application

Application

This application is due April 1st

(Print out this form and return to the address indicated at the bottom of this page
or fill out an on-line application.)

As a rough guide, most barn members spend about two hours a day at the barn (including cleaning their stall, doing assigned chores, doing 3-4 hours of "horse watch" a week and riding) as well as attending weekly barn meetings, weekly “night checks” with a partner, 2-3 “weekend watches” per semester, plan, organize and participate in parents weekend activities (October), Halloween Barn activities, and a spring event (March/April), as well as participate in one or two workdays each semester. Additionally, barn members are required to sign up for ASCI 097/098, "Horse Barn Cooperative," each semester that their horse is in the barn. This class meets fortnightly in the evening to discuss practical equine applications and this workload is in addition to all the barn activities described above. For your first year in the barn, you must rearrange your academic schedule to make room for this class (Monday's 4:40-5:30pm). We understand that your academic schedule and family emergencies are a priority over your duties as a barn member. However, if you choose to be a part of the cooperative, your barn duties take priority over jobs. Please honestly evaluate this time commitment before applying to the horse barn.

Along with this application, please include a minimum of a one page written essay telling the UVM Horse Barn Executive Committee how you and your horse will make a contribution to the cooperative and what the term “cooperative barn” means to you.

As part of your application process, it is highly recommended that you contact a member of the UVM Horse Barn Executive Committee and arrange to spend one day on a weekend working with that member at the UVM Horse Barn before April 1^st. Please call either 802-863-2151 or 802-656-0144 to get contact details for an Executive Committee member. Prior to working in the barn, you or a parent (if you are under 18 years) must sign a risk release form that is found at the end of this application.

With the submission of this application you are agreeing to abide by the terms outlined in the UVM Horse Barn Constitution Horse Barn Facts. Please read this material online at http://asci.uvm.edu/horsebarn/?Page=constitution.html.

Name:	___________________________________________________
Address where you can be reached over the summer:	___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________
Email Address:	_______________________________________
Phone Number (home):	_______________________________________
Phone Number (local):	_______________________________________
Antidcipated UVM graduation year:	_______________________________________
College at UVM:	___________________________________________________
Major:	___________________________________________________
Do you currently have a GPA of 2.0 or above?	Yes / No
Horse's Name:	___________________________________________________
Breed:	___________________________________________________
Sex:	___________________________________________________
Due to IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) regulations, we cannot allow horses weighing more than 1,333 lbs. to live in our 10' x 12' stalls. Generally this means we do not allow horses larger than 16.3 hh into our stalls. We will weight tape your horse upon arrival if there is any doubt about their size.
Height (in hands):	___________________________________________________
Weight (in pounds):	___________________________________________________
Age:	___________________________________________________

Please read online:

Tips for filling out this application:

Be honest, we understand no horse is perfect
Be thorough, the more information the better
Avoid yes or no answers when possible

General Information

Are you be willing to be interviewed by the current UVM Horse Barn Executive Committee, either by phone or in person if you live nearby?

Are you willing to come for a work day?

How long have you owned/leased your horse? If you lease your horse, please note that we require a written copy of your lease.

Please list the responsibilities you currently have or have had in caring for your horse. (Examples would be: feeding, mucking stalls, grooming, etc.)

Please list any experiences you curently have or have had in caring for other people's horses.

What has been your present or past involvement in horse-related clubs or activities?

Have you had any previous or past involvement with any UVM equine activities (equitation team, dressage team, equitation classes, Equus, etc.)?

Because the UVM Horse Barn is a cooperative environment, all barn members are required to share the responsibilities. Would you be willing to and be comfortable with:

Leading and working with horses of all sizes (sizes range from 14 to 17 hands)?
3 hours of horsewatch per week?
Participating in a 30-minute weekly night check with a partner sometime between 9-11 pm to ensure the safety of the horses?
2-3 workdays per semester, usually on the weekends?
2-3 weekend watches per semester, consisting of 4 hours of horsewatch either on Saturdays or Sundays?
Covering a total of 7 days of horsewatch with a partner over the vacation periods (winter break, Thanksgiving break & spring break)?
Being completely responsible for your horse, including daily stall cleaning and scheduling of farrier and veterinarian?
Other situations involved in caring for your horse and others?

Barn Situation

What type and size of stall does your horse live in?

Is your horse currently turned out in a pasture or a paddock? Please give details on the size and condition of your turnout situation.

What type of weather conditions does your horse go out in?

What type of fencing is used? Are you aware that UVM uses three-strand electric tape fencing?

How many hours a day does your horse spend in the pasture?

Our horses are turned out in groups of two to four horses per pasture, although we prefer to turn out in groups of four. Is your horse a candidate for a pasture group of four? Has your horse been turned out in large groups before?

Is your horse currently turned out in a group situation? Would your horse be comfortable in a ¾ acre pasture with up to three other horses?

Is your horse dominant, passive, or neutral in a group turnout situation? Please describe this in detail.

Describe your horse’s behavior when ridden with other horses in an enclosed arena.

Behavior

Can your horse be safely lead to and from pastures by other barn members, animal science students, and work study students? Keep in mind that many of the people that will be handling your horse may not be very experienced with horses.

