Elise Gaston Chand - A Parents Guide to Riding Lessons

A Parents Guide to Riding Lessons

Everything You Need to Know to Survive and Thrive with a Horse-Loving Kid

ELISE GASTON CHAND

The mission of Storey Publishing is to serve our customers by publishing practical information that encourages personal independence in harmony with the environment.

Edited by Lisa H. Hiley and Deborah Burns
Art direction and book design by Mary Winkelman Velgos
Text production by Liseann Karandisecky

Illustrations by Koren Shadmi
Author photos by Brady Morris

Indexed by Nancy D. Wood

2009 by Elise Gaston Chand

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages or reproduce illustrations in a review with appropriate credits; nor may any part of this book be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other without written permission from the publisher.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Chand, Elise Gaston.

A parents guide to riding lessons / by Elise Gaston Chand.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-60342-447-9 (pbk. : alk. paper)

1. Junior riders (Horsemanship)Training of.

2. Horsemanship. I. Title.

SF310.5.C48 2009
798.2071dc22

2009023712

To Abby, always and forever.

Theres nothing like seeing your childs eyes light up with joy at the first warm breath a kind pony snuffles at her small, tentative hand. Or the flush of pleasure on her cheeks when the pony gently accepts an offered carrot. And seeing your child gain confidence on the back of a willing and trustworthy horse, developing her riding skills, learning the fine tenets of proper horsemanship, and spending time in such a healthy, physical activity well, parents just dont stand a chance!

But as a parent, what are you to do, especially if you dont know much about horses yourself? How do you help your horse-crazy child follow her passion for horses, but do so safely? Horses (even ponies) are very large animals, with minds of their own. Working with them is not all My Friend Flicka and Misty of Chincoteague, so one way to start is by determining just how crazy your child is.

Horse craziness comes in many degrees, from an all-consuming, almost visceral passion for horses to a more relaxed, but still powerful, desire to be with them. This is not to say that a childs interest in horses must be all-consuming for it to be sincere. There are many rewarding ways to be involved with horses, from casual pleasure riding to intense competition the key is to find the approach that best suits your child.

Some kids just enjoy horses, like to be around them, and simply want to be able to ride. Other individuals, even at a young age, have a keener interest and long to take regular lessons and participate in horse shows and competitions for the fun of it. And then there are kids who seriously want to become the finest rider possible and to ultimately compete in a specific discipline at the highest levels. Whatever your childs level of interest, the fundamental approach to supporting that interest remains the same: finding knowledgeable, experienced, and skilled guidance so your child can learn in a safe, appropriate way.

How Horse Crazy Is Your Child?

Your child is genuinely crazy if she:

Draws horses every time a pencil and piece of paper are at hand.

Has read every horse book in the library but wants her own copies so she can read them again.

Can watch movies about horses over and over and over and over

Wants nothing but Breyer model horses for gifts and spends hours playing with them.

Frequently uses words that make no sense to you (liver chestnut, withers, cannon bone, piaffe).

Urges you to overtake horse trailers on the highway so she can catch a glimpse of any horses inside.

Urges you to slow down when you drive past horse farms so she can avidly study the occupants of the fields.

Has been caught dressing up the family dog in a close approximation of a bridle, saddle pad, and saddle.

Frequently pretends her bike is a horse.

Can imitate equine neighs, snorts, and squeals with surprising realism and is often seen pawing at the ground, stamping her foot, and tossing her mane.

Before going any further with the exploration of the horse world, you need to get an idea of just how determined your child is in her love of horses. The idea of horses is lovely, exciting, and romantic, and so, for a true horse-lover, is the reality of horses, which often involves hard, physical effort under sometimes unpleasant weather conditions.

In fantasies, the horse is always eager to please, ready to dash off at the slightest touch of a riders leg, swift and sure and intelligent. In reality, horses have bad days just like people do. They sometimes resent an inexperienced rider tugging at their mouths, plopping down hard on their backs, or digging sharp heels into their ribs. When the weather is hot, they may feel sluggish and want to be back with their friends in the paddock. When the weather is cold, they may feel fresh and spirited and want to run and buck and play.

The main issue is, will your child still find horses appealing when faced with less-than-perfect reality? To help you find answers in this endeavor, here are some questions to go through with your child.

Why do you want to ride? What kind of riding do you want to do? Do you want to go fast? Do you want to jump? Do you want to look beautiful? Do you want to ride across country? Do you want to chase cows?

How hard are you willing to work in order to ride? Working and caring for horses is physical, its demanding, its tiring, and it can be frustrating. Riding is also a privilege its expensive and time-consuming. Earning that privilege is important, whether by doing well in school, doing chores at home, or some other effort. Are you willing to put in that effort?