Today I’m starting a series on the various worlds of horseback riding. Perhaps your child saw a movie, read a book or talked to a friend and has approached you about wanting to ride horses. As I’ve mentioned before in this blog, the very LAST thing you should do the first time your child expresses an interest is consider buying a horse.
Your first step should be to encourage your child to take riding lessons. However, you’re likely to find that there are a number of different stables in your area where lessons are offered and very likely a number different styles of riding are represented by those stables. Which style you and your child choose will determine how your child relates to the horse and what skills they learn to ask the horse for. For example:
English Riding Disciplines:
Hunter/Jumper horses walk, trot, canter and jump with style, control and an even pace. In horse shows, these horses and riders are either judged on their style, obedience and turn-out or their speed and accuracy over a course of fences.
English / Saddle-Seat horses walk, trot and canter, but also show off gaits unique to their breeding and training such as the slow-gait, running walk and the rack. The emphasis in shows for these horses is similar to hunter / jumpers in that turnout, an even pace and style are all important, as is “suspension” in the gaits; however, saddle-seat and “gaited horses,” as they are sometimes called, do not jump in competition.
Dressage / Combined Training horses practice three disciplines that evolved from the tests that horses and riders used to undergo for the cavalry. Dressage, meaning “training” in French is an exacting pattern test involving walk, trot and canter and a number of unique movements designed to test the horse’s gymnastic ability as well as his submission to the rider. Cross country and stadium jumping, the other two disciplines are designed to test the horse’s speed and endurance as well as his trust and obedience to the rider. Some horses and riders study only dressage without cross country or stadium jumping.
Western Riding Disciplines:
Cutting horses are trained to respond not only to cues from the rider’s hands and heels, but also to the slightest shifts in the rider’s weight which help guide the horse to work much like a herding dog when “cutting” one cow out of a herd. In shows, the emphasis for cutting horses and riders is on successfully “reading” the cues from the animal trying to rejoin the herd and staying ahead of the animal’s motion all without obvious use of the rider’s hands to guide the horse.
Reining horses are to Western riding what dressage horses are to English riding. Reining horses also focus on performing the three main gates in a very specialized pattern and are also judged in shows on their gymnastic ability and obedience to their rider.
Rodeo Sport horses perform various tests of speed and agility such as barrel racing, pole-bending, flag races, etc. Mostly determined by the stopwatch and the successful maneuvering through obstacles (without jumping), rodeo horses must be swift and capable of tight turns as well numerous quick starts and stops.
The six disciplines of horseback riding mentioned here ARE FAR FROM A COMPLETE LIST. Not being a Western rider myself, I may not have even come close to the most popular types of Western riding These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what your child can study and how they can compete, if they choose, in horse shows.
Tune into the next entry, coming soon in which I will describe English riding in general, its origins and a few reasons why your child might choose to study riding English. Until next time, happy trails!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Trailering Tips - Add Yours in the Comments Section
Never mind that my mom had been riding horses all her life. I think her eyes got bigger and her nerves got stretched harder than any horse's ever did at the sight of a horse trailer. I don't know what it was/is, but trailering can be a source of anxiety for the many people and horses. Anyone have suggestions for how to make this necessary activity less stressful for all? Read some of my tips below.
1. Keep any high strung people away while loading and unloading.
Horses will pick up on human nerves so if a person who's participating in the loading or unloading is nervous, the horse will sniff that out and likely become nervous as well.
2. Make loading and unloading something you do more often than just when you're leaving the farm or going to a show.
Horses don't tend to want to leave their familiar pastures so if there's a way that you can disassociate loading and unloading from actual travel, that's a good thing. If you're horse is used to getting on the trailer once a week and getting right back off, he'll forget about the few times you actually took him somewhere else after he was on the trailer. Plus, if you can make the process something he does frequently, he'll become calmly bored with it.
3. Travel with a calmer horse.
If possible, there's nothing more calming to a horse than traveling with a buddy, especially if that buddy is so completely dead calm bored with trailering that the idea that getting on a trailer could be scary is laughable to him. If a skittish horse sees a companion horse step onto the trailer like it's the most natural, unscary thing in the world, he's more likely to follow suit.
Anyone have any other good tips...there are lots of techniques. Share what has (and hasn't) worked for you in the comments section.
