Life as a WWU Keeper

Keeper [key-purr] noun

                1. A student who is enrolled in ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Horse Management Practicum I or II, whose main duties involve taking care of the horses at WWU along with other students in the class.

                2. An absent roommate who smells like horse all the time.

Also see: #keeperlife

So, this semester I get to experience keeper life! For students in the Equestrian Science program, being a “keeper” is basically a rite of passage into the horse industry. Upperclassmen will smile and nod fondly, reminiscing on their keeper experiences as young Freshmen consider changing their major to avoid these two classes. “It’s so much work!” They say. “What about my social life?” They say. “I can’t handle the stress!” They say. Well, the truth is, welcome to the horse industry. It’s hard work, time consuming and can be stressful at times. These classes give students work experience in a controlled, educational and encouraging environment so that they can understand what career they are signing up for and be prepared for the real world. (And honestly? The class is NOT as bad as any gossip you may hear!)

                Yes, it’s a lot of physical labor. Yes, it can be stressful at times (like when you have a class in 10 minutes but your horse just came in from turnout happily covered in mud). Yes, you have very little spare time. But it’s all fine. I can feel myself growing stronger physically and mentally and am learning how to have a relaxed attitude. If I manage my time and stick to a schedule, I have enough time to fulfill all my keeper duties, complete homework, do little things like eat, sleep and breathe, and have a few hours to spare for social activities (or a nap).

                As a keeper, you are assigned to a barn (I was assigned to hunter/jumper). You work together with the other keepers to make sure the barn is clean and organized, the stalls are cleaned everyday, and the horses are turned out, groomed and fed daily. You also are in charge of monitoring the horse’s health and keeping them in show condition. This means cleaning sheaths/udders, pulling manes, clipping, grooming, bathing and always looking for any signs of illness or injury. The keepers must work together with the riding students and facility students (who provide supplies, take care of laundry and clean large barn equipment) under the supervision of the faculty. In addition to barn work, there is class 3 times a week with small written homework assignments and various ‘practicals’ throughout the semester. A practical is a test on a specific skill to ensure that the student is able to present, explain and demonstrate the skill for the instructor. Keeper 2 students must make videos instead of doing practicals. So far we have completed the vital signs and bandaging practicals.

Our Turnout Board

                Each barn is run a little differently, depending on the number of horses, number of keepers assigned to that barn, the nature of the seat and instructor preferences. In hunter/jumper, there are 7 of us keepers, and we are each assigned specific horses to be in charge of. Each of the keeper 1s have about 5 horses, and the keeper 2s have about 7. This semester, I am in charge of Corona, Ivy, Ludwig, Timmie and Moody. They are all amazing horses! Each week, Ms. Michele (our instructor) assigns a task to complete by Friday. This week we were supposed to pull all the manes (that means to make the manes the proper length, thickness and even) and clean sheaths/udders. Each day we have turnout, where we take the horses outside to a paddock so they can play. The keepers are paired up and are responsible for taking their horses within an assigned hour. Then we groom our horses, clean any stalls that riders are not cleaning, feed lunch, sweep and clean feedboxes and waterers. It’s a lot to do but someone has to take care of all these horses!

Corona enjoying some fresh air

Timmie taking a nap

        I have been having so much fun as a keeper. I get to spend my day with horses, I am creating a strong bond with my fellow keepers, and I am learning SO many practical skills that any horseperson should know! Within 4 weeks of class, I now know how to properly pull a mane, clean a sheath/udder, wrap a polo, stable bandage, stack wrap, foot bandage and dress wounds, use a dose syringe, clip hair, fit blankets, repair blankets, and keep a barn clean and organized. There is a feeling of satisfaction when you leave the barn at the end of the day knowing that all your horses have been out to play, groomed and bedded down in a clean stall in a freshly swept barn with everything in its place.

                My advice to future keepers: Don’t be intimidated! Don’t be afraid of work and don’t make judgement on the class until you have actually tried it out yourself. The class is such an amazing opportunity to get some hands-on experience with topics you have been reading about in other classes. You will get to know the horses very well, and (hopefully) make some lasting relationships with the other keepers through spending lots of time with them! Once you complete the classes, you have solid work experience that you can put on your resume, and you can get recommendations for future jobs. This is the chance to see if you actually want to be a groom, or a barn manager, so make the most of it!
~Jennah