This past weekend I attended a local little 4H schooling horse show. My 2 children used to ride their horses at these shows when they were growing up and had a lot of fun. I go to these now to put out my flyers and meet people, since my expertise is horse properties. What I saw at the show did not appeal to me one bit.
I was walking around the grounds talking to people. As I was making my rounds, I noticed many of the children being rough and manhandling their horses because the horses were not listening for one reason or another. In one instance, the poor horse was terribly bothered by the flies and wouldn't stand still because of it. The child was yelling at the horse to stand and was yanking on the halter. And this was a mild mannered horse. Now, I ask you, would you just stand and let the flies bite you? I think not. So why should the horse. The horse just needed some understanding and should have been sprayed with fly spray. Isn't that what you would do for yourself?
During my walk around the grounds, I would stop and watch the riders in the ring from time to time. There, things weren't much better. Here, I noticed, for example, that if the horse did not pick up the correct gait (walk, trot, canter), the rider automatically hit the poor horse with the crop and yanked on the reins. What you have to remember is that these riders are amateurs and are still learning to ride. They haven't learned that if you ask the horse correctly, most horses will do as asked. It's a horses nature to please. So, where are they learning all of this? Where else, but from adults. All of us know that a horse is no small animal and, because of their size and weight, can push US around if need be. They will only take so much and then they will let you know enough is enough. I can guarantee you that when they tell you, it will not be a pretty sight. Someone will get hurt and chances are it will be the child.
I have taught children in my 4H clubs and US Pony Club that safety comes first and that the horse will win if you start a battle with it. And the horse knows it. My son and daughter were taught to respect the horse. The horse is your partner and you need to work WITH the horse, not against it. All this showed when they competed their horses. They competed on the A circuit (higher level of shows). They both did well. As a matter of fact, my son did so well, that he and his horse qualified for the Nationals in Show Jumping 2 years in a row. At Nationals, they placed overall first the first year and second the second year. All this because of patience, understanding, calmness, gentleness and helping each other out. That's what teamwork is all about.
Moral of this story: If you work as a team, you will succeed!!!
Brigita: Excellent post! I'm sure that you heard the recent bru ha ha that happened on an airplane where the couple with their kid got kicked off of the plane because the kid wouldn't put their seat beat on and the plane couldn't leave until she had. I write an ezine called "YoJayHudson.com and wrote an article called "Brats On A Plane". Check it out and tell me if I'm wrong about how kids are being taught these days!
Bob Mitchell
ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc.
Brigeta
Seems to me we now live in a world of do it yourselfers. We recently acquired a horse. The FIRST things I did was locatee an experienced trainer. I admited we were novices, and knew nothing. Over the past several months he has worked with us and the green horse, and together we are learning how to accomplish what we need to. We didn't just jump into it like an impulse buy. First we found the "right' horse. Then we had the handymen prepare a stall. Then we had the owners come and inspect her new home. Then we built fencing. Etx, etc. It took almost 2 months before the horse could come. Then we hired the trainer. To do it any other way would have been paramount to buying the first house we saw with no money down and bad credit!
I agree civility has gone the way of the rotary dial telephone.
At Bear Creek Stables, the stables where I worked to support my horse habit and where I boarded my first horse (after taking lessons for a couple of years) so someone would hold my hand through the buying process and the first foal and the learning experience, they have summer camp. The campers are divided into three groups, based on riding ability, and the horses are ridden, in turn, by all three groups (one horse assigned to three riders for the duration of camp, the equivalent of three riding lessons for the horse, which is a normal day's work). At the end of the morning camp, all the campers get to have lunch together around picnic tables. After, I repeat, AFTER all three riders of each horse have untacked the horse, cooled him out, brushed him down, and either put him in his stall or turned him out, whichever is appropriate for that horse. Until the horse is properly taken care of, the riders don't get to eat.
I really thought that was the most important thing that the campers learned each summer from their time at camp, and I saw it extend into the rest of their lives, as well.