1. Keep any high strung people away while loading and unloading.
Horses will pick up on human nerves so if a person who's participating in the loading or unloading is nervous, the horse will sniff that out and likely become nervous as well.
2. Make loading and unloading something you do more often than just when you're leaving the farm or going to a show.
Horses don't tend to want to leave their familiar pastures so if there's a way that you can disassociate loading and unloading from actual travel, that's a good thing. If you're horse is used to getting on the trailer once a week and getting right back off, he'll forget about the few times you actually took him somewhere else after he was on the trailer. Plus, if you can make the process something he does frequently, he'll become calmly bored with it.
3. Travel with a calmer horse.
If possible, there's nothing more calming to a horse than traveling with a buddy, especially if that buddy is so completely dead calm bored with trailering that the idea that getting on a trailer could be scary is laughable to him. If a skittish horse sees a companion horse step onto the trailer like it's the most natural, unscary thing in the world, he's more likely to follow suit.
Anyone have any other good tips...there are lots of techniques. Share what has (and hasn't) worked for you in the comments section.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Article Part 5: Have They Earned It?
You’ll know your child deserves a horse and that (if your financial and overall life situation allow) it’s time to buy when your child has proven their commitment to riding and their genuine love of horses. You’ll know they’re ready…
• when they want to spend more and more time at the stable
• when they’re willing to do barn work like mucking out stalls in exchange for more riding time.
• when they start to pass their knowledge to less experienced riders and you can see the excitement in their face while they’re doing it
• when they don’t look to others to tack or un-tack their horse, pick its feet or muck its stall
• when they go to the stable on an off day just to give their favorite horse a bath or a special treat
• when they’ve asked their instructor without outside encouragement if there’s more they can do to help around the barn
These aren’t all the signs and you may not see every one of these specifically, but you know your child better than anyone else and you’ll know when they’ve truly earned it, when you can tell that they’re not going to balk at the idea of getting up before school to go feed their horse in the morning if necessary, when they’ll turn down a birthday party or a movie with friends without a second thought in order to be with their horse themselves during its vet visit instead of letting someone else handle it. You’ll know without doubt that they’ve earned it, in essence, when they think of their horse much the same way that you think of them, wanting the best, wanting to be there and truly enjoying the ride.
So these last five posts are (in a nutshell) what this blog will be all about. Got specific questions? Send them my way. Got comments? Bring them on. I am here for you, for your children and for all the horses who come into your care. Happy Trails!
• when they want to spend more and more time at the stable
• when they’re willing to do barn work like mucking out stalls in exchange for more riding time.
• when they start to pass their knowledge to less experienced riders and you can see the excitement in their face while they’re doing it
• when they don’t look to others to tack or un-tack their horse, pick its feet or muck its stall
• when they go to the stable on an off day just to give their favorite horse a bath or a special treat
• when they’ve asked their instructor without outside encouragement if there’s more they can do to help around the barn
These aren’t all the signs and you may not see every one of these specifically, but you know your child better than anyone else and you’ll know when they’ve truly earned it, when you can tell that they’re not going to balk at the idea of getting up before school to go feed their horse in the morning if necessary, when they’ll turn down a birthday party or a movie with friends without a second thought in order to be with their horse themselves during its vet visit instead of letting someone else handle it. You’ll know without doubt that they’ve earned it, in essence, when they think of their horse much the same way that you think of them, wanting the best, wanting to be there and truly enjoying the ride.
So these last five posts are (in a nutshell) what this blog will be all about. Got specific questions? Send them my way. Got comments? Bring them on. I am here for you, for your children and for all the horses who come into your care. Happy Trails!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Article Part 4: Three Priceless Benefits of Horseback Riding
Now that I have your reeling and backing away from this idea with heels dug in, let me tell you about some of the considerable joys that can come from your child’s companionship with the right horse. This is the factor in your decision-making that you should let your heart dictate.
1. Watching your child develop confidence in him or herself.
And this is something your child can and should develop during riding lessons before owning a horse. You don’t have to purchase a horse to reap this benefit for your child. Because riding and handling horses is so very much a psychological exchange, your child has a significant advantage over you. Just as no one has told the horse that it is larger than the human, no one has (or should) tell your child that there’s any reason he or she can’t ride and control a horse. As your child gains stability in the saddle and confidence in handling the horse on the ground, you’ll be amazed how easily they control their horse. That can-do attitude, vital to successful riding and horse handling, will grow with them into other aspects of their life.
