Design Doc

Hope 4 Horses (H4H) is a nonprofit equine rescue founded in California and expanded to Virginia. As Hope 4 Horses continues to grow, so will the volunteer and educational opportunities. Currently, all training is completed in person based on a leveled system. Through this training, all volunteers in California and Virginia will be provided the same instruction and introduction to the same skills to build a strong and educated group of volunteers. This training will be available for volunteers to reference again and to expand H4H educational capacity.  

The audience of this training is teens and adults interested in volunteering for Hope 4 Horses. It is assumed they are animal lovers and compassionate about supporting horses through difficult times. This training will be hybrid learning. The initial learning will be online prior to the volunteer orientation. At the volunteer orientation, volunteers will participate in hands-on practice of the skills learned in the online portion.

• Demonstrate how to interact safely with horses. 

• Demonstrate procedures for mucking stalls, grooming, and tying a quick release knot.

• Identify how to interact and move safely around horses.

• Applies H4H safety protocols while volunteering. Halter and lead a horse.

• Uses appropriate procedures to clean/muck a stall according to H4H procedures. 

• Groom a horse with appropriate grooming tools.

• Tie a quick release knot. 

The volunteers will not be completing a traditional test but will complete informal knowledge checks and scenarios. They will also demonstrate skills taught in a way that the skill will be utilized. These skills often become automatic, and being able to demonstrate the skills appropriately will support the volunteer and the horse's success. 

All volunteers will be constantly evaluated, observed, and supported with feedback. H4H strives to empower their horsemanship skills to ensure we can support the rescued horses. The volunteers are evaluated and categorized by a color-coded level which determines what kind of volunteering they can safely do.  

This training will be hybrid learning. The initial learning will be online prior to the volunteer orientation. At the volunteer orientation, volunteers will participate in hands-on practice of the skills learned in the online portion. 

Online:

Module 1: Safety with Horses

Lesson 1: Interacting Safely with Horses

Lesson 2: Volunteer Safety

Lesson 3: How to Lead a Horse

Module 2: Caring for the Horses and Farm

Lesson 1: Cleaning Stalls 

Lesson 2: Grooming Procedures

Lesson 3: Quick Knots

In-Person:

Orientation 

The online portion is estimated to take about 2 hours. The in-person orientation is scheduled for a 1 hour time block. 

Groom a horse with appropriate grooming tools.

During the in-person orientation, the volunteer coordinator or other staff will observe and determine if the individual can successfully perform appropriate tasks. 

Individual learning through web-based training, simulations, and scenario based learning. 

September 12- Module 2 Design Doc Updates

September 19- Design Doc with peer review

September 26- Create an RLO (iSpring)- Screen and Content Design

October 2- Screen layouts

October 3- Storyboard and Peer Review

October 10- Submit Design Doc

October 17- Content Upload

October 21- Portfolio review, finalizing RLO and ePortfolio 

• Title: Grooming Procedures and objectives

• Introduction:  Grooming is essential for the overall health and well-being of our horses.

• Importance of grooming

  • Health of Horse: Grooming is important because it helps to remove dirt, sweat, and dead skin cells. This can prevent skin or hoof conditions and possible discomfort.

  • Check for injuries and other health issues: Grooming allows for the early detection of any injuries or abnormalities. If you notice a horse has an injury or you think something may seem abnormal, notify the volunteer coordinator or trainer immediately.

  • Building Relationships: When you groom horses, you're not just learning basic rules and abilities; you're also getting closer to the horse. It's important to understand the horse's personality and let it become familiar with you to have a good relationship.

  • Knowledge Check

• Grooming Tools and Procedures –

  • 1. Rubber Curry: Use the rubber curry in a circular motion to loosen dirt settled under the horse’s hair or dry mud and dirt. Be careful and gentle around bony areas of your horse’s body, such as his back or shoulders. Some horses are more sensitive than others and you must be very gentle all over. Don’t use a rubber curry on your horse’s legs. Never use a curry or any stiff brush on your horse’s face.

  • 2. Dandy Brush: Next, use the dandy brush, which is the stiffer brush. The motion for this brush is like the same motion you would use when sweeping a floor. GO WITH THE HAIR. Flick the brush away and up from the coat so that the dirt comes off his coat. Unless your horse is already extremely clean, you will see a slight cloud of dust with each stroke. If you don’t, you need more flicking action. If you don’t use this flicking motion, the dirt will just get pushed back under the hair, potentially causing irritation to the horse.

  • 3. Body Brush: Then use the body brush. This is the softer of the two brushes. The body brush is meant to smooth the hair and get rid of any traces of leftover dirt after thoroughly using the dandy brush. With the body brush, don’t use a flicking motion, instead, smooth it flat over the horse’s coat to flatten the hair. This brush often gives the horse a shiny, clean appearance.

  • 4. Mane Brush: Next, use the mane brush. Use this to gently comb the horse’s mane and possibly tail. We always have a detangler and conditioner to use on the mane and tail. Not using some sort of conditioner risks breaking the mane and tail hair, so make sure and add this before you begin to brush through their hair. Always start at the bottom of the tail and work your way up.

