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Family Matters:  Kids and Horses  |
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Love-in-a-Mist
True Blue Farmgirl
367 Posts
Shannon
Independence
Oregon
USA
367 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 4:18:07 PM
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My 5 year old son really wants a horse so he can compete in pee wee rodeo. He has been asking for a year and a half now. We told him he could get one as soon as he showed us he could take care of it. Namely clean it's stall and feed. Of course I will be watching and helping at all times. But just so he can get a sense of responsibility. Do any of you have kids with horses, that take care of them? Or have been through this? I want to know realisticly at what age can I expect him to be able to handle this? We have horses and right now he helps, but if it's "too hard" he soon is off playing.
Farmgirl and mother of 2 |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 4:51:52 PM
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All our girls had horses. Actually I always said that they rode before they were born. We always had big horses but when the oldest was 4 she got her first pony. Betty was a good kid raised pony and she taught the rest of my children to ride and be responsible. As each outgrew Betty the next would get her. We had Betty for 11 years.The girls all started gaming when they were 5 and loved it. At that age they can feed, water, clean hooves, brush and ride the animal. I have pictures of my girls sitting on the steps holding Betty and they (not Betty) are sound asleep. You need a good pony or small horse that he will feel comfortable with. My best piece of advice is no yelling at them. MB
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
Edited by - Marybeth on Feb 16 2007 4:52:19 PM |
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jo Thompson
True Blue Farmgirl
603 Posts
Jo
the mountainside of the Chugach
in Alaska
USA
603 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 6:44:55 PM
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I grew up in pee wees and then on to Junior Rodeos. You need a really sound, smart pony that will help raise your son. Of course, LOTS of supervision. I can't believe some of the crazy stuff I did as a child, swimming my horse in a river, running dead speed at night in the pasture in my nightgown! Hey, that was fun! He needs to want to ride and care, not just do the rodeo thing of course. jo P.S. I was a pee wee princess in Oregon.......
"life is drab without a lab"
http://homepage.mac.com/thomja/Anchorage/PhotoAlbum15.html |
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Tracey
True Blue Farmgirl
766 Posts
Tracey
State of Confusion
USA
766 Posts |
Posted - Feb 25 2007 : 7:56:48 PM
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When DS was little he had his very own plastic wheelbarrow and shovel that he used when it was barn cleaning time. He was always so proud of himself! Of course, it wasn't his horse and he didn't have to do it...and he was three...
I think cleaning may be a bit difficult for five year olds as the wheelbarrow can be difficult to manage, but certainly helping with feeding is reasonable. Perhaps pick a couple things that are his responsibility; sweeping up, carrying hay, checking water (if you've got a hose, he can even fill buckets.) Things that he's physically capable of handling. Kinda like setting the table, but not taking out the trash (because why set them up for failure if the trash is too heavy and gets dropped, right?)
Visit Quiet Storm, our adopted Mustang! http://wildaboutquietstorm.com
http://carpentercreek.blogspot.com http://mustangdiaries.blogspot.com http://marbletownangels.blogspot.com
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Family Matters: Kids and Horses |
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Kids and Horses