As your child approaches and experiences adolescence riding can be a fantastic haven, a single area of their life where they feel 100% in control and in charge. I can’t tell you how valuable this very aspect of riding was for me through the difficult years of puberty. And as a parent who agonizes over your child’s happiness, you may find a haven in their horseback riding as well, a precious hour or two out of each week when you know they are feeling in control and their self-esteem is kicked into high gear.
2. Watching your child gain problem-solving skills.
Again, your child doesn’t have to own a horse to reap this benefit. Weekly lessons are sufficient. Horseback riding lessons are a unique learning opportunity in that problem-solving is built into nearly every moment you spend with a horse. Your child is learning so many things and in most cases, with for instance, math, soccer, trumpet or skateboarding, your child is being told or figuring out a certain set of steps, rules, directions or movements the get to the desired outcome. If your child is precise in learning and following those steps, rules, etc, their outcome will be positive. In horseback riding, your child is forced to contend with an x-factor not present in any of the other activities, a second mind with a will of its own. And they can’t simply overcome that second mind by arguing verbally. They must learn to read and respond to their horse. They must learn to tweak the commands their giving the animal depending on it’s mood that particular day. They must learn how different horses respond differently to directions, how what works with one horse on one day my hold no sway with the same horse on a different day or a different horse on the same day. They learn versatility, empathy, positive-thought-framing and a slew of other tricks that they can again tuck up their sleeve for use later in life. You’ll want to be there to watch them learn and triumph.
3. Watching your child gain responsibility.
And this is where actually buying a horse for you child cannot be equaled by riding lessons. If your riding stable is worth its salt the instructor will teach your child more than just getting on, riding and getting off. They’ll teach the child to groom the horse, tack it up, un-tack it and cool it out and give them as much of an idea as possible of what it takes to care for a horse, but your child won’t really know until they own their own horse which brings me back to where I started and the greatest factor that should weigh into your decision making above all others when deciding whether or not to buy your child a horse…
Tune in over the next few days for the 5th and final installment of the So Your Child Wants a Horse original article. Until then, Happy Trails!
1. Watching your child develop confidence in him or herself.
And this is something your child can and should develop during riding lessons before owning a horse. You don’t have to purchase a horse to reap this benefit for your child. Because riding and handling horses is so very much a psychological exchange, your child has a significant advantage over you. Just as no one has told the horse that it is larger than the human, no one has (or should) tell your child that there’s any reason he or she can’t ride and control a horse. As your child gains stability in the saddle and confidence in handling the horse on the ground, you’ll be amazed how easily they control their horse. That can-do attitude, vital to successful riding and horse handling, will grow with them into other aspects of their life.
As your child approaches and experiences adolescence riding can be a fantastic haven, a single area of their life where they feel 100% in control and in charge. I can’t tell you how valuable this very aspect of riding was for me through the difficult years of puberty. And as a parent who agonizes over your child’s happiness, you may find a haven in their horseback riding as well, a precious hour or two out of each week when you know they are feeling in control and their self-esteem is kicked into high gear.
2. Watching your child gain problem-solving skills.
Again, your child doesn’t have to own a horse to reap this benefit. Weekly lessons are sufficient. Horseback riding lessons are a unique learning opportunity in that problem-solving is built into nearly every moment you spend with a horse. Your child is learning so many things and in most cases, with for instance, math, soccer, trumpet or skateboarding, your child is being told or figuring out a certain set of steps, rules, directions or movements the get to the desired outcome. If your child is precise in learning and following those steps, rules, etc, their outcome will be positive. In horseback riding, your child is forced to contend with an x-factor not present in any of the other activities, a second mind with a will of its own. And they can’t simply overcome that second mind by arguing verbally. They must learn to read and respond to their horse. They must learn to tweak the commands their giving the animal depending on it’s mood that particular day. They must learn how different horses respond differently to directions, how what works with one horse on one day my hold no sway with the same horse on a different day or a different horse on the same day. They learn versatility, empathy, positive-thought-framing and a slew of other tricks that they can again tuck up their sleeve for use later in life. You’ll want to be there to watch them learn and triumph.
