I woke up this morning excited about a full afternoon but also trying to figure out how I was going to do everything. I was supposed to have a chemistry lab this afternoon, but for some reason the class was cancelled (again my understanding of what is going on here is limited sometimes). This was at 1 PM so I had another 2 hours until my next class, and my next class was one that I was really looking forward to.
My second (technically first) class of today was my veterinary class! Or, in swedish, Djursjukvård. Today we saw a practical of floating horses teeth, or for the non horse people: filing them down, as well as a horse castration. Horses chew in a circular motion, as do cows, so they develop sharp edges on the sides of their teeth. If these edges are not filed down they can cut into the cheeks of the horses which is very painful. This causes the horses to try to cushion the tender area with chewed hay which can cause infection as the hay starts to rot in their mouth. Next was the castration of a frightened little stallion by the name of Highlander. I will not get into details with this but it was interesting and gross at the same time.
Right after my veterinary experience I was off to ride a horse. A friend set me up with a girl here who can't ride and so uses her horse for driving but wants it to be ridden. I have the pleasure of helping her out! When I first sat on Jamarah she had not been ridden in a year, and she is 7 so her riding experience has been slim even before her year off. I'm having fun teaching her how to be ridden and be under saddle. I can't ride her for too long because even though she has great endurance for cart driving she is not used to having the weight on top of her instead of behind her. I also had to cut my ride short today for I had to rush off to the matsal (cafeteria).
Here at Bollerup the students can purchase apparel with our name on it, so at 6 30 tonight I had to rush from riding to try on clothing. At Bollerup also we don't just get a jacket, there is a whole package! This package includes: a jacket with my name on it and the Bollerup logo, a long sleeve shirt with my name on it, a polo with my name on it, a pair of steel toe paddock boots, a pair of gloves and a sweatshirt with my name on it (and the Bollerup logo on everything except the boots and gloves)
From this I had to rush off to Gammal Ko to spend time with Fay before we went out riding. I had to rush because I was supposed to be out at the riding ring at 7 25, and at 6 55 I was just on my way back to the barn from trying on clothing. The lovely little mare is calming down nicely, and was really sweet and cuddly again. Today we did more riding then we have before. She was the best today then she has ever been before, listening to me nicely, moving forward when I ask her and we did canter today as well! She did everything without much hesitation or complaint, like a little lady. The little mare got quite tired though!
Finally at 8 30 PM I was done with everything and could finally head back to my room. Exhausted from going none stop for 5.5 hours I write to you. Now I will be up for a little longer to study some more swedish to try to catch up and maybe understand a little more of what is going on tomorrow!
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