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To start with, you
need a relatively calm and intelligent horse...
sound, healthy, and having good confirmation
for any type of work situation.
Breed is a personal choice,
we have many breeds in our posse membership and the care and training put
into these horses has made them great!
Our posse does have a height
requirement, aproximately 14.2hh. We also require that your horse be well
groomed
and that tack be clean and in good
condition, more on that later.....
We have training sessions once
each month, sometimes it is a trail ride (somewhat challenging) and often
it is sensory conditioning, and tracking scenarios. Some of our sensory
training includes smoke bombs, flares, patrol car at code 3,
set in patterns which we navigate in formations.
Others include strollers, balloons, tarps on ground to walk on, interesting
step overs, throwing a beach ball, and dragging
noisy heavy items......
Each year in May, all RSO posse
members must qualify their horse(s). Below will explain the tests we use
and what they signify to us.
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FOR
MORE
INFO
ON
TESTS.
PLEASE
REFER
TO #'S
NEXT
TO
TASK. |
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| 1) Lead horse at walk and trot on command |
Ground skills, ability to lead horse with bit, basic trail skill. |
| 2) On command, stand quiet while mounted for one minute. |
Test rider calmness, test horse calmness, basic trail skill. |
| 3) Side pass 10 feet in both directions. |
Maneuverability of horse. |
| 4) Walk across a wooden bridge at least 6' long and 3' wide with orange
work cones along sides. |
Rider and horse's communication skill, horse's reaction to foreign
object, basic trail skill. |
| 5) While mounted, walk across 10' of still water. |
Rider and horse's communication skill, horse's reaction to foreign
object, basic trail skill. |
| 6) Approach, open, walk through and close gate while mounted, maintaining
control. (Rider must maintain hand contact with gate throughout excercise.) |
Maneuverability of horse:
-side passing
-horse to turn on front or rear in tight area
-fine movements in tight area |
| 7) Walk over 3 logs (or similar objects) aprox. 32" apart and one 18"
step over. (permissable to knock down 18" step over, but horse may not
jump over it) |
Rider and horse's communication skill, horse's reaction to foreign
object, basic trail skill. |
| 8) Dismount and mount from both sides of horse. |
Basic trail skill, flexibility of horse and rider to adapt to different
situations. |
| 9) Put raincoat on while dismounted, standing directly in from of horse
while maintaining control of horse. Mount and remove raincoat while maintaining
control of horse. |
Rider and horse's communication skill, horse's reaction to foreign
object, basic trail skill. |
| 10) While dismounted, pick up drag line, remount and pull 70lb. object
(we use a tire w/rim) for aprox. 100'. |
Basic trail skill, rider and horse's communication skill, horse's reaction
to foreign object, basic trail skill,maneuverability of horse. |
| 11) While mounted, blow police whistle loud for minimum of 3 seconds,
maintaining control of horse. |
Horse's calmness to sensory exposure. |
| 12) Carry a parade flag in upright position at a walk and trot while
mounted. |
Horse's calmness to sensory exposure. |
| 13) Back through "L" shaped obstacle, 36" wide X 10' long. May walk
through, having horse's back feet out of "L", then back through. Stepping
on, but not over is permissable. |
Show skill, maneuverability of horse:
-Backing in straight line
-Turning in tight area
-Horse and rider communications |
| 14) Have your horse pony'd through a figure 8 course. |
Basic trail skill, horse adaptability,horse calmness, horse social
attitude. |
| 15) Pony other horse through figure 8. |
Basic trail skill, horse adaptability,horse calmness, horse social
attitude. |
| 16) Ride double with adult at a walk for 100'. (2nd rider should be
of reasonable weight for horse) |
Horse adaptability,horse calmness, horse social attitude. |
| 17) Turn on hind quarter 180 degrees both right and left. (Horse's
hind feet to remain in 2' circle) |
Basic trail skill, maneuverability of horse:
-Turning in tight area
-Horse and rider communications |
| 18) Turn on forehand 180 degrees right and left (horse's front feet
to remain in 2' circle) |
Basic trail skill, maneuverability of horse:
-Turning in tight area
-Horse and rider communications |
| 19) Mounted, walk , trot, and canter on command. |
Basic riding skill, horse and rider communication skill, maneuverability
of horse. |
| 20) Ride to and stop within 10' of a patrol car operating lights and
siren. Horse to remain under control for a minimum of 15 seconds. |
Horse's calmness to sensory exposure, horse and rider communication
skill. |
| 21) Walk quietly over a tarp on ground. |
Horse's calmness to sensory exposure, horse and rider communication
skill. |
| 22) While mounted, carry a bag full of aluminum cans for 30', keeping
horse under control. |
Horse's calmness to sensory exposure, horse and rider communication
skill. |
| 23) Someone walk around horse with stroller and umbrella, horse to
remain calm. |
Horse's calmness to sensory exposure, horse and rider communication
skill. |
| 24) Load horse in a ramp or step up horse trailer.(Opposite of type
was hauled in) |
Horse flexibility to be rapidly loaded and moved in various trailering
vehicles. |
25) Horse & tack inspection:
horse proper size
groomed
clipped
healthy and sound
proper tack and equiptment |
Validate horse overall appearance and condition.
Safety inspection of department approved saddle, tack, & equiptment. |
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