Does your horse ever tear away when let loose in the pasture? If so, what do you do to correct this?

Do you turn your horse out to pasture with a halter on? Has your horse ever been difficult to catch?

Does your horse have any of these vices? If so please check all that apply. (Please be honest. Believe us, we realize that no horse is perfect.)

__Cribbing
__Biting
__Kicking in stall
__Kicking at other horses
__Kicking at people
__Pawing
__Weaving
__Stall walking
__Rearing
__Striking
__Charging

If you have checked any vices, explain the severity of the vice.

Does your horse have any other vices or habits that were not listed? Please include anything that you think other barn members need to be aware of, eg. horse will barge out of stall past handler, horse opens gates, horse gets cast, horse coughs if fed dusty hay.

How does your horse behave on the crossties? Will your horse crosstie and stand quietly? Paw while on the crossties? Stand on the crossties for the vet and farrier? Allow other horses to walk past while he or she is on the crossties? Attempt to break the crossties if he or she is frightened? Please explain his or her behavior.

How does your horse behave during feeding time? (i.e., does he or she suddenly develop a door-kicking, floor-pawing, people-biting fetish?)

Is your horse safe to open the door and walk into the stall to feed and water?

Will your horse be safe around the tractors, vehicles, and cows that are all a part of UVM's working farm environment?

Our farm is located between interstate 89 and another frequently traveled road. Explain your horse’s behavior with excessive traffic and vehicle noise.

Many of the guests and visitors to the farm are not familiar with how to behave safely around horses. How will you and your horse react to these guests and visitors, as well as the many small children that visit the farm?

Health

We require that all horses be de-wormed every two months starting in September. What is your current de-worming program?

Our de-worming program is based upon recommendations from Vermont Large Animal Clinic. Are you willing to switch to our program? (Horses on daily de-wormer do not need to switch onto our program). If not, please explain.

The barn has a vaccination clinic in the spring and fall. Will you be willing to accept and follow these recommendations?

No	Yes
____	____	A required vaccination for this barn is an annual rabies shot, as well as an annual negative Coggins test.
____	____	Recommended inoculations for this area are Tetanus, Influenza/Rhinopneumonitis, West Nile Virus, Potomac Horse Fever and Eastern/Western Encephalomyelitis.

If no, please explain.

Because this farm is a research and educational facility, all medical treatments and illnesses must be reported to the executive board members and the University Veterinarian. Will you be willing to disclose this information?

Does your horse currently have any chronic medical problems? Is he or she undergoing any treatments or medication?

Does your horse have a history of colic?

I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, this application is true, correct, and complete. I have read and submit to the terms listed in the UVM Horse Barn Constitution.

Applicant's name (please print):

_____________________________________________________

Applicant's signature: ____________________________________

Parent's signature (if applicant is under 18):

____________________________________

Owner's signature (if different from applicant or parent):

_____________________________________________________

Date: _________________________________________________

Please include with this application:

Proof of current (within one year) rabies and a negative Coggins test- a photocopy of these are acceptable.
A full-bodied color picture of your horse
At least two letters of recommendation (one for you and one for your horse) -- these must be from different sources and not from a close relative
One to two page written essay of what the term “co-operative barn” means to you
Optional-a short (3-5 min) video of your horse

Please return these to:

Mark Young
c/o Ellen A. Hardacre Equine Center
500 Spear Street
South Burlington, VT 05403

Application Information

This application is due by April 1^st
Interviews will take place before April 15^th
You may organize to spend a day working at the barn anytime before April 1^st
You will be notified of your acceptance status by May 1^st
Applications received after April 1^st are late, and will be considered for the waitlist.

Please feel free to call the barn at any time if you have any questions.

UVM Horse Barn: (802) 863-0205 » from Sept-May only
UVM Farm: (802) 862-2151 » year-round (this number has an answering machine)

Thank you for applying!

University of Vermont
Risk Release Form

I understand that all types of animals may react unpredictably to certain stimuli and situations and that there are inherent dangers in being on or around animals.

I agree that being in the presence of all animals at the UVM Farm or the Morgan Horse Farm (hereafter referred to as the MHF) is at my own risk and that I will hold harmless from any liability the University of Vermont and any individual associated in any way with the University of Vermont Farm or the MHF.

I hereby assume all risk of loss of life or injury arising out of or in any way connected to my presence at the UVM Farm and the surrounding facilities, or the MHF. I hereby waive any claims, which I have now or in the future against the University of Vermont.

I hereby certify that I have read and understand the foregoing, and that I agree to all these terms. I also understand that there is a separate helmet policy that I must read and follow.

_________________________________________________________
Name (please print)

_________________________________________________________
Street Address

_________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip Code

___________________________________
Phone

__________________________________________            __________
Signature                                                                                            Date

__________________________________________            __________
Signature of Parent or Guardian (under 18)                                Date

Warning

Under Vermont Law, an equine activity sponsor is not liable for injury to, or death of, a participant in equine activities resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities that are obvious and necessary, pursuant to 12 V.S.A. 1039.

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