Conference noted::equitation

I had decided I couldn't realistically say I was 
born loving horses, but that I loved them as soon
as I knew what they were.  I decided I must have
been around four years old before I was exposed to
a horse or pony.

Just last week, I happened to mention this to my
therapist.  She told me I was greatly underestimating
the awareness of babies and small children.  But I 
still didn't really accept what she said.

And now you mention this...

I think somebody's trying to tell me something.

    
    This topic reminded me of a friend's visit to my house with her
    two small children a few months ago. They were curious about
    the horse (ages 4 + 5) and initially showed no fear at all, but
    their mother pulled them away and began telling them all the
    awful things so large an animal can do to them, etc. It was so
    sad to see the kids natural curiousity squelled, and to know
    that they could well grow up to have fear of horses because of
    it. I tried to get the mother to allow them to pat the horse,
    which she did, and I told the kids all about how soft the nose
    is, how to feed them grass, etc, but you could tell they'd
    quickly picked up on their mother's fear.
    
    When I myself was a child, ponies were everywhere on the farm.
    I'm told that I always loved them, and that "hossie" was my
    first word. I don't honestly remember my first equine encounter,
    or even the first time I rode. I just know that I am grateful
    to my parents for the exposure so young, it's given me a lifetime
    of enjoyment!
    

Recently one of my best friends from childhood had a baby girl. My friend was
never really an animal person, neither was her husband. But from day one,
I started exposing this little one to horses. Stuffed horses, those cute baby 
T-shirts that you see at the tack store. Stroller in the barn to see them, You 
name it.

This summer her parents took her to Saratoga to see the Hopeful. Well suddenly
this little one year old is a horse lover. Horsey horsey horsey horsey...
smile..smile...smile...

I can't wait to get her on one for the first time!

I hope my friend and her husband are prepared ;-)

    This is a neat topic.....I never gave much thought as to why I've
    always loved horses....But last christmas my aunt showed me a home
    movie of me on a loud pinto pony....I couldn't have been more than two.
    I do remember getting bit by their stud during the visit(should I be 
    afraid???) but they said the last thing I wanted to do was get off
    `Chief'.
    
    Any ideas on the best way to expose a child to horses?  My niece
    will be one in a few days, and I'd like to take her to the Pinto shows
    when she's ready and have her do lead line.  
    
    Michele
    

    I think early exposure to "Black Beauty" did it for me!  I read a
    'little kids" version before I even went to school, and wanted a
    horse from then on.  Took many more before I got one, but I finally
    did!
    
    -ellie

    
    yesterday, my instructor and I were chatting about the rides we saw at
    the Big E (Eastern States Expo) while her three year old daughter tried
    to share her apple juice with my horse Daniel - Daniel's head is the
    same size as Lindsay but she is fearless (and always has been). Daniel
    puts his head right down to her and she runs right up and pats his nose
    with both hands. They are a great combo!
    
    Nancy
    

    Now that this has become it's own topic, I'd like to take it even
    further. There must be a few of you out there who combine riding and
    parenthood. How do you find the time?
    
    I've got two horses at home and a six-month old boy. I used to dash out
    to the barn and feed while he was sleeping, but now he's always awake
    at feeding time. So I put him in the stroller and let him watch me. My
    sister suggested putting a baby swing in the barn. Too bad there isn't
    room for a playpen. On the days when I go into the office Jake goes to
    daycare. By the time I pick him up and get home it's already past the
    horses' usual 5:00 feeding time. But I have to make them wait even
    longer to eat because I'm all dressed up and then Jake has to nurse.
    Sometimes they have to wait until my husband gets home at 6:30. It's
    tough balacing everyone's needs.
    
    -Andrea-

    Just remember, it only gets easier the older they get. Now my girls are
    11 and 13 and they help clean and such. 
    When they were really small I had one of those light 'candy cane' type
    strollers. They can be pushed over the roughest ground and carried if
    necessary. The baby will love the daily trips outside to watch you
    groom and clean, and the fresh air is good for him. 
    When the kids got older they would sit on the horse to watch me groom
    and clean. Today they have no fear around horses. Sometimes it makes
    me nervous, they are so confident.
    Sharon
                                                       

    When my daughter (who has always loved horses, the first poem she wrote
    was about a little grey pony) was 12 I decided it was time for her to
    have a horse and join 4-H.  She needed to get over her extreme shyness
    and get involved in something.  What a confidence builder it was for
    her!!!  I grew up with horses so I was just as excited as her.  It took
    some persuading to convince dad,  but now we all love them!!!  Although
    my daughter got out of horses for a couple of years 16-18, she's back
    to riding and I'm sure I'll have horses when the grandchildren come
    around!!
    
