Shumbashaba
Reflection
Today on Thursday March 6, 2014 I had the
pleasure of learning how to bath Mick the Horse. I learned that a special
shampoo is used named tea tree oil. The interesting part is you don’t put it
directly on the horse, but rather mix it in water to create a soapy mixture. I
found great pleasure and relaxation in both the horse and myself.
First and foremost we need horse cleaning
supplies including: a bucket, tea tree oil shampoo, and a stiff grooming brush.
Now place a halter on your horse and lead him to the wash rack. A wash rack is
a cubicle where the horse stands and the water moves away from his feet into a
drain. Use a bucket to mix warm water and tea tree oil shampoo. Grab the stiff
grooming brush and dip and lather it well in the soapy mixture. Begin to wash
your horse. Be sure to rub in the direction of the hair growth. Cover the
entire body except his head. This completes the washing. Now lets rinse your
horse with a hose with the water gently spraying to remove shampoo. Next the
face and head, dip a sponge into clean plain water with no shampoo and gently
clean his face and head slowly. Last but not least the horses tail. Fill a
bucket with warm water and tea tree oil shampoo, then bring the bucket of water
to the tail and dip, swish, and squeeze the dirt out. Clean the top of the tail
with a sponge. Rinse the tail off with several clean buckets of water, from top
to bottom. Now, on to drying the horse. Rub a towel over the horses’ body in
the same direction of hair growth. Continue to rub and squeeze the towel to
remove water. Walk your horse in the sun for ten minutes to thoroughly dry.
This new challenge encouraged me to develop a
new skill in which I thoroughly enjoyed. And I’ll speak for Mick the Horse; I
think he did too. My weakness was that I didn’t have the proper attire to get
wet in. In return, I learned that I need to be prepared in my clothing choices
and shoes next time. The strength that I developed is a stronger bicep J. I didn’t realize by reaching so high up and
bringing your arm down in a scrubbing motion was such effort. By interacting
with horses on a regular basis, can be healthy for both the horse and myself.
In addition, I am developing bonds with the horses.
This is enhancing my knowledge of large animals
and the skills needed in which I will pursue in my future endeavors. My own
limitation is lack of experience that will be improved each and every Thursday
that I volunteer.
Washing horses I can relate on a smaller scale
with washing my dogs at home. I know the importance of keeping their coats
clean for hygiene and comfort purposes. This knowledge that I have learned from
bathing horses encourages me to be excited about what challenge awaits me next.
I know that caring for horses is not only a costly expense, but also they are
very time consuming, and knowledge and expertise must be learned for the horses
benefit.
I’d like to thank Shumbashaba for giving me the
opportunity to work with their adorable gorgeous animals. I can tell by the
gentleness of each horse that they have dedicated employees that work hours
upon hours to care and love for these animals. I am so proud to be part of this
incredible experience and I see my future involved with Shumbashaba for the
rest of my high school duration.
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