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Re: [RC] Endurance News Cover Photo - Feb 2006/Young Riders - rides2far@xxxxxxxxThe picture a quite loving moment between a horse and an eleven year old girl. Upon looking at the photo, if the horse were spooked by anything behind it (enough to make it leap forward a stride or two), what might happen?Might the lead, through which Josie has her whole arm, tighten? It appears to be a wet, flat lead rope which >>>>just might. I think if you wanted to make a point you chose a pretty weak example to make your argument, a picture of a mellow horse with a kid in a helmet leading it and no signs of activity around it...just doesn't suit your purpose. If that's a problem, EVERYTHING is. I've stayed out of this debate, but I'll tell ya that I sold that horse to Amy, and I would not have sold him to a parent who was more casual about their child's safety than she is. When I had him for sale I told her I *think* he might be a candidate for Josie (Whelen) to compete on, but no way I could judge it. Amy took him on trial and rode him in a competition first. I guess Josie was 10, 70 lbs with tack. I would never sell a horse as safe for a 5 year old child to start an endurance ride on. I'm not sure there is such an animal. I can think of one ride ever that *I* really felt safe at the start of. I've done around half of my 4000 miles with juniors...and it's been all I could do to worry about *myself* at the start of ride. Josie (McGhee) has been riding unassisted since she was 2. She went to her first endurance ride at 10 days. Doesn't remember not crewing. When SERA made the 8 yr. rule it was a relief to me to have a definite date to tell her she couldn't compete until then. She was busy anyway, setting up jumps in the yard, doing flips from the swingset on and off her pony, having FUN instead of conditioning. Then she turned 8 and I was not even close to wanting her in the mess of a ride start yet. When she turned 10 I finally had a horse for her that I trusted, but still took her to the 2nd day of a 2 day ride for her first start. I guess if a family's only "horse" time is conditioning & competing it might make you want them out there sooner, but my kids had access to their ponies, which they could play on, all day every day. I'm glad my 5 year old *played* with her pony instead of *working* an endurance horse, so no complaints about living under SERA rules. Angie =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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