Natucate
Volunteering Canada Horse Welfare – Jessica
Volunteering in North America: Jessica spent two months in Canada with us, where she helped take care of horses in need on a ranch in Southern Alberta.
Profile
Name: Jessica
Age: 19
Project: Horse protection in Canada
Location: Southern Alberta
Duration: 11.03.2022 - 22.05.2022
Rating
Support from the Natucate team:
Arrival:
Partner on site:
Accommodation:
Animal welfare in Canada– Feedback: Seven questions for Jessica
1) Could you give us a short overview of your tasks in the project?
My daily tasks included feeding the animals, administering medication, mucking out the paddocks and checking the welfare of the animals. Other tasks included repairing the fences or helping out with special activities, such as visiting the farrier or veterinary treatments.
2) What were the biggest challenges for you during the project?
In the beginning, the biggest challenges were memorising much information and many procedures about feeding, medication and care of the animals. After that, my biggest challenge was to remember all the animals' names and be able to match them. Of course, this is not expected, but it was one of my personal goals.
3) Was there anything you liked in particular? Or something that you remember particularly negatively?
The birth of a foal and watching it grow up afterwards was very beautiful. Especially because I had never seen such a young foal before. Once, an orphaned foal came to the ranch when it was just one day old. We had to bottle-feed it until we had found a suitable replacement mother and the foal had learned to drink from its mother again.
4) Did you have certain expectations before you travelled to the project?
I had no particular expectations of the ranch, the accommodation, or my stay at the ranch in general. I just wanted to have fun, experience new things and enjoy the time at the ranch and with the horses, and I definitely did.
5) Have you done anything in your free time that you can recommend to future participants?
We often went to Sundre for dinner at the weekend after the evening feed. Especially at Original T's, the food is delicious. Afternoon trips to Olds for lunch and shopping are also really fun. If the weather is nice, a short trip to nearby waterfront camping grounds would be a good idea.
6) What recommendations would you give to other participants?
I would definitely give you the tip to do something in your free time, e.g. go to Olds or Sundre or visit a campsite by the water. It's definitely worth it and a nice change from everyday ranch life.
7) Can you estimate how many additional costs you had on site?
For shopping or groceries, you can expect about 70 € - 80 € per week.
8) Further comments from Jessica:
One of my best experiences was a little trip with Astrid. She drove with us for an afternoon past Sundre into the vastness of Canada so that we could hopefully spot some real wild horses. And we were lucky. We saw several small herds and, as it was spring, many foals.
