Re: [RC] kids~one likes horses, the other???? - Carol Suggs
Regarding kids and riding...well they just have to
have the BUG or HORSE FEVER. There is no pushing them. I have seen
it time and time again. One of my friends has a pre teen daughter who we
had in the 4H program here, but she just wasnt into it. They have several
horses and compete in reining cow horse events and the daughter was doing trail
riding, camping and some rail showing...but she just never got into it.
Most young girls would simply die for that situation, but not this one. So
mom pulled her from the horse 4H project because she was tired of reminding her
to ride the horse.
They have to find their own way, and when they find
something that they want to do, encourage them and embrace it...don't force the
horse thing as if it wasn't meant to be and you force it it could then become a
resentment.
Subject: Re: [RC] kids~one likes horses,
the other????
Oh Boy! My 7 year old daughter just saw the new Endurance news
cover with the cute little 8 year old on it. She wants to know why she can't
ride Mariposa this weekend. I told her if she works very hard this year, she
can try a 25 next season. It's a joy to have one that really wants to ride so
badly. My 5 year old boy doesn't ask to ride as much, but you can throw him on
either bareback horse and he trots all over the arena completely at ease and
natural. I suspect that both will wind up riding, but I know my girl will
be doing endurance as soon as I will let her. I won't push either, and I know
there will probably come a time when they aren't as interested any more. I
started at age 2, and when I was 16 decided school and boys were more
important. As soon as I got married, the horses came back, and my kids have
been riding since they could sit on a horse. I suspect that cover is going
to inspire quite a few squirts to get out on the trail. Tiffany On Jun
22, 2005, at 10:32 AM, Karla Watson wrote:
A lot of it may have to do
with her age--10 yrs. My daughters didn't really get into it until 11 or 12.
They liked them more as "pets" than for riding. They weren't scared and were
taught well but the interest wasn't really strong until a few years later. I
used to sort of get mad inside. Gosh, how many little girls would give
anything to have a horse mom to buy them a horse and take them riding, and
yet mine were not into it that much. But I found out later that it was just
that they needed to grow up a bit more. I was hooked on riding at age 8, but
my kids just needed to get older to get hooked.
I have
13 yr old twin girls (identical). One was into horses and went all of last
year with me to rides. I wanted so badly for the other one to get into
horses. Even bought her a very nice semi-retired endurance horse that was
trained to do anything. Then one day she rode a friends' gaited horses (Paso
Finos) and wala! she was hooked, but then wanted one of those horse, as she
calls them-- "magic carpet rides" for herself. So we sold her arab and
bought her this little horse (Paso Fino) with a BIG personality. He just
LOVES her. Now she is also really into horses and did her first endurance
ride recently and LOVED it. Now my wish has come true, but I am now hauling
2 kids to rides, bigger shoeing bill, buying more tack, paying for 3
entries, etc. Its a bit tough on the wallet but heck....when they hit about
16-18, their interests will probably change. There is no better investment
than to keep your teenage girls in horses. Sure kept me out of a heck of a
lot of trouble when I was their age!
Good luck
and hang in there. It may come later. Be carefull what you wish for. ;-)
