First & last time I EVER turn out a pony for a kid that isnt even at the stables before a show! If kids arent involved in the preparation for a show, what value is attached to it? If they win, they learn you dont necessarily have to work for results; youre breeding entitlement, the attitude of someone else will do it. Ponies are not machines to be turned on or off at will - they are enablers for self discovery & life lessons. Sometimes the lesson is that life bites you on the ass (heehee) but they teach their little humans about work ethic, passion, dedication, perseverance, and sometimes disappointment, overcoming fear, & that when you fall down you just GET BACK UP. How sad that some people miss this opportunity! I love the concept of interschools - I love that the kids get to have fun, learn, enjoy & share ponies with friends. But I HATE the subtle theme that the rosette is the point, that friends are competitors, and that ponies are interchangeable means to ends. How many instructors are doing the show prep, explaining boxing, making them clean tack?? Surely these are the prerequisites to competing??? I think we need to be very careful not to lose the message we are trying to give our kids by introducing them to what I truly believe is the magical spirit of equestrianism.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 06:15:27 +0000
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