Women for Horses In Tourism Ethically (WHITE)
WHITE is dedicated to helping women and the world's working horses through education, support and community
Background
The Ooty Tourist Riding Horses leading the way by encouraging women into the workforce and improving horse welfare.
By approaching the issue of welfare by encouraging women to enter the tourist horse riding industry, we can educate more easily. The sessions and information can be geared towards women but available to everyone. This should help negate that “I don’t need you to tell me how to do it” attitude that may prevail amongst the current handler cohort.
For Operators
- How to recognize a horse in pain
- How to body condition score (BCS) a horse and know when it is underweight
- How to correctly fit tack
- How to catch, groom, lead and ride a horse
- Requirements for hoof care
- Basic training (stand for mounting, stop on lead, turn, acceleration and deceleration)
- How to deal with common behavioural problems (such as running off, bucking, pulling away)
- Off-the-track special training modules to include all OTT specific training problems (tie up, stand for mounting, calm down etc)
- How to habituate a horse (especially an OTT) to the new environment
- Ongoing care requirements such as time off and working hours
For Tourists
- How to recognize a horse that is WHITE approved (such horses will be issued with a badge that can be earned by registered handlers enrolled in the free WHITE course and undergoing monthly health and welfare checks with the free WVS WE Clinic)
- How much weight a horse can carry (20% of horse’s body weight including the saddle) with photos as examples of how much a particular horse weighs and thus how many kg/lbs that horse should carry
- What the tourist can do if they are too heavy – examples of beautiful photos of people with horses (not riding), by the lake or with a nice backdrop, lead the horse, feed the horse (purchase feed, carrots or apples), go for a walk with the horse etc
- Information on the horse breeds present in the area, their history and importance to the region
Women-Supporting-Women
In the developed world, women far out-weigh men when it comes to numbers of riders. WHITE can recruit women, starting in Australia and the United Kingdom, to engage with the project and support other women with their working equines. By registering for the free WHITE course and going to regular WE clinic checks, handlers (men and women) will be able to register themselves with the website and receive sponsorship.
A registered horse/handler combination will have their photo on the WHITE page and supporters will be able to set up a regular monthly payment (this is probably better coming in as a lump sum and being divided amongst all the registered horses each month). A list of regular supporters can appear on the site.
This webpage can act as a portal for interested members of the public to find information, make donations and learn more about the program. It can also serve as a repository for videos on safe handling and horse welfare for both Working Horse Handlers and the public.
