The future of our industry will always be our youth. It’s a statement that has stood the test of time, and one that undoubtedly resonates with everyone who already has the horse bug. But what about the parents who find themselves suddenly catapulted into the world of riding lessons, horse keeping expenses, horse shows or competitions, and – drumroll – a possible lifestyle change?
Chances are you have encountered new friends at the barn who are wavering on the edge of whether to wholeheartedly embrace this exhilarating yet outrageously pricey passion of their child’s. Having teetered on the precipice myself as a one-time horse show mom, if I have a chance to talk to other parents who are new at the game, here’s what I might say:
An Engaged Child Makes for a Happier Household
Every parent has a dream of a child occupied with a healthy activity and of course, staying out of trouble. It’s no secret to us experienced horse parents that horses keep kids tremendously busy, and often horses are the object of obsession well before thoughts turn to boyfriends or girlfriends.
And the good news about Friday nights? They’re frequently spent packing for a horse show instead of attending a maybe not so desirable party. This was especially appealing when my daughter was a teenager, and the best part was her time online was often filled watching You Tube videos of horses for sale.
Responsibility – Horses Really Do Teach It
I’m sure it’s your goal to bring up a responsible youth adult into this world. From cleaning stalls to learning to place a living being’s needs about their own, horses teach a child responsibility automatically. Sometimes you’ll find your kiddo might have to forego a fun activity to sit with a sick horse, or get up at the crack of dawn to feed, or work harder than ever to overcome an obstacle, all in the name of the love of the horse.
Communication is a Side Benefit
The teenage years are incomparable to anything else, and sometimes communicating is an uphill battle. But with a horse-crazy teen, when you have nothing else to talk about, you can always talk “horse.” It’s like this beautiful little gift that you can pull out whenever your teen is sulky or when you all need to change the subject.
Plus, your child is exposed to other ways of communication and teamwork in this journey of riding; methods of using body language, or voice, or leg and hand cues to connect with an animal with a mind of its own is priceless. Sometimes those skills, and the topic of horses, are also avenues to connect to other like-minded kids. I was able to watch my daughter develop leadership and communication skills I had never expected.
Family Time is Automatic
Family time? It’s automatically part of the lifestyle of competing with horses. If your daughter or son has a horse show, the whole family is involved with roles as groom, picture taker, and emotional support team. Activities with horses are not solitary events, and when you’re able to invite extended family out to watch, or can plan a family trip around an out of town show, it’s icing on the cake.
Lifetime Friendships are Included
Other perks I didn’t expect when my daughter began showing at the age of six were the friendships that resulted, and many became lifelong relationships. In a world of unfriending and drama, more of those friendships stuck than any other into adulthood. Even though the horse industry has its own drama, somehow the horses become a type of glue that transcended the pettiness and outlasted everything.
That culture of connectedness formed some pretty awesome friendships for me as a parent, too.
A Worthwhile Investment
The scariest part of horses are the expense, and there’s no getting around it. My peers, when I was an educator, laughingly would tell me that paying for my daughter’s horse addiction was cheaper than rehab. While the statement perhaps was not politically correct, it rang true when I watched other kids with too much time on their hands get into some scary trouble, while mine was on the phone with her friends about the latest horse she had seen advertised on the internet.
So while it’s expensive, and at times out of reach, and you might find yourself in a position to need borrow money to buy a horse of all things, my advice to you is this: take the chance.
Because, before you know it, as my mom always said, they’ll be grown and gone to make their own way, and the responsible, caring and goal-driven young adult standing before you will have taken the place of that horse-crazy kid who had the opportunity to explore her dream.
