1. Melissa Vandersteen
10/31/14
Objective #1 – Understand the theories and demonstrate practical skills in equine
management.
Reflection
Acquainting yourself with different facets of the equine industry makes you a
better-rounded individual; furthermore, it makes it easier for you to succeed in your
chosen career path for that profession. It is important to keep an open mind and
continuously seek new information to update your knowledge. By understanding the
theories and demonstrating practical skills in equine management, I have been able to
care for horses more accurately. My educational experiences from my Keeper class that I
find essential for utilizing practical skills in equine management are clipping, sheath and
udder cleaning, and blanketing.
My first artifact is my clipping quiz from my Keeper 1 class. This demonstrates
that I know how to properly use my clippers and the appropriate ways to clip horses.
This practical skill has allowed me keep up the weekly maintenance of my keeper horses,
as well as show clip my horses for a horse show. By knowing how to do this, I will be
able to clip at a show barn and help them prepare their horses for a show or just keep up
on their weekly maintenance.
I chose to use my sheath and udder cleaning practical from my Keeper 1 class as
my second artifact. I believe this to be an important practical skill to have when working
in the equine industry. By knowing how to clean sheaths and udders, it will allow me to
tend to my horses appropriately and I won’t have to pay a vet to come do it for me.
Every horse has a different level of hygiene, just like humans. Some horses are really

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dirty and need their sheath cleaned more often than other horses. Being able to clean
sheaths and udders on my own will also allow for my horses to be more comfortable.
Dirty sheaths and udders can lead to tail rubbing and other uncomfortable results.
Whether I end up working in a vet clinic, grooming or riding at a barn, or just having my
own horse, this skill will allow me to better maintain horses’ heath and overall happiness.
My third artifact is my blanketing quiz from my Keeper 1 class. I think being
able to properly blanket a horse is a practical proficiency to have in the equine industry.
Since learning this skill, I was able to properly measure my own horse and order the
correct sized sheet and blanket then correctly check the fit of them when they arrived.
Without possessing this skill, a horse could be wearing a blanket that is too small which
causes discomfort and sores on his withers. You could also have a horse wearing a
blanket that is way too big and falling off of his withers and hanging past his knees. Both
of these scenarios are unprofessional and will be frowned upon. Thus, knowing how to
properly fit a blanket, take it off, and put it on are practical skills to have in the equine
industry.
In conclusion, being able to utilize the practical skills of clipping horses, sheath
and udder cleaning, and proper blanketing will help me wherever I end up in the equine
industry.