Alaska and Revel (aka ‘Pie’) joined the Lordships Stud,
Writtle College, on 21st January 2015 from World Horse
Welfare. The staff and students were all
very excited about the two new arrivals, as Alaska and Pie would both be
bringing something new to the college stud unit from all aspects.
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| "Pie" Image courtesy of Lordships Stud |
These two young horses have joined Writtle College to be
used in practical sessions with the students, as well as hopefully being able
to go through the Young Stock backing programme in September 2015. Once they arrived they were both placed in
isolation for one week; this was to allow them to get used to their new environment,
as well as to prevent any possible pathogens being passed to the other young
horses on site. After their week of
isolation, both Alaska and Pie were slowly introduced to the rest of the yard,
and settled in to their new routine with both the staff and students.
Since their arrival, they have both been involved in a
number of practical sessions with the students; both at college and degree
level. For example weighing, measuring and body condition scoring for the first
year students and structural development for the third year students. As they become more familiar with their new
environment, they will become involved in more taught sessions with a variety
of student groups.
Both horses have taken to their new surroundings well and
appear to be very accepting of the students. Students have commented on how good Alaska and
Pie are to handle when conducting practical sessions, as well as when being turned
out and brought in from the fields. Other
comments from staff and students are that even though they both have had a
rough start in life, they are both very trusting with people; which is clearly
due to the couple of years spent at World Horse Welfare Hall Farm and the work
of the amazing team of staff there. From
a behavioural aspect, it has been noted that Alaska is the more dominant of the
two, but still very sweet natured.
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| "Alaska" Image courtesy of Lordships Stud |
Following this interaction with World Horse Welfare,
students have expressed an interest in visiting World Horse Welfare for either
work experience or an educational tour. The students would like to see first-hand how
the staff at World Horse Welfare treat and handle their horses to enable them
to become so trusting and well behaved despite their difficult start in life. As Alaska and Pie both went into World Horse
Welfare being unhandled, it is clear that they have both made significant progress
to date, and here at Lordships Stud, it is proposed that their education will be
developed further, and hopefully increase their chances of finding a permanent home!
