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Volunteer Team Talks

The following is a collection of team talk outlines put together by the Danada Equestrian Center volunteers for their continuing education, and the education of new volunteers. The volunteers are not required to study or do cheat sheets or put in time outside their volunteer time to prepare for the talks. If a volunteer chooses to put in outside time for their talk, they will get volunteer hours for that extra effort.

Topics

• Behavior in a Herd (Herd Dynamics)
• Bridling—how we do it and why we do it that way
• Bits—Types, uses and pros & cons
• Braiding
• Breeds
• Bridle Cleaning
• Coat colors and markings
• Conformation
• Equipment—Riding Gear and Barn Wear
• Feeds & feeding
• Grooming
• Harness parts, types and uses for each type
• Harnessing a Horse
• Hoof Care
• How to Bathe a Horse
• Keeping a Horse at Pasture
• Keeping a Horse in a Stall
• Kentucky Style Barn Compared to Other Styles
• Driving
• Leading
• Leading Obstacle Course
• Lunging
• Mounting
• Parasites
• Rice family and Farm History
• Saddling
• Saddles—Parts & Their Uses
• Sheath Cleaning
• Shoeing
• Stable Vices in Horses
• Stall Cleaning
• Turn & Face
• Wrapping legs
• Yielding to Pressue

The purpose of these demonstrations is 3-fold.

One, these demonstrations are used by staff to evaluate volunteers current skill levels and knowledge. It helps us prepare material to put in the volunteer continuing education and training curricula. Staff can begin to anticipate the gaps in the training, management and aptitude of volunteers.

Two, these demonstrations will assist volunteers in reviewing their knowledge. The benefits of the demonstration for the volunteer are:

1. Improve upon current knowledge, solidify the volunteer's current knowledge & volunteer audience's understanding of the subject. People tend to remember and learn better by doing and teaching what they have learned
2. Practice explaining procedures and information for lessons, camp & public walk-ins
3. Gives volunteers an opportunity to experience giving a presentation of their knowledge and decide if they would like to be a group tour volunteer.

Three, this is a great opportunity to share ideas, knowledge and experience with fellow volunteers and staff. It is a good venue for the volunteers and staff to correct any erroneous habits and perceptions in a safe, familiar, non-judgmental environment.

If volunteers want to do extra studying for their demonstration but don't have time outside of their shift, please let staff know and staff will make the time available during the shift.

You cannot flunk your demonstration. Staff will use a standard form when they observe the demonstrations, but there are no points or pass/fail or any other ranking scale.

Bottom line is, we need to know what volunteers know and what they do not know so we can keep every one on the same page and working together towards the goals of healthy, well trained horses, properly educated students and a safe, informed public.