Still more on 3-year-old rider

[Amanda Perez <amandaperez@ureach.com>]

Message  Re: "...first of all weather the child is to young or 
not that is a decision to be made by the parents not the rest 
of the world." Sorry - I have to beg to differ (not to flame, 
just politely disagree :-) ). It is his parents decision if he 
rides at all, but it is the responsibility of the sanctioning 
organization to keep sponsored rides safe, which some times 
means protecting people from their own stupidity. Suppose a 3 
year-old rider were to get seriously injured or killed at a 
sanctioned ride? I know that my first reaction to reading that 
news would be to think "What the h*** were they doing letting a 
3 year old ride in an endurence ride"? And the "they" in that 
sentence would mean the ride organizers, NOT just his parents". 
Just because the family in question are super-duper horse 
people does not mean that anyone wanting to enter their little 
Jimmy or Jenny into a ride should be allowed to.  Also, having 
an unskilled rider (I'm sorry, but NO 3-year-old has the 
strength, coordination or experience to be considered a skilled 
rider) is a hazard to the OTHER riders in the event.  The kids 
horse could spook, bolt, throw him etc, and he'd be unable to 
control him (there's only so much you can do to control a horse 
when your ponying it), all of which could endanger OTHER 
riders.  I for one would not want to try to compete at an event 
where such young children would be riding.  If you want to put 
your kids life at risk, fine.  Do it at home, not at a 
competive event!

  But little kids are cute, and nobody wants to rain on their 
parade, and we all wish OUR parents had been supportive of our 
horse addictions when we were that young, so probably nothing 
will be done until someone gets killed.  And that's a shame.


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