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Re: [RC] [RC] [RC] Kids, ponies and distance riding... Get a grip people - Barbara McCraryI'm going to try to answer this as thoughtfully as possible, but it won't be easy because of the way I feel. In our area, in our business, in our own personal lives, some controlling entity, be it federal, state, or local, has gone overboard to direct OUR lives according to THEIR beliefs of what is best for us. I feel that this constant control is weakening our society to the point that we cannot do what we want or judge the best for US, thus making us "dependent" on these entities for all our decisions. Some people just kick back and accept this control as "that's the way it is." Some of us more stubborn, determined ones fight back in whatever way we can. I know that a lot of the control is based on too many people wanting too much of the pie, in other words....overpopulation. But I will continue to stand against what I consider unnecessary control. It is certainly stupid and cruel to force some little kid into endurance riding if he doesn't want to, but I would think the flak that comes from the kid....whining, crying, whatever...would be enough to discourage the parent from continuing such force. Maybe not. I still think that parents should have some right to judge what is best for their kids, and I just don't see this as an epidemic. Do you really see a bunch of parents shoving their kids onto horses or ponies and out on the trail, just to set some sort of record? I attribute better sense to most parents than that. Now if you want to go back in history a bit, there were doubtless little kids on horseback, helping move cattle at a very young age. They just grew up to be skilled horsemen and cattlemen. Actually, some ranch kids are doing that today. Barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: "Karen Sullivan" <greymare56@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: "Barbara McCrary" <bigcreekranch@xxxxxxxxxx>; <heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <elite@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, December 23, 2004 7:55 AM Subject: Re: [RC] [RC] [RC] Kids, ponies and distance riding... Get a grip people ----- Original Message ----- From: "Barbara McCrary" <bigcreekranch@xxxxxxxxxx> It's also just too silly to presume anyone's life is going to be ruined if they do an endurance ride younger than age 8. I temper that statement with the precaution that the child's parent(s) must ride with their own child and be responsible for the child's safety. Again, I don't see this as becoming an epidemic. Leave it alone. Barbara ---- Hi Barbara, actually, that is an very reasonable possibility....if some parent wants their kid to set a record for youngest age at sanctioned ride, or number of miles or rides before age whatever......what will the long term effects be on their body from being on a horse that much with the motion, legs stretched at wide angle for hours, etc. This is why I keep saying child development experts need to be consulted. There are just things very young children should not do....hence car-seat laws , etc. Their bodies are just different, joints soft, etc. Karen =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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