at the barn.
The Riding Centre is a nonprofit therapeutic equestrian facility in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The Centre was founded in 1959 by Louise Soelberg after an injury forced her to retire from a career in dance. Louise was able to convince Antioch College to lease her 15 acres of land that was part of Glen Helen. The Riding Centre has since served the Yellow Springs and surrounding communities for over 60 years. Today, the Centre has a litany of offerings including affordable lessons, boarding, day camps for children, horse shows and other events such as their 5k fun run.
I work at The Riding Centre as a stablehand, starting my workday at 7:30 am. The daily routine begins with picking up horse manure from the fields and raking up any loose hay that the horses didn’t eat the day before. After the fields have been cleaned, the horses can be let out into their paddocks. Once they’re out, I get to work cleaning the stalls with my coworkers and making sure everyone has hay and water. All of this is usually finished by 10 am. After barn work has been completed I start on the miscellaneous tasks for the day like weed whacking, painting horseshoes or sweeping the tack room. Some of my work can be done off-site, such as when I was asked to create brochures for The Riding Centre. Other times I help with events such as a dressage show or the upcoming Yellow Springs Street Fair.
A riding lesson in action.
On some days there are school groups or therapeutic rides where my assistance is needed. School groups often ride the horses, but some therapeutic groups simply groom the horses and spend time with them, which can be therapeutic in its own way. Therapeutic rides are slightly different for each individual, as everyone has different strengths and challenges that need to be accommodated. Only some of the horses on the property work as therapy horses. These talented equines are specially trained for this work, providing slow and gentle movement as they walk to help strengthen the rider’s core muscles as well as other parts of their body. I help out by sidewalking or sometimes by helping hold up someone who may not be able to sit up well on their own. One therapeutic ride may require five or more volunteers, allowing people to switch off every so often and recover their strength. It is exceptionally rewarding to help someone have such a beneficial experience.
Choco and the farrier.
My job also involves talking with and getting to know the boarders, or those who pay to keep their horses on the property, as well as people who perform services for The Riding Centre, such as the bodyworker and farrier. One day I was asked to help hold horses using a lead rope for the bodyworker as she gently guided her hands along their bodies and carefully watched for their reactions. Another day I caught horses in the fields and led them to stalls to await the farrier so he could care for their hooves. As someone who is not super outgoing, it has been a bit of a challenge to interact with so many people, but I find that it gets easier every day.
Sometimes I am in charge of groups of volunteers where I have to delegate tasks for everyone to do. This has been one of the more nerve-wracking parts of my position. I am not used to being in a leadership role, but I actually found it easier than anticipated. Being in charge has been a big confidence boost for me since I have a tendency to second guess myself in most situations. Additionally, the volunteers at The Riding Centre have all been very good listeners and super efficient hard workers. I really couldn’t ask for better people to lead.
With Callie, a mare standing well over 6 feet tall.
I had almost no experience with horses before starting my position, save for one childhood ride, but The Riding Centre was gracious enough to give me a chance to learn on the job. I like to think that I learn quickly, but it has been stressed that I can ask the same question as many times as I need to. Sometimes I feel a little silly asking who gets what type of hay or which horse goes into each paddock, but I think it is always better to double check!
My favorite part has been getting to know the horses. Horses are really interesting animals – huge, powerful, even somewhat intimidating, but as one boarder put it, “they let us ride on their backs”. I was initially a bit nervous to be so up close, but after some time with the horses that fear naturally dissipated. Each horse has their own distinct personality and preferences. They differ on where they prefer their hay to be placed or if you can touch their ears, and some even have a fondness for peppermint candies. I decided to start sending my friends a “Horsey of the Day” message complete with photos and facts about the horsey in question to share my findings. Honey Pepper is 31 and semi-retired, but she still comes out for a few extra special therapeutic riders. Dalton used to be a racehorse, though he reportedly didn’t win very often. Sydney is the head mare but recently Emma has been vying for her spot. Most people don’t get to interact with horses regularly, much less get to know them well, so I consider myself quite lucky to get to have this experience.
Two of the barn cats, Samantha and Boris.
When I first transferred to Antioch, I wasn’t sure what I would be doing for my co-op. There were a lot of options available and many different places were considered. Working with horses was certainly not what I expected I’d do, but I’ve greatly enjoyed my time at The Riding Centre so far. I find it quite satisfying to help care for the horses that I interact with each day, and my assistance during therapeutic rides helps out people too. I feel very appreciated in this position and am happy to be able to have this opportunity. I am looking forward to helping out with the upcoming 5k and Yellow Springs Street Fair and getting to enjoy the final weeks of my co-op.
