Learning is Fun

 Here are some handy links with free educational resources I've come across this week.

- Is your horse "off" but you struggle to say where (or if it's even real?). Never fear, the Lameness Trainer is here. It's set up as a game, so it starts out 'easy' with obviously lame/not lame examples, then the idea is that as it progresses through the levels, you're training your eye to see even subtle lameness and reliably identify where.

- There are a bunch of saddle and bridle fitting videos here. Plus some chats about social license to operate, horse welfare, and biosecurity. They're geared a little towards promoting various people and programs but there is still some good, free, information.

- FEI Campus You need to make or have a free account for this one, but there are a ton of topics covered. I ended up here after googling some equine biomechanics questions that led me to a frustrating loop of 'it's Sooper Sekret and we are the only ones who know, but we can't tell you without a paid subscription' websites. Maybe I'm the last person to know the FEI has a bunch of free 'courses' but here it is, in case you didn't know either.

The educational process for the SMS saddle fitting has been initiated and the next step was to apply for "Trainee Saddle Fitter" status. I checked that off the list last week, and from here, there are choices to make. There are some definite milestones and goalposts to look and plan for, but you're fairly free to pick up education and experience as you can (outside of the 'must-haves' the SMS requires if that's the certification you want to pursue). There are a number of options and timelines and it feels a little bit like first year university all over again, where you sort of know your interests and end plan but also there is the angst of picking the right path for yourself.