3. Watching your child gain responsibility.
And this is where actually buying a horse for you child cannot be equaled by riding lessons. If your riding stable is worth its salt the instructor will teach your child more than just getting on, riding and getting off. They’ll teach the child to groom the horse, tack it up, un-tack it and cool it out and give them as much of an idea as possible of what it takes to care for a horse, but your child won’t really know until they own their own horse which brings me back to where I started and the greatest factor that should weigh into your decision making above all others when deciding whether or not to buy your child a horse…
Tune in over the next few days for the 5th and final installment of the So Your Child Wants a Horse original article. Until then, Happy Trails!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Article Part 3: There's No Such Thing as a Free Horse
Truer words were never spoken. Even if you child won a pony in a contest, keeping the pony means agreeing to take care of it. A horse by itself (by the way, horses are not happy by themselves) requires at least two acres fenced with three or four plank fence, woven wire with a top board or electric fence (chain link and barbed wire fence are not safe for horses and cannot be used). The fence should be at least four feet tall, and the field should have grass, water and shelter from rain and sun. Every additional horse requires at least one additional acre. If you don’t own such a pasture, you will have to pay to board your child’s horse on a farm. Also, do you remember the list of responsibilities that you might need a professional’s help with? Every item on that list costs money and none are negotiable. Denying your child’s horse any of these items or procedures, or performing them less frequently than suggested is nothing less than animal cruelty. It’s true that horses in the wild receive none of these treatments, but in the wild, horses hooves are worn down by travel over rough terrain, horses that get diseases weaken and are left behind such that disease doesn’t spread through an entire herd. Free run over thousands of acres ensures plenty of grass through the winter and less chance to be grazing near manure piles which is how horses contract worms. You can see how when we confine horses together in pastures of three or even 100 acres, we create numerous problems for them. When we own horses, we’re responsible for relieving these problems.
The last several posts have included all the cautionary advice, and by now you're probably thinking you'd rather keep your child away from horses all together, but tune in at least one more time in the next few days to read about the SIGNIFICANT, AMAZING benfits your child will gain from horseback riding. The next post: "Three Priceless Benefits to Horseback Riding" will appear soon!
Happy Trails!
The last several posts have included all the cautionary advice, and by now you're probably thinking you'd rather keep your child away from horses all together, but tune in at least one more time in the next few days to read about the SIGNIFICANT, AMAZING benfits your child will gain from horseback riding. The next post: "Three Priceless Benefits to Horseback Riding" will appear soon!
Happy Trails!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Article Part 2: Your Access to Horse Professionals and the Horse Community
So let’s say your child has been taking lessons for at least two years. By this time, you probably have a better idea of what’s involved in caring for a horse. Chances are you’ve done more than pet the pony’s nose at this point. You’ve likely had your child come up to you and say, “Hold Sparky for a second, Mom” handing you the reins without noticing the terrified look on your face. This experience should underline the basic need for your child to have access horse professionals and the local horse community. Owning a horse is not the next step up from simply dropping your child off for lessons each week. It’s about ten steps up. Once you own the animal, someone will have to be responsible for holding the horse to have its feet trimmed every six weeks, scheduling and facilitating vet visits every six months, de-worming (and convincing the horse to actually swallow the de-wormer paste) every other month and feeding the horse (preferably twice a day) every day of the year that the grass doesn’t grow. Keep in mind, we’re talking about animal that averages about 1000 pounds.
Horses are controllable by humans for much the same reason that bumblebees can fly. No one told the bumblebee it couldn’t fly and no one told the horse it’s bigger than the human. Furthermore, problem horses are created by unsure handlers. Once the horse senses your insecurity, it may become nervous itself and begin to act up out of its own mistrust and fear. Or, if it has places it would rather be such as dozing under its favorite tree or gorging itself in the feed room and you’re not feeling confident about keeping it quiet for the vet or the blacksmith, it’s probably going to try to escape the situation and go where it wants to go. And the more a horse gets away with disobeying a handler, the more it will try it and the closer it will come to realizing it doesn’t have to do what humans want it to do. Horses can be ruined this way. Far better to be able to count on someone who’s been holding horses for blacksmiths and vets for years. You will likely have to pay this person to assist you, but it’s well worth it to keep your child’s horse as a safe and well-mannered companion.
Tune in over the next few days for the third installment of the So Your Child Wants a Horse original article, "There's No Such Thing as a Free Horse."
