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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
  
Location: In The Snow, AZ | We have a 5 year old little girl. We recently got her a Mustang pony of her own. She loves riding him. She has gone to one Gymkhana where she was leadlined thru the patterns. She very much enjoyed it. In saying that, I do not believe she knows how privileged she is to have a pony of her own. We give her, in my opinion, age appropriate chores. She is responsible for feeding the chickens and dogs. Helping fill up troughs and waterers. She helps mix grain and supplements. She really wants to feed the horses, but I rarely trust her little self carrying feed for horses. I think your kids will let you know what they are safely capable of doing. Just go off of that and your comfort level. Good luck, mama! | |
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
  
Location: Missouri | I have three kiddos, 9, 10, & 2.
My 9&10 y/o are not interested in horses. My 2 y/o is already horse crazy.
They do not help directly with horse chores. The horses are mine, my husband isn't even interested. However, if I need help feeding, etc. they are usually very willing to pitch in. They know enough to help safely (for the most part). We all haul hay together, fix fence, etc. But, I love the horses and always have so, the chores are enjoyable for me. I wish it was that way with my boys, but you should see how hard they work for what they love! They are involved in several sports and they also take care of their own animals (dogs, rabbits, cats). Again, we all pitch in to help as needed.
I'm not one to make them finish chores or miss a game, etc. We just try to work together. Mostly, b/c I don't know how else to get riding time in! lol!
Of course, this is from the hobby perspective...I'm sure it would be different if the horses were part of your livelihood or a family activity.
Edited by just4fun 2014-08-21 5:51 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 612
| My son just turned 8 (second grade) and is a typical boy. He likes to play football, basketball and rope. He runs barrels at our NBHA shows. We are lucky and have a really safe horse for him that we have had for many years. This summer we started to make him practice and ride more correctly. Prior to this year, we just let him do it his way. He gets a little mad because it is harder now that we are making him do it more correctly, but he hasn't quit yet. Back in June, I told him that he didn't get lucky enough to have parents that would let him do things without working at them so he had to practice enough to show improvement.
We try not to push him, but he does have to help do a few chores with the horses (and dogs and cats). At the shows he has to help saddle his horse and sometimes has to help me by taking off protective boots and filling the water bucket. He is a typical boy and doesn't love his horse like a girl would, but he does like it enough to want to compete. He likes to ride if the other kids are riding so we always let him - even knowing that is his motivation. | |
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