We host interns from the equine colleges during the Summer months and give them some real riding experience to supplement the classroom studies they are taking. Dallas, a Oklahoma State University student, rode Doc at the City Slickers trail ride and had a great time. The young people in the internship program work really hard during the internship and learn a lot of new skills. Many work full-time jobs while participating in the program on weekends and whenever they can fit in the time. Although it is a lot of extra effort on their part, you can tell they love it.
We asked Dallas to ride Doc on this trail ride because he is quiet and doesn’t get excited. Dallas had worked the night shift the evening before. She came straight from work and went to the trail ride. Riding Doc seemed the smart thing to do when she hadn’t slept all night and was headed out on the trail. Doc and she get along really well and had a great time.
The real life experience with horses gives these students a big boost when it comes time to find a job. They leave the internship with horse handling skills you just don’t get reading a book. They also develop a lot of self-confidence with the knowledge that comes from actually working with horses in a ranch environment beside a professional trainer.