Horses are controllable by humans for much the same reason that bumblebees can fly. No one told the bumblebee it couldn’t fly and no one told the horse it’s bigger than the human. Furthermore, problem horses are created by unsure handlers. Once the horse senses your insecurity, it may become nervous itself and begin to act up out of its own mistrust and fear. Or, if it has places it would rather be such as dozing under its favorite tree or gorging itself in the feed room and you’re not feeling confident about keeping it quiet for the vet or the blacksmith, it’s probably going to try to escape the situation and go where it wants to go. And the more a horse gets away with disobeying a handler, the more it will try it and the closer it will come to realizing it doesn’t have to do what humans want it to do. Horses can be ruined this way. Far better to be able to count on someone who’s been holding horses for blacksmiths and vets for years. You will likely have to pay this person to assist you, but it’s well worth it to keep your child’s horse as a safe and well-mannered companion.
Tune in over the next few days for the third installment of the So Your Child Wants a Horse original article, "There's No Such Thing as a Free Horse."
Saturday, July 3, 2010
SYCWAH: The Article - Part 1
Many years ago, I wrote an article on this topic. It's a condensed version of what this blog will be about. I wrote it long before I really knew what a blog was. I tried to market it to Parents Magazine, but never heard back from them. Here is part 1. Come back to read part 2 coming soon!
Unless you’re a parent who can look nostalgically back on your own years as an equestrian and horse-owner, the idea of buying your child a horse may seem just as daunting as the idea of buying them a jumbo jet, perhaps even more-so considering the jet doesn’t have a mind of its own. In actuality, the feasibility and appropriateness of buying a horse for your child depend on a number of factors, and even the parent who’s never so much as petted a pony on the nose can become a successful partner to their child’s endeavor provided those factors come into line.
1. Your Child’s Level of Horse Knowledge.
If your child has never had a riding lesson, buying him or her a horse is out of the question. It would be unfair and hazardous to both your child and the horse. Sure, people in the movies seem to be able to just hop on and ride right away, but trust the word of someone who took weekly lessons for five years just to become utilitarian in the saddle; riding correctly, safely and effectively involves a lot more than sitting up on a horse’s back. Not to mention, riding lessons facilitate so much more than just good position, stability in the saddle and effective use of the aids that allow you to guide your horse. Lessons also bring you into contact with the horse community that will prove invaluable to you once you become an owner. (Who will you get to look after your child’s horse when you want to go on vacation for instance, if you don’t know anyone else in your local horse community?) In fact, you should not consider looking for a horse for your child without the consultation of his or her riding instructor, and that instructor will need to be familiar with your child’s abilities and knowledge level. Thus, looking to purchase a horse without first investing in several months and preferably several years of lessons is an unwise proposition to say the least. You know better than anyone how often your child’s interests shift, and you don’t want to be saddled with the expense and responsibility of a horse if your child is not committed.
Part 2 of this article, "Your Access to Horse Professionals and the Horse Community." will be appearing soon.
Until then, Happy Trails!
Unless you’re a parent who can look nostalgically back on your own years as an equestrian and horse-owner, the idea of buying your child a horse may seem just as daunting as the idea of buying them a jumbo jet, perhaps even more-so considering the jet doesn’t have a mind of its own. In actuality, the feasibility and appropriateness of buying a horse for your child depend on a number of factors, and even the parent who’s never so much as petted a pony on the nose can become a successful partner to their child’s endeavor provided those factors come into line.
1. Your Child’s Level of Horse Knowledge.
If your child has never had a riding lesson, buying him or her a horse is out of the question. It would be unfair and hazardous to both your child and the horse. Sure, people in the movies seem to be able to just hop on and ride right away, but trust the word of someone who took weekly lessons for five years just to become utilitarian in the saddle; riding correctly, safely and effectively involves a lot more than sitting up on a horse’s back. Not to mention, riding lessons facilitate so much more than just good position, stability in the saddle and effective use of the aids that allow you to guide your horse. Lessons also bring you into contact with the horse community that will prove invaluable to you once you become an owner. (Who will you get to look after your child’s horse when you want to go on vacation for instance, if you don’t know anyone else in your local horse community?) In fact, you should not consider looking for a horse for your child without the consultation of his or her riding instructor, and that instructor will need to be familiar with your child’s abilities and knowledge level. Thus, looking to purchase a horse without first investing in several months and preferably several years of lessons is an unwise proposition to say the least. You know better than anyone how often your child’s interests shift, and you don’t want to be saddled with the expense and responsibility of a horse if your child is not committed.
