For Parents with Horse-Crazy Kids

Many of us may have been through that "pony stage" when growing up. When you're a star-struck little girl with an untamable passion for horses. Most parents roll their eyes and say that it will pass, but sometimes it doesn't. By a certain age, they start to think that maybe it's time to finally quench their child's thirst for horseback riding. Some give their children riding lessons or let their children volunteer at a ranch for a while. While others tend to go quickly to leasing, or even buying their children a horse of their own. Many parents may be wondering what to do. They might not know anything about horses and don't understand how to help their child. So what is the best way to get your kid around horses? I have a few tips, as the horse-crazy kid, that may help those parents who are presented with that question.

1. Time Around Horses is Everything

I once had somebody tell me that a true horse lover doesn't just want to ride, they simply want to be around horses. This is very true, and also a very important point to make. Horses take a lot of responsibility, and any person who is going to own a horse needs to be willing to spend more time on the ground with their horse than in the saddle.

Time around horses is also important because horses are huge animals that can be quite dangerous if handled by someone inexperienced. A person must learn how to act and respond to a horse's behavior and their misbehavior as well. For any beginner, simply being around horses as often as possible will not only teach them how to act safely around horses but also show whether or not this love of horses really is a part of the "pony stage" that most little girls seem to go through. Getting to groom horses, feed them, and clean up after them is always a great experience, and will get them ready for possibly having their own horse to look after someday.

2. Time With an Experienced Horse Person is Necessary

It would be foolish to spend time with horses without a knowledgeable person to teach you and keep you safe. For parents looking for ways for their children to be around horses, possibly a more understandable part of this project could be finding someone to teach your child.

Finding a riding instructor or other equine professional is the best way to go. They work with horses and have been hired to communicate their knowledge about horses to the world. They are the most qualified people around, but they can get expensive. From my experience, almost every professional that I met was willing to have me do chores and just be at the ranch for free. If you simply cannot afford riding lessons, camps, or other things like that, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities in the equine world.

3. Encourage your child to look around for opportunities.

A horse-crazy kid will gladly take the chance to scour the world for any horsey opportunities out there. When I was younger, I made it my job to know every boarding facility and riding stable within a half hour drive of my house. I'm not the kind of person to put myself out there too often, but for horses, I would call the owners of the ranch to see if they would let me spend time there.

I would recommend that parents encourage their children to look for places to volunteer. Perhaps there is a youth ranch nearby, or maybe a horse rescue. These places are often designed to get people around horses. They also are usually in need of volunteers in some way, shape, or form.

In the end, parents, don't get too stressed. If your child is truly crazy about horses they will do anything to be around them. Find a place that gives them time around horses, whether through riding lessons, or volunteering (or maybe both), and find a professional who is willing to guide your kid into the fun world of horses. Even if there aren't opportunities around, supporting them in their excitement is never a bad thing. You love your child, so fuel their passion, and be their wings. They will surely thank you someday.