A day in the life of . . .
. . .a Fair Winds Farm Draft Horse Workshop
A typical day starts with chores at 7 am. While chores are optional, they offer participants a chance to see and try their hand at the daily operation of the farm. Goats, chickens and horses all require feed, water and summer pasture maintenance. Chore time offers a chance for casual conversation and discussion of horse management and how to work horses into a larger farming operation.
Breakfast at 8:00 and no matter what is on the menu, you will not leave the table feeling hungry! Because some of us have gluten intolerance, there are gluten-free options at every meal.
The morning work session is usually a combination of discussion, demonstration and hands-on practice of a skill. We have developed several exercises that do not directly involve the horses in order to clarify a point. These exercises are used to answer questions and illustrate points that need more than a verbal response. Discussions sometimes happen around the kitchen table, though more often a question is answered in the barn where we can explain how we do things, often rounding this out with what we have seen and heard from other horse people.
After lunch the afternoon session begins after a brief siesta: read, take a nap or go for a walk. Afternoons usually start with hitching and driving - lots of time with your hands on the lines. We will ground drive a single horse, loose and then pulling a load, stretching our understanding of the physics of an irresistible force pulling an immovable object. We will also ground drive a team. Late afternoon often includes discussion of a management topic or another exercise or demonstration. We compare various pieces of equipment, noting differences in use, etc.
Chores start around 5:00, followed by supper. After solving the world's problems or sharing our horsey goals over dinner, we all retire well satisfied and ready for a good night's sleep! There are many local hotels, we also welcome you to bring a tent or camper. Showers are available in the house.
We welcome you to our farm and our home to learn more about working with horses. We find the experience of teaching and sharing our farm with others to be immensely rewarding, challenging and inspiring. We thank you for choosing to join us and look forward to working with you.
The Bailey Family at Fair Winds Farm ~ 513 Upper Dummerston Road, Brattleboro, VT 05301 ~ 802-254-9067 ~ fairwind@fairwindsfarm.org
www.fairwindsfarm.org
. . .a Fair Winds Farm Draft Horse Workshop
A typical day starts with chores at 7 am. While chores are optional, they offer participants a chance to see and try their hand at the daily operation of the farm. Goats, chickens and horses all require feed, water and summer pasture maintenance. Chore time offers a chance for casual conversation and discussion of horse management and how to work horses into a larger farming operation.
Breakfast at 8:00 and no matter what is on the menu, you will not leave the table feeling hungry! Because some of us have gluten intolerance, there are gluten-free options at every meal.
The morning work session is usually a combination of discussion, demonstration and hands-on practice of a skill. We have developed several exercises that do not directly involve the horses in order to clarify a point. These exercises are used to answer questions and illustrate points that need more than a verbal response. Discussions sometimes happen around the kitchen table, though more often a question is answered in the barn where we can explain how we do things, often rounding this out with what we have seen and heard from other horse people.
After lunch the afternoon session begins after a brief siesta: read, take a nap or go for a walk. Afternoons usually start with hitching and driving - lots of time with your hands on the lines. We will ground drive a single horse, loose and then pulling a load, stretching our understanding of the physics of an irresistible force pulling an immovable object. We will also ground drive a team. Late afternoon often includes discussion of a management topic or another exercise or demonstration. We compare various pieces of equipment, noting differences in use, etc.
Chores start around 5:00, followed by supper. After solving the world's problems or sharing our horsey goals over dinner, we all retire well satisfied and ready for a good night's sleep! There are many local hotels, we also welcome you to bring a tent or camper. Showers are available in the house.
We welcome you to our farm and our home to learn more about working with horses. We find the experience of teaching and sharing our farm with others to be immensely rewarding, challenging and inspiring. We thank you for choosing to join us and look forward to working with you.
The Bailey Family at Fair Winds Farm ~ 513 Upper Dummerston Road, Brattleboro, VT 05301 ~ 802-254-9067 ~ fairwind@fairwindsfarm.org
www.fairwindsfarm.org