Part 2 of this article, "Your Access to Horse Professionals and the Horse Community." will be appearing soon.
Until then, Happy Trails!
Welcome
Welcome to So Your Child Wants a Horse! This blog will serve all "horse parents," that is parents of children who are interested in horses. Whether the horse world is still a daydream for your child or he or she already owns a horse, this blog will serve as a resource for your quandries large and small.
I'm Horsey Mommy and I've been horse crazy since birth. I remember riding my mom's horse when I was so little that she and her best friend had to walk alongside of me each holding onto one of my legs to keep me from falling off. That was long before I even turned five and had my first riding lesson.
As I began to learn about horses and soak in equine knowledge, my well-versed mother continued to "walk beside me" so to speak always able to help with years of experience in the saddle, riding and owning her own horses. Making friends at my weekly riding lessons and attending our first shows, I noticed many (most) of the other parents weren't nearly as skilled around horses as my mother was. Few had ridden, let alone cared for or owned a horse. The majority jumped in as best they could for their children's sake.
I remember feeling sorry for those kids. How frustrating, I thought, to have a mom who was too scared to come with you in the field to catch your horse, who had no idea how to help you groom, tack up or "give you a leg" (help you get on). How peevish those thoughts seem to me now! A new mother myself, I have an entirely different perspective. I should have been feeling sorry for the parents. How terrifying must it be to walk into a field of 20 horses not knowing what they might do at any minute or what you should do (let alone how to protect your child) if they...fill-in-the-blank. How hard would be to have to tell your child you had no idea which brush it was that she shouldn't use on the horse's legs or that the bridle looked right to you, having no idea whether any of it's been done correctly.
"Born in the saddle" is just an expression. No one is born with horse knowledge. What I have has been gained over more than 20 years of interaction with horses and more than 30 years of being a part of the horse world. I've taken riding lessons, showed horses, owned them and provided riding instruction for children and adults. I know full well, it's not just the kids who need to learn if they're ever to fully join the world of horses. You (their parents) will have to know it all too, especially if you're ever planning buy them a horse of their own (something you should NOT do until your child has had years (yes, that was plural) YEARS of riding lessons.
Want to know more? Tune in for my next post, part one of the article that started it all.
Happy Trails!
I'm Horsey Mommy and I've been horse crazy since birth. I remember riding my mom's horse when I was so little that she and her best friend had to walk alongside of me each holding onto one of my legs to keep me from falling off. That was long before I even turned five and had my first riding lesson.
As I began to learn about horses and soak in equine knowledge, my well-versed mother continued to "walk beside me" so to speak always able to help with years of experience in the saddle, riding and owning her own horses. Making friends at my weekly riding lessons and attending our first shows, I noticed many (most) of the other parents weren't nearly as skilled around horses as my mother was. Few had ridden, let alone cared for or owned a horse. The majority jumped in as best they could for their children's sake.
I remember feeling sorry for those kids. How frustrating, I thought, to have a mom who was too scared to come with you in the field to catch your horse, who had no idea how to help you groom, tack up or "give you a leg" (help you get on). How peevish those thoughts seem to me now! A new mother myself, I have an entirely different perspective. I should have been feeling sorry for the parents. How terrifying must it be to walk into a field of 20 horses not knowing what they might do at any minute or what you should do (let alone how to protect your child) if they...fill-in-the-blank. How hard would be to have to tell your child you had no idea which brush it was that she shouldn't use on the horse's legs or that the bridle looked right to you, having no idea whether any of it's been done correctly.
"Born in the saddle" is just an expression. No one is born with horse knowledge. What I have has been gained over more than 20 years of interaction with horses and more than 30 years of being a part of the horse world. I've taken riding lessons, showed horses, owned them and provided riding instruction for children and adults. I know full well, it's not just the kids who need to learn if they're ever to fully join the world of horses. You (their parents) will have to know it all too, especially if you're ever planning buy them a horse of their own (something you should NOT do until your child has had years (yes, that was plural) YEARS of riding lessons.
Want to know more? Tune in for my next post, part one of the article that started it all.
Happy Trails!
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