Animal Handling Lessons
Lesson One: Basic interactions
1. Approaching the animal: posture, tone of voice---Knowing when not to push an animal for safety reasons
2. "Catching them up": Placing halter/collar/harness and lead rope/leash
3. Bonding--- finding which way to best build a bond with the animal (developing sensitivity, observational skills and empathy) food, play, verbal, physical touch (scratching/massage, grooming)
Lesson Two: Basic care (teaching responsibility for a dependent and sensitivity to its needs)
1. Physical Environment: shelter; confinement (fencing, restraints, caging); room to exercise; need for social interaction
2. Feeding: what to feed, how to feed (measuring out food, laying out food, feeding a group) watering systems
3. Dealing with feed byproducts: Mucking stalls, cleaning cages. Composting. Fly and odor control
4. Watching for signs of health problems and what to do about them
Lesson Three: Getting animals to "listen"
This section covers different ways we can learn to influence animal behavior (aka "training"). It can be one session or many depending on the interest level and commitment of the participants.
Components of training:
A. Getting the animal's attention
B. Getting the animal's respect and trust
C. Communicating effectively what you want the animal to do
D. Correction and positive feedback
- Build confidence
- Learn skills in safe interactions
- Learn skills in handling and training
- Learn to build trust between animal and person
- Learn responsibility and nurturing of another
- Learn empathy and responsiveness
Activity options:
Leading an animal
Give commands to trained animals
Teaching new tricks
Roundpenning horses
Train a therapy dog
Though we carefully screen our animals and try to anticipate and avoid situations that might cause injuries, the unexpected can happen. For liability reasons, we must require that participants (or their guardians) must have health insurance coverage and sign medical waivers. It is crucial that participants follow program rules and instructions from the group leader for their own safety and the safety of the animals and other participants. Accommodations can be made for developmentally disabilities and other special needs.