tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post2679872265625371352..comments2024-03-26T05:15:39.663-07:00Comments on Equestrian Ink: The First of Many CrossroadsJami Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259390150273030284noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-83428315969955014542009-03-28T08:37:00.000-07:002009-03-28T08:37:00.000-07:00Hi Laura,Thanks. My breath catches in my throat a...Hi Laura,<BR/><BR/>Thanks. My breath catches in my throat at the thought of my little girl doing more than a walk/trot right now so I'm going to take your advice and follow her lead into some other activities. If she still wants to ride after she gets involved with everything else and sees the time involved, an occasional lesson on a gentle old soul seems made to order. <BR/><BR/>Her new Tae Kwon Doe outfit arrived and she's so happy! She wanted to watch Kung Fu Panda while wearing it! She's sending me the message that she wants to branch out & I'm listening. She also told me she wants to go to the Jonas Brothers' Concert & I managed to get two tickets. My only fear now is that after an afternoon with thousands of screaming fans I might not be able to hear anything (grin), but I'll have a happy little girl!<BR/><BR/>Warmly,<BR/>MaryMary Painehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01312172412621246717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-45713102591295532682009-03-27T11:58:00.000-07:002009-03-27T11:58:00.000-07:00Mary, I'm one of those who isn't a big fan of form...Mary, I'm one of those who isn't a big fan of formal riding lessons for little kids. My son is eight, and can lope his horse--no problem. Of course, this is his own horse, and I trust the horse, so its a slightly different dynamic. But I allowed this to evolve. I did not teach my kid to lope his horse. I helped him as he taught himself. I had no schedule and no goals. We just rode together and his skills increased. When he was ready to get that lazy horse into the lope, he did. Like Janet's daughter, much of my son's happy life with horses is climbing the haystack and visiting with the horses in the barnyard. Since the horses live with us, this is easy. If I were you, and I wanted to further my daughter's interest, I'd try to lease an old gentle horse at your stable (and these days said lease might well just be the price of his feed and care). That way you could visit and just mess around with the horse and have fun. <BR/><BR/>But I would sure follow your daughter's lead. If she wants to try other things, support her as much as you can. My problem is the opposite. My little boy longs to be loping his horse, but Henry is recovering from colic surgery and can only be walked. My son has riden (and loped) my horse successfully, but I have to keep a much closer eye on that twosome. So, we're a little frustrated here. If my kid wanted to try some other event, though, I would support that completely.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-88189351884044466092009-03-27T11:24:00.000-07:002009-03-27T11:24:00.000-07:00Thanks, everyone for the wonderful advice. I feel...Thanks, everyone for the wonderful advice. I feel much better about encouraging her to branch out and try some new things.<BR/><BR/>She did a Thursday evening trial class of Tae Kwon Doe and loved it. The only downside is teaching her not to practice on her 3 year old brothers! <BR/><BR/>I know her love for horses will never fade, but I'm excited about seeing her spread her wings. Off we go to new horizons! Maybe she'll wind up with a list of activities she loves!<BR/><BR/>Sincerely,<BR/>MaryMary Painehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01312172412621246717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-28994363070933563562009-03-27T09:53:00.000-07:002009-03-27T09:53:00.000-07:00I don't have kids, but I have taught many, many ki...I don't have kids, but I have taught many, many kids. <BR/><BR/>Correct me if I'm wrong, your daughter does not have her own pony, she has lessons?<BR/><BR/>In which case, I'd say, limit it to a lesson a week. Or a saturday afternoon / one evening at the barn. Something like that. There's a whole world out there, and it's good for kids to see that there are other options. It's easy to get buried in horses, and it can limit your social world, which I know from personal experience.<BR/><BR/>One tactic I know worked for a friend was to say:(Depending on budget, etc) You have three options for 'activities'. You can have any three, but only three. Pick the ones you want. <BR/><BR/>Re safety.<BR/>I'm happy for kids to start learning to canter / jump, but mostly in the context of doing fun stuff. So, mounted games, vaulting, cavaletti. I feel at her age, the learning should be more about osmosis, learning by doing, experimenting - there's time enough for serious lessons later.<BR/>I'd also encourage time spent out of the saddle - learning to enjoy being around horses without riding. I always allowed parents to show up early or stay late, so kidlet could learn to tack up / groom, or to help wash off. If your barn doesn't encourage that kind of thing... <BR/><BR/>As far as how you feel - go with your gut. If you're anxious, she may be too, which is never good. On the other hand, I had one parent who was a nail biting wreck, but her little girl became a JA showjumper. She used to cover her eyes for every fence. I asked her once why she did it, if it bothered her so much to see her kid ride, and she said: "I'm terrified, but (kids name) isn't. I'm not going to hold her back because I'm scared." Her mom being petrified didn't bother her at all. <BR/>Personal choice - gotta do what works for you both.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09045704347401919175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-79077836129494887142009-03-26T21:49:00.000-07:002009-03-26T21:49:00.000-07:00I'd let her go play. If it's on the horse, playing...I'd let her go play. If it's on the horse, playing soccer or hiding in her room with her girlfriends, it doesn't matter, she's only seven.<BR/>My daughter grew up with horses because it was my job and I kept her with me. <BR/>But most of her time was spent just laying by the creek talking with her friends, playing in the woods or climbing the hay stack.It wasn't all about horses.<BR/>I made sure she played soccer, played in the band, ran track, whatever.<BR/>Right now she's playing her guitar and practicing her song for the "battle of the bands" at her high school.She tapered off her riding the last few years, but she went to a cutting clinic with me this week-end.It was great.<BR/>If horses are in her life forever they'll be there whether she skips some riding or not. It doesn't fade.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-11301644838887995722009-03-26T20:54:00.000-07:002009-03-26T20:54:00.000-07:00Altho it sounds harsh to put horses on hold, I thi...Altho it sounds harsh to put horses on hold, I think you should let her try a few other sports. When my son was 7, he played soccer, basketball, roller hockey, and guitar. The sports were each seasonal, thru the city rec department, and only met once a week. The guitar was also once a week, and we left nightly practice completely up to him.<BR/><BR/>At 16, my son now plays high school soccer, rec league basketball, and is planning to major in music at Cal State Long Beach (if he gets accepted). <BR/><BR/>It's okay, Mom. She'll find her passion.Gayle Carlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783449240138097315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-58502705951222009382009-03-26T18:21:00.000-07:002009-03-26T18:21:00.000-07:00My daughter (now 19) at her age tried soccer (ende...My daughter (now 19) at her age tried soccer (ended up with the girls all swooshing their hair and seeing who had the kewlist jewelry/clothes/shoes. That was for one season (whew!). Cheerleading was older...and when my daughter found out the other kids were snots, she hated it. That lasted one season and part of the following year (that also included competitive cheer). Gymnastics was longest - a few years - but once she started growing and lost her center of gravity (and found out they didn't have much for middle-school aged kids), she was done with that. She also did track in high school two seasons. Hmmm...piano a year (which was too bad, both of my kids have the talent, not the ambition).<BR/><BR/>I think they need to try these sports, but I also think parents push the kids too hard and force them to go years doing something they find they are really not interested in. What's nice about her age group is that they have shorter practices/games/etc. Except for the kids of the coaches, most of the kids are there just for the experience. <BR/><BR/>Sadly at that time I did not have a horse, and she likes horses, but they are not a priority for her.<BR/><BR/>JackieHorsesAndTurboshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03607758320356759231noreply@blogger.com