ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: children

Re: children

Samm C Bartee (bartesc@mail.auburn.edu)
Thu, 17 Apr 1997 06:51:59 -0500 (CDT)

> Now parents out there, here is the question. Is it right for small
> children to be participating in this sport, when they don't want
> too, or taken on these excessive distances? Having raised kids, I
> seriously doubt that ANY 4 or 5 year old kid would enjoy ANY
> activity for 24 hours, especially something grueling like a 100 mile
> ride. Why are parents doing this!? To me, that verges on child
> abuse! Why are there AERC restrictions prohibiting overiding young
> HORSES, but nothing protecting junior riders, from their parents
> egos or ignorance?

Karen, you do pose an interesting question. I have sponsered lots of JR
riders. All because they want to ride. If at any point, they had wanted
to quit, then I would have let them. I would never force them to ride
further than they want to.
Here in the S'east region, we have a very hard and fast rule. All Jr
riders must be 8 or they cannot ride. It is a must.
I have been riding and been passed by a woman with a JR rider crying her
little eyes out. when I asked what was wrong the lady informed me that the
child was unhappy with trotting so fast but she would learn by the end of
the day. Then she yelled at the child and off they went. That was in 91,
and I have yet to see that child at any ride since. I guess she decided
that endurance was not for her.

When I sponser children, I make sure that they know if they need to slow
down or stop they yell out to me and make sure I hear. Then we slow or
stop. The only time I have not done that when asked was when bees attacked
us and instead of letting the child stop, I forced a canter to get
away!!:-) She was happy later when I told her why I did that. stopping
would not have stopped the stinging!!

It's ridiculous IMNSHO to have children out there that are upset and not
having fun. Some of my happiest moments come from riding with a JR who is
having a blast. Nothing like seeing the trail through the eyes of a
child!! It also helps keep me feeling young.
I know from talking to some people that children that are riding hard and
fast at a very young age tend to have some serious bone problems that show
up later in life--not too much later though. I suppose just like the too
young horse forced to start too serious work too early. there is a reason
we protect the young horses, and Karen, you are right, we should put some
protection in place for too young riders.
I guess the can of worms will now be really opened. I know it should be
up to the parent and the child, but sometimes parents get stage mom or dad
syndrome and do not consider the long term affects maybe? And the child
wants to please. who knows?

samm--thinking of Jr riders and the fun they bring to me

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