Teaching the Boy Scouts

I had an awesome opportunity last week.  I went camping with Boy Scouts from wednesday till saturday.  This was not just any scout camp, this was a "High Adventure" camp.  What this means, is that it's only for boys age 14-18 and they get to do lots of really fun stuff that is more dangerous then just earning a merit badge.  They had shotgun shooting, mountain biking, canoeing/kayaking, matchless firestarting, orienteering, and horses.  Typically the horse group would just be horse riding, but not when my good friend Chuck Whitlock is in charge.  The camp took place on an actual working ranch, and the horse area was located at the calf working area.  We happily made use of the shade the big pole barn type enclosure gave, and all the traps around it came in handy for keeping the horses and the calves happy as can be.

Rachael and Pam hooked to my forecart.

Chuck is as good a man as they come.  He has taught me a lot about being a teamster in the short time I've been doing it.  He contacted me six months back, and asked if I would be willing to take part in this scout camp.  He decided that he wanted to do things that these boys will probably never do again.  What he came up with, was to have 2 mini-events.  The first, was me, teaching the boys how to drive, and then using my horses and actually letting the boys drive horses.  The second event was roping, with the finale of the fun being that the boys would get to try roping a real calf.

The roping area.  Roping dummies, and a simulator too.

I decided that I was going to bring my 3 belgians down on the trip, and that I was going to use my wagon and just load up all the boys, and swap them out every so often once on the trail.  I got some great insight into this from a great yahoo group I belong to.  I was going to use Pam and Rachael for the boys to drive, and then use Nellie as a model of the Belgian breed.

Nellie tied in the round pen getting attention from a boy scout.

We were set up very nice.  We had a nice round pen that I kept the horses tied in when they were on break from the wagon.  The place had running water and power.  We were very comfortable.

So here's how my agenda for each group went.

1. The Belgian Horse.  I gave the boys the history of the horse and how the breed came to be.  I also used Nellie as a model to point out the characteristics of a Belgian.
2. Harness.  I used Pam or Rachael as a model for this part.  I introduced the boys to all the major components in a harness, and explained what the various parts did.  I applied the KISS (keep it simple stupid!) theory, and so mostly I just taught them about gas(collar/hame/tugs), brake(breast strap/quarter straps/breeching), and steering(bridle/lines).
3. Steering - bit pressure and line pressure.  To introduce the boys to how a horse is driven and controlled, I played a game with them.  I had extra bits, and rope tied to both sides.  I made the boys pair up, and one boy held the bit in front of him in his hands, while the other was behind him, essentially driving him.  I gave the boys with the bits strict instruction not to move if they didn't feel the proper communication throught he bit.  It was cool to watch the boys figure out how steering a horse worked.  I also taught them driving commands during this.  The boys learned "Step Up, Woah, Back, Gee, and Haw".
4. Wagon Driving.  The entire group loaded up on my wagon, and I drove them out to an empty pasture.  I then let them take turns driving in the pasture.  I gave them directions as to where I wanted them to go so that they really had to make the horses listen.  The last boy would drive most the way back, then I would take over and bring us back in.

The boy in front holds the bit, the boy behind practices his line tension.

Rachael and Pam waiting for the next wagon ride.

We did 6 groups a day, for 3 days.  I estimate the girls were under wagon about 40 minutes every hour and a half.  They got worked well.  It was hot as could be, so I was giving them electrolytes with their grain.

A beautiful open field for driving.  One of the scouts is driving here.

A happy bunch of guys!

It went so well, and I got to see the seeds being planted in a few future teamsters.  Most of the kids thought it was cool, and had a good time.  But there were a handful that just got it.  They caught the fire, and loved it.  It also happened that the boys that got it, were the ones that did the best when driving the horses.  They had the touch ... that instinct to communicate well with the horses through the lines.  It was a great thing to be a part of.