    On the other had, my son has only ridden once and he doesn't like
    them....so he says....Yet it doesn't take much convincing to have him
    horse sit when we go away!!
    
    

    I have a daughter who was born with horse blood, I think. Since she was
    a little baby, she always wanted a pony. She learned to read early in
    her life and read all the pony or horse stories. She spent all day at
    the library all alone reading.
    I have so many books at home, I could open up a library. As soon as
    father and mother split, my daughter got a pony. She was then 8 years
    old. She took her bike from school to the barn, along a pretty busy
    road, and I picked her up after work. The pony was the best thing for
    the family. Later we got a large show pony and then horses. She is now
    at Sweet Briar College, again with horses. I am in Switzerland working
    for DEC. When she is homesick she goes to the horses, she rides, she
    sleeps, she eats, she does everything with horses.
    It keeps her busy, teaches her responsibility and has made some very
    wonderful friends, 4-legged and 2-legged.
    It is a wonderful hobby.
    	Good luck to all young mothers. I understand that it is hard and it
    does get late sometimes, but it was all worth it.
    Greetings to the USA - Ruth	

    My daughter will be three in May and this year she has been "riding"
    on her own i.e. sittine alone bareback with me leading the horse.
    Last year she would get on in front of me but she did not want to
    sit alone. My horse is an a barn and not at my home so she does
    not get to see him very often. But she loves going there and feeding
    carrots to the horses and playing with dogs. It is wonderful to see
    her running around the big fields. She has healthy respect for horses
    but absolutely loves being in the barn with me and watching me groom
    Guiness (my Connemara). He is very good with kids and seems to enjoy
    her company. Regardless whether she becomes a great rider or not I
    think that those kinds of experiences stay with you for life.
    
    Ania

    This seems as close as I'm going to get to my questions without adding a
    new topic:  
    My 4-year old son will be going for his first riding lesson today. I'm
    not sure if he's going to love it or hate it, so we are going on a
    trial basis. I took lessons for years as a youngster, so I'm hoping he
    loves it!
    Anyway, if he does develope a real afinity for riding, I'll be looking
    for suggestions specifically related to children...best places as close
    to Worcester MA as possible for lessons, best place to buy the
    appropriate attire for a growing boy (used is preferable, anybody know
    of a consignment arrangement?), and most importantly best place where
    he and I could go riding together once he gets a bit of experience!
    Any advice, warnings, "not recommended" places, etc. greatly
    appreciated.  I'm so excited about his interest.  Keep your fingers
    crossed that he loves it...then we'll be looking for a pony to lease,
    then a horse to purchase, then a place to board, then a house with a
    barn to buy, and on and on : )
    Sarah

    I've just been outfitting my 4yo daughter so she can enjoy some
    Mommy-given lessons on her new pony (we already have the house with a
    barn...and all that goes with it!):
    
    1) I highly recommend chaps as they really help a child stick to the
    saddle and protect their legs well.  They aren't cheap but I buy a
    couple of sizes up (my 4yo wears size 8, my 6yo size 10-12) and then
    just fold them up before I zip them down (got that?).  You can order
    them from Stateline Tack in NH or Dover's in Wellsley.  They are good
    for dress-up if his interest wanes (also see consignment below).
    
    2) Horseman's Exchange (Barbara Stevens) in Wayland sells new and
    consigned clothing.  Including paddock shoes.  
    
    If your son really gets into this either buy him some cheap but
    hard-toed cowboy boots at a Payless shoe store (my son's preference).
    Or some paddock shoes (my daughter's preference, got to look stylish
    Mom!).  Protect those tender toes!
    
    3) Try to remember that a 4yo does not have a great attention span and
    he may tire of his "lesson" in as little as 10 minutes.   I would
    evaluate the success of the lesson in part on how adept the instructor
    is at keeping his interest, and his/her ability to recognize  when your
    son is tired and/or bored.  
    
    I've found that I need to think up fun games on horseback to keep my
    daughter riding on a regular basis.  To just say "want to go ride
    Arthur" sometimes isn't sufficient to tear her away from other
    activities.  Now if we could only figure out how to ride that pony to
    Chuck-E-Cheese.....
    
    Good luck,  and take that camera!
    
    		- Jeannie