Re: [RC] Kids, ponies and distance riding - Karla Watson
LDs are partly invented to give kids a chance to
do a ride without making them go thru a 50 miler the first time.
I rode ridden all last season with my 12
(now 13) yr old daughter. She isn't that young but it was her first year
competing and she is "young" for her age. She went to 2 endurance rides crewing
for me before her first ride. She got hooked watching the ride and wanted to do
it. I then took her out several months with my riding/conditioning buddies to
see what it was like to ride that pace for several hours at a time. That way she
could quit for the day or stop and rest, etc. She got a feel for what the actual
ride would be like. We would ride approx. 3-5 hours, about 12-18 miles,
sometimes more.
Fortunately she "stole" my best back up horse who
has been a great babysitter and has taken great care of her out there. She rode
all year at whatever pace she wanted (unless mom was telling her to slow
down!) and did all LDs except for one 50. I helped her prepare the night before and the morning of and
took care of her all day.
Its a really fun thing to sponsor your kid and
show her how great this sport is. Bring
lots of snacks, candy, drinks, tylenol, sing songs, point out things on
the trail, make it as a fun as possible even if you are not having a good
ride. Let your kid do a few rides with you and if you are willing put them
with other sponsors (people you know preferrably) so they can get a different
perspective and whine a LOT less. (ha ha....;-)
I always tell my kid that if you don't want
to ride, or want to quit at the vet check, no problem. When I ride with her, its
her ride, not mine and I have the responsibility to never push or criticize,
just let her do what she feels best. She pulled herself at the last ride of the
year and I congratulated her for being so brave to make that kind of
decision when it was right for her and her horse.
Her first season this year she got Rookie
Horse/Rider of the Year here in the NW so I am proud of her! She didn't
even know she was close to getting the award until the last few rides of the
season. Next season she will be doing 50s and is very excited about it. And
whenever she wants to quit or not do a ride, thats fine.
Anyone up for a topic that isn't LD vs. everyone
else on the planet?
I'd like some information from
experienced parents on how and when kids can handle distance
riding. What worked? What didn't? Is there
something you wish you hadn't done? Something your are glad that you did
do? How far and how long did your child ride before you took them
to their first event? Many moons ago, Edie Booth said she wouldn't
let Robin ride in an event until he could use both hands and both legs to
signal his pony, not just be a passenger. Obviously, every kid is
different. I saw Ceci Butler riding 50s as a six year old, but have also
seen kids that refuse to even come to a ride after being pushed. Up
until they hit puberty, Deb Bosma used to bring a trailerload of kids and
appys to the Michigan rides.
Last summer we traded in a quiet (but too
wide) horse for a pony, which has greatly helped my 5 year old son be
more independent with his riding. She does what I call "pony tricks",
like drifting over to stand by the gate if he isn't actually giving her
definite signals, but she sticks close to my horse when we're out of
the small pen, and has never bucked, bolted, kicked or nipped.
Unfortunately, my horse is a little too insecure to pony from (doesn't like
ropes dangling by his side), so Mitch has to be his own rider.
(Hmm, maybe that should be Fortunately) .
Anyway, Fergie is about 11 hands, more
hackney-type than shetland, and has a walk fast enough to keep up with my 14.2
Arab. How far has anyone taken their kids' ponies? Jeannie, how far
did Heather the creep go?
