Senior Project Portfolio Report

The subject I’ve chosen for my Senior Capstone Experience project is the Pizza Theorem. The research will initially began by defining the theorem, as well as demonstrate whether there is a way to equally proportion a pizza between individuals with an odd numbers of slices rather than an even amount. Secondly, show the differences between a small, medium, and large sized pizza and determine which size is the best alternative when making a choice. Lastly, demonstrate that if a given pizza is cut into equal amounts for two individuals, one individual will always happen to consume a greater amount than the other.

Excited whispers rose from my riding group as we sat outside the arena for our group lesson. A set of cross-rails was set up in our usually empty riding space. My lower level riding group lessons had so far consisted only of trotting posture, called posting, and galloping. “Today, we will be trotting over crossrails and holding jumping position. No jumping.” the instructor stated sternly. As I sat on my horse in the line of horses flush against the wall of the arena, I felt a strange mixture of anticipation and disappointment. Though I had only taken a few lessons before coming to SJ Ranch Riding Camp, I felt I was far more capable than the rest of the group I’d been placed in. What I lacked in ability I made up for in maturity and eagerness to learn and progress.

Countless hours have been spent in the saddle practicing for horse shows. The late summer nights practicing in the sandy stable. The scorching days spent going ceaselessly in circles around the practice ring. Despite the dirt and sweat, I was doing what I loved most.

Kate, a professional rider, had three horses lined up for me to ride. The first was a young mare, about eight years old, a well muscled chestnut with plenty of competition experience. I rode her up into the grassy field beside the barn. Kate instructed me on this horse for about 20 minutes.

“Go take a shower, you smell like a horse,” has been said to me numerous times by my family in the 13 years I have been surrounded by the horse industry. Competing in hunter and jumper shows throughout Virginia and Florida has held weight outside of merely riding and taught me the idea of banishing any shreds of arrogance, thinking before acting, and accepting and learning from small failures. These lessons may be applied to every aspect of life but they did not outweigh how much I would discover about future.

Alumni of these projects discover occupations in various stallion related positions, including outbuilding supervisor, riding teacher or steed mentor. Numerous occupations in the equine business require information of the business notwithstanding equine science.

This topic makes sense for Modern Farmer because it offers information related to horses that even the most avid equine lover probably does not know.

The night my mom told my trainer that I was quitting was the night that I shed the most tears because the things I didn’t want to say out loud were all becoming a reality. My conflicting emotions got the best of me, and though I tried to hold my tears in, my lip was trembling to hard and I couldn’t hold it back. I was going to miss the horse I rode, Excalibur. He was an old man, but you wouldn’t have been able to tell. Though he was twenty-eight he acted like he was five and could blaze through a hunter course a million times without batting an eye. His owner, Kat, had really enjoyed watching us work together because she believed we had a great bond with each other. I understood him, and likewise he understood me. After that day, I spent the next few chilly, early fall Wednesday nights at the barn working hard and wistfully remembering the days when I could enjoy this activity without feeling so stressed. I had no problem making these last moments at the barn the best they could be, and on the Wednesday night before the show we rode our hunter course perfectly. Kat posted a video of our spectacular performance on Flickr. I felt ready to knock it out of the park on Saturday, but no one, including me, knew of the mediocre job I would do on the big

While still under employment at IPS I was made aware of a senior project that the owner Mike Brask wanted me to do for my project; he has had experience with SUU students beforehand and had a project prepared. The basics of my project would be based around SolidWorks as well as their new CNC (computer numeric controlled) Lathe that had just been purchased. While working on my senior project I was able to experience new training, new machines as well as hand programming for CNC machines.

I grew up on my family’s century dairy farm. However, I only knew it after it become a retired dairy, but my family quickly replaced the cows with horses, beef cattle, chickens, cats, and two dogs. Growing up I knew I was a lucky kid to have my own pony and eventually a horse. I able to show in 4-H, at both the local and state level, I was also able to see a different side of agriculture that few people have the privilege of witnessing. The equine and equestrian industry is truly a blessing to have grown up in and is one of my favorite parts of the agriculture industry. I was six years old when I swore that I would never become a veterinary. I made this promise to myself after watching our local veterinary check to see if a cow was pregnant.

I came up with my senior project idea while on a road trip in spring of last year. My dad and I were talking about my grandma's property and thought it would be a cool place for a mountain bike trail. We talked and made a pretty good plan to start during the summer.

Starting in sixth grade and every year since then I have competed in the Wisconsin State 4-H Horse Speaking and Demonstration competition. This event is held at UW-Marathon county each May. I have competed and received awards in team demonstrations, individual demonstrations, and prepared speech. I have won top tens under the topics of horse treat preparation, equine first aid, dealing with natural disasters, and the importance of wearing a helmet while riding a horse. I have earned reserve champion in the topics of equine safety and the benefits of therapeutic riding. I have also received grand champion and given the incredible opportunity of moving on to speak at the national level. I presented at Quarter Horse Congress in Ohio twice, in 2014 and then again in 2015. In 2014 I was also able to compete in the category of individual demonstration 4-H Eastern Nationals in Kentucky. I received a ninth out of about twenty participants, with demonstration on equestrian vaulting. I will be speaking at Kentucky again this year in the prepared speech

Seniors in El Dorado County, California, will find that participating in recreational activities will help to rejuvenate and refresh their mind, body or both. Getting active will also aid in reducing their stress. Here are local senior-friendly activities that seniors will find enjoyable and beneficial:

Belief that you and your horse are a capable team is vital to accomplish anything, even as simple as a trail ride. However, the horse’s actual capabilities must always be considered first.

I’ve owned a pony since I was six years old, but I’ve been around horses all my life. From a young age, I had always thought that I was a horse guru. I was confident with horses and never doubted my ability for a second. I believed that I was a natural and because of this, nothing could ever wrong. This was the mindset I had before my first horse show.