Curly Horses and Horsehair allergists

Do they fit together?

Just as all small girls I also dreamt of horses and riding lessons. Soon it was clear that my piping cough, red eyes and stuffy nose, was not a summer cold rather an allergy. With this the dream of horses was buried for many years. In our current household a dog, cat, two turtles, and a fish can be found; only the horse is missing which my husband Steffen and my two children Franca and Ferdinand bring to my attention on a weekly basis. We solved this problem with riding and vaulting lessons for the children and a carriage course for Steffen. Each course ended with a thorough washing of all clothing in the basement. In the fall of 2008 I held a conversation with our physiotherapist; who gave the vaulting lessons; about my horse hair allergy. She said that she knows of someone’s daughter that also suffers from the same allergy. This family solved the allergy problem with the purchase of a Curly horse. I had to laugh “a poodle horse” (I was not aware to this point of such an existence) and found the idea to be quite funny. Steffen was fascinated with the fact that such horses existed and that night sat down in front of the computer and started his search.

Since then Curly fever broke out in our house and we searched everything the World Wide Web had to offer about these wonderful animals. We looked at photos for hours and decided that we must see a real Curly, touch and smell it.

We found Ranch Wolf although it was a 4 ½ hour drive we decided oh well and made a mini holiday out of it. The time to pass before the Fasching holidays seemed to take forever. We could hardly wait and were filled with curiosity. Finally the day came. On the 21st of February it was time. As we arrived we drove alongside the pasture. Our necks became longer and longer as we looked around waiting and wanting to find Curlys. There he was, Levi. We knew him from pictures that we admired during our wait. Petra greeted us with open arms and showed us everything. While Steffen and Franca had their first riding lesson I wandered all around the ranch. The Curlys and I smelled at each other first carefully and then they were all pet! First the three carrying moms, three boys and the mares and last but not least Katrina with Levi. Then I waited for my sneezing attacks or watery eyes or itchy skin. Nothing happened. I was amazed. Even the trust and the curiosity of the horses surprised me. The way they walked beside the pasture to be near me even though they didn’t know me. I loved every minute of it. I was looking forward to the next day to have my first lesson with Gina.

Even the next day and the days to follow were better than imagined. We gathered horses from the pasture, cleaned them like crazy that their hair flew all around in combination with hay but all that happened was a runny nose. STOP a very big side effect was felt during riding and that was sore muscles!

We enjoyed the days at Ranch Wolf so much and we learned a lot; such as that Carmalitta was a double gaited horse and that Palomino is not Palomino and that you have to watch like a lynx when getting a fox from the pasture, that the “riding Wolf” has nothing to do with Tom, even though they both carry the same name (Steffen knows why it is called Ranch WolfJ). Besides all of our family inside jokes we learned a lot from Petra who always stood ready to answer all of our questions. Once again thank you so much dear Petra for the nice conversations, the coffee and the magnesium.

A particular highlight was when we were able to watch Barbara, the ground and communications teacher. I really enjoyed learning about this way of communication and work with horses. I hope to be able to participate the next time such an opportunity arises.

Our five day adventure passed way too fast and soon we were on our way back home. We moaned about how much we would miss the Curlys. It is something very special to have Curlys right in front of our door day in and day out. We started to accept it and took it for granted. During our stay we solved the horse hair allergy problem but we created an even bigger one, we need our own Curly!

But,
Duck good, everything good (*old Chinese saying – here I would like to greet the Chief of the Pavillon) - Petra probably knows what I am talking about.

Greetings to you all and hopefully we will see each other soon

Sabine, Steffen, Franca & Ferdi

Curly Person of the Month

Congratulation!!

Hurray :-) Finally I successfully completed the terrain exam with Diamond and am now very excited to experience more terrain riding.

The preparations were comprised of time and patience for both the rider and the horse. Diamond and I practiced loading and unloading of the rider which she mastered to perfection just after the first time. We rode through the Parcours area which also went as smooth as butter which gave us time to concentrate on other areas.

Our biggest problem was to be able to ride along the racetrack without having Diamond think that we were in a real race, which was a problem because she swung into high gear and was unable to be stopped. This was a big problem at the beginning. Diamond started to run and it was difficult for me to stop her. Petra Wolf can see right onto the racetrack from her office window. Sometimes all she saw was a black streak that raced by at a high speed and all she could think was hopefully they come back in one piece.

After I practiced with Gina and Levi, Diamond slowly started to understand that speed does not matter, rather that it is just as much fun to gallop at a comfortable speed. Sometimes she did indeed start to race again but this time it was easier to slow her down. On the day of the test I rode the best round that I have ever rode before. In a calm controlled gallop I was able to lead Diamond through the test on my first try. All other aspects of the test were mastered right away as well. I am very happy and impressed how well Diamond cooperated with me. Even though during our practice sessions we shed some differences we came together as a team for the test.

