Volunteer with horses

I was at Clare and Chico's horse project for six weeks in the summer of 2021. Originally I was only going to stay for four weeks, but I had such a great time and learned so much that after four weeks I just couldn't leave!

Working with the horses

I hate to choose a favorite horse, but my heart belongs to Maxo.

Maxo is a very special horse for me. He has come such a long way and it was so nice to see him making progress and learning to be comfortable around people again. The early morning hours were really worth it - and I'm really not a morning person! 

Things didn't always go smoothly, some days Maxo didn't want to cooperate, but that was also part of the joy of working with him. It really showed that like all horses here he is not forced to train but does it of his own free will. 

It was a whole new and different way of training horses and building a relationship with them. 

I really miss how Maxo waited for me to train with me every morning and how he patiently paced while I set up the lunge ring. He really is a great horse and I miss him a lot. 

Gained experience in dealing with horses

During my time on the project I got to know all the horses a little bit and in such a natural habitat their unique personalities really came out! From the cheeky Falco, who always found a way under the fence if you weren't careful, to the sweet Ponchi, who could never put a hoof wrong.

All the horses had their quirks and weirdness that made them a joy to be around.

New approach to riding

Before I came to the horse project, I was an avid rider and competed in show jumping. Before I flew to Spain I read up on the program and non-power training a bit. I thought it would be interesting to have a closer connection with the horses on the ground rather than in the saddle. 

It really opened my eyes to non-impact training and changed my mind about horseback riding. 

I like to think back to the time on the Campo and even as I write this I'm getting very nostalgic! 

Thank you Clare, Chico, Stella, little Nora and the other volunteers for making my stay so joyful and memorable! I hope that one day I can return to my home country of Spain, where I learned so much - about horses, the carefree Spanish way of life and also a little bit about myself.

Field report by Hannah, June/July 2021