The Old Gray Mare

Kids Plus Horses Equal Win-Win For Kids and Parents



Posted: Sunday, May 22, 2011

by The Old Gray Mare
www.DressYourHorse.com

It is a remarkable fact that many kids love horses and ponies. Most youngsters enjoy pony rides at fairs and seek out horses at petting zoos. Every kid finds carousel horses irresistible. And don’t you know a little girl that endlessly fantasizes about magical horses with flowing manes and tails?

My son Mitch as a little guy with his first pony
My son and his first pony

Dedicated horse people already know the pleasure, benefits, expenses, commitment and workload associated with horse involvement. Most of us desire our family’s dedicated involvement in our horse interests and activities.  Indeed, it is my belief that a family is fortunate if their kids have a horse passion – especially the type of passion that takes deep root inside the brain and heart.

Horse kids assimilate heaps of experience from their horse relationship. I’ve already discussed the pros and cons of horse ownership in previous publications, but today I am concentrating strictly on the benefits to the child – and there are many. I am talking about the “horse connection” made between kid and equine at riding stables, at horse shows, during grooming, and generally being around horses.

Here are the benefits of that horse connection:

Truthfully, I could endlessly discuss the benefits of being close to a horse. My knowledge stems from personal experience and long-time association with horse friends. And, we are unanimous in our combined knowledge - Horses have a profound and positive influence on the lives of kids.

Midnight Blue A and my son at about six years oldMy son and our Appy stud

Finally on a personal note – I have two grown kids that were raised with the responsibility and association of horses. Both were involved with chores, hobbies, riding, clubs and schoolwork; neither kid smoked, or drank or worse. Today, the oldest excels at anything and everything; the youngest is not as driven yet is a wonderful adult who has had to overcome many health difficulties. I firmly believe the responsibilities and discipline learned at home and with horse management molded them into fine members of society.

Horses are a natural blessing to those that recognize all the benefits. I say, “Nurture and love a horse and find yourself enchanted by one of God’s most special creatures.”

This article is written by The Old Gray Mare of www.DressYourHorse.com and www.BeautyofHorses.com. 
Heidi Rucki brings expertise as a horsewoman, dog lover and stained glass/mosaic artist. She is an accomplished freelance writer in the horse industry. Writing online as The Old Gray Mare, many of her current articles can be found on www.DressYourHorse.com. In the past, Rucki wrote for numerous horse organizations including The Connecticut Horse Council. She took early retirement from Phoenix Home Life where she wrote mutual fund prospectuses and was responsible for their submissions to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Old Gray Mare writes to share knowledge and her love of horses for everyone but especially for novice and new horse owners. Besides her two main websites, she has recently published three new blog sites. Of those, her favorite is www.BeautyOfHorses.com.
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