Just a week after I passed the exam Gina came to the idea that we all ride into the terrain together. I was very excited about this and after four months of practicing I was finally able to ride out. It was a wonderful time and I realized that all the practicing paid off. Diamonds gallop is much controlled now and therefore it is twice as much fun. We are both very proud that together we passed the first terrain exam.

Your, Carlotta

Talisman is sold

The happy new owner is Mrs. Dr. Margret Schiemann:

"It was love at first sight. Actually I wanted to look at two more Curlys before I came to a decision. I was allowed to take Talisman off of the pasture, clean him and saddle him. Now came the big moment, I was supposed to sit on him. I knew that he has only been ridden for a few months by Gina, but it was so easy. It was a wonderful feeling. I had made up my mind. I had no want to take a closer look at the other two horses.

Since I have a horse allergy only this race of horse was an option for me. A week later I signed the agreement of sale with Petra and Tom brought Talisman to his new home, the riding stables at the TU in Darmstadt.

Since then Talisman has made himself feel at home. We work together almost on a daily basis either on the riding area with technical assignment from riding teacher Sabine Remmert and Manuela Roth or during the terrain riding through the bush in Oberfeld. Gina and Petra have provided valuable work with Talisman and have trained him to be a trustful riding partner. A million thanks continue the way you have been!"

Our sweet Franzi

Job Description for Horsekeeper

The apprenticeship takes three years, with Abitur it can be shortened to two years. Basically an apprenticeship to horesekeeper can be completed with a certificate of another school. Subject to apprenticeship the following skills and knowledge are asked:
Look after, care for, feed and transport horses
Build, life processes and attitude towards the horses
Animal health and animal hygiene
Movement and work by horses
Transmission, breeding, heredity and race knowledge
Horse feed, its preparation, acquisition and usage
Forms of horse keeping

The apprenticeship is a state recognized. The apprenticeship to Horsekeeper is offered with the following emphasis
Horse race and composure
Riding
Race riding

During the apprenticeship towards becoming a horsekeeper you will receive the following allowance per month:
1. Apprentice year: circa 460.-€ net
2. Apprentice year: circa 486.-€ net
3. Apprentice year: circa 527.-€ net

After the training you can be able to earn 1500 – 2000€ gross.

The Business

Ranch Wolf can be found close to Bickenbach. It was build four years ago on an open field. Family Wolf: Father, Mother, Daughter and Son; work 12 hectares of pastures and two manmade ponds and various new barns and buildings were built. The former fields were transformed into a hilly and horse friendly environment. The buildings were designed by Mr. Wolf and can be compared to those in farm land USA. In this wonderful environment Curly horses are breed. This special horse race is not a normal type of horse race, they are hypoallergenic. This means that people allergic to horses do not have reactions towards them. Horse keeper Gina works on the Ranch together with Mr. Beka who is responsible for the big work on the grounds. Mrs. Wolf and Gina work with the horses and are responsible for their training. The work environment is enjoyable and familiar. Through notification clients are allowed on the Ranch to be able to work with the horses or even to buy a horse.

Practicum Report

My practicum started at 8:30 and ended at 14:30. When I arrived I was greeted by Mrs. Wolf; the owner of the Ranch; and Gina; the horsekeeper. My duties included: getting the horses from the pasture, help with the application of the worm treatment, cleaning and petting for horses and foals, fill every horses hay bin with fresh hay and extra food, alfalfa and oats, carrots and apples for vitamins, sweeping of the barn floor, inspect the horse stalls can clean out the feeding troughs as well as the salt block, check over the cleaning buckets to ensure that everything is in its place, watch and participate in the ground and communication work (which was a lot of fun), watch "Barock" groundwork and riding. Prepare horses for riding and rearrange the hinderers on the riding parcour for the next riding lesson and take pictures for my practicum report.

At the end I said goodbye to Gina, Mrs. Wolf and the horses, but that was the hardest task of all.

Detailed Report

I have decided to write my detailed report about a pony that calls Ranch Wolf home. The pony I am referring to is named Tamzara and she is a mare. Tamzara belongs to the horse race "American Bashkir Curly Horses". She was born on May 13th, 1996 and has a black coat. Tamzara belongs to Petra Wolf, the owner of the Ranch. One of my duties during my practicum was to offer Tamzara as much movement as possible by riding her or guiding her around. Riding Tamzara was a lot of fun. Even though she is not that big she takes little steps which can be very challenging; I rode all three steps with her with only a riding pad and a cavesson. I also rode each step through various figures for example "through the whole train", "on the circle", "ride backwards"… Together with Gina I also rode around the riding area surrounding the whole property. It is still obligatory to wear a helmet during riding.

Analysis

I have chosen this job because I have been riding for many years and I wanted to know what responsibilities are expected under the title horsekeeper. I have many years experience with horses, not only riding but also looking after and caring for them. My practicum expectations were exceeded due to the fact that I was able to do more than I thought I was able to. My abilities and knowledge of horses was well suited for this practicum and made it easy for me to do the work. There was nothing during my practicum that was not fun for me or which made me feel overburdened.