  • 5. Hoof Pick: Now, on to the feet! If unsure, ask a barn leader to show you how to pick up a horse’s feet. Usually, this is done by running your hand down your horse’s leg, while standing next to them, facing their hind quarters. Then, gently squeeze his cannon area on the way down. Be sure not to pick up the horse’s foot too high, or he might become uncomfortable. If it is an older or stiff horse, keep the hoof low to reduce strain. When you use the hoof pick, it always scrapes away from you. You don’t want to accidentally injure yourself or your horse if he suddenly moves or pulls his foot away. It is important to thoroughly clean out the hollow areas on both sides of the frog, and around the sole of the foot. If you have any concerns about the hoof after it is cleaned, get a barn leader to look at it for you. Good hoof care is crucial to the horse’s health, and it is important to catch any problems before they begin.

  • Knowledge Check

• Other Grooming Situations that may arise

  • Fly Season- Like humans, some horses are more reactive to bug bites! Some horses will not need anything, but others may need a fly mask, fly boots, a fly sheet, and fly spray. Ask the barn leader if you have any questions about the care of each horse.

  • Cold Weather- Horses may require blankets in cold weather to provide them with extra warmth and protection. These blankets serve as insulated coats, which can be especially beneficial for horses with shorter or thinner coats that may not keep them sufficiently warm in frigid conditions. Blankets are particularly essential for older or unwell horses, as they may struggle to regulate their body temperature effectively. 

    • It's important to note that not all horses require blankets in cold weather. Some horses, particularly those with thick winter coats, may not need them. The decision to blanket a horse should be based on individual veterinarian or equine specialist can help determine the best approach for each horse in cold weather. Ask the barn leader if you have any questions.

  • Other Considerations- Some horses may require bell boots, fly mask, or have another unique need. This could be because of a medical condition, as prevention, or because of where they are in their training.

• Grooming Scenario- While volunteering, you were asked to groom one of the H4H horses that is filthy! Practice grooming procedures and what you learned about the grooming tools. Let’s get started. What should you do first? 

  • Hoof Pick?

  • Rubber Curry?

• Now that you have gathered the supplies needed and have the horse, it’s time to start grooming! From the learning, we know that we start from the front to back and then switch sides. What tool should we use first? Rubber Curry or Hoof Pick?

  • Dandy Brush?

  • Mane and Tail Brush?

• What’s next? Take the horse to the field or clean the horses hooves?

  • Use the hoof pick to clean out the horse's feet. Typically, you should run your hand down the horse's leg while standing beside them, facing their hindquarters. Gently squeeze the lower part of the leg as you go down but be careful not to lift the hoof too high, especially if the horse is older or stiff, to avoid discomfort. When using a hoof pick, always scrape away from yourself to prevent accidentally hurting yourself or the horse if it moves suddenly. Make sure to clean out the empty spaces on both sides of the frog and around the sole of the foot thoroughly. If you have any concerns about the hoof's condition after cleaning, it's important to ask an experienced barn leader to take a look. Good hoof care is vital for the horse's health, and it helps catch any problems early.

  • Use the hoof pick to clean out the horse's feet. Typically, you should run your hand down the horse's leg while standing beside them, facing their hindquarters. Gently squeeze the lower part of the leg as you go down but be careful not to lift the hoof too high, especially if the horse is older or stiff, to avoid discomfort. When using a hoof pick, always scrape away from yourself to prevent accidentally hurting yourself or the horse if it moves suddenly. Make sure to clean out the empty spaces on both sides of the frog and around the sole of the foot thoroughly. If you have any concerns about the hoof's condition after cleaning, it's important to ask an experienced barn leader to take a look. Good hoof care is vital for the horse's health, and it helps catch any problems early.

• Summary: Ted looks so happy and clean! Great work helping with grooming him.

Images, graphics, and short video clips will be utilized to show procedures and tools. 

Navigation will remain open to allow learners to move through the content and revisit specific content. Other navigation will be included through Articulate Rise 360. The learner will be able to see their progress through the course on the side menu and their progress on the slide through. The built-in navigation arrows or buttons can be used to navigate through each slide. 

10-12 minutes

About 20 screens

3 Dichotomous (T/F)

1 Scenario with two decision points to measure understanding 

0 Rollovers

4 Click Events

Articulate Storyline- Primary authoring tool, voice over, interactions

PowerPoint- Storyboarding, screen layouts, and graphics

Adobe Premiere- Converting video file type

Danielle Rudden will develop the initial course; and, Danielle Rudden will maintain the course. The course is being developed for Hope for Horses, INC. 

30 Days

Hope for Horses volunteer handbook

Keyboard navigation, visible focus indicators, and screen readers will be used. Accessibility is further increased for learners using screen readers by including alternate text to images. Video clips will include alternative text and/or closed captions. Articulate Rise 360 adheres to Section 508 accessibility standards and allows learners to navigate courses entirely with their keyboards. This feature is built into the published output.