Equestrian Sports and Horseback Riding Lessons for Teenagers

Most girls go through a "horse crazy" stage. It has been a growing enthusiasm with young girls for the last fifty years, and the trend does not seem to be slowing down. Theories abound as to why this seems to affect girls more than boys, but it is a well-known theme no matter where you live. Parents all over the world are hearing, "Mommy! Daddy! Please buy me my very own horse!" I know because I said it myself.

Parents cringe at the very thought of buying a horse. They can't even remember to feed the dog; how can they possibly hope to care for a 1500 pound animal? There are stalls to clean, feed to be mixed, veterinarian bills to pay, and farriers to locate. Horses need yearly vaccinations and health exams just like other animals, and they need constant, daily attention. For a family who isn't "horsey" to begin with, the thought is overwhelming.

There is a solution, however, and most parents take this route in order to save money.

When I was eight, I begged my parents to give me horseback riding lessons. I wanted nothing more than to spend one day a week atop a beautiful horse, learning how to ride and care for these amazing animals. Finally, on my ninth birthday, my parents agreed to sign me up for lessons, and I couldn't have been more ecstatic.

Many of the girls and boys who begin horseback riding lessons lose their enthusiasm after a year or two. They become interested in boys, makeup, and going out with friends, and no longer have time for their four-legged counterparts. I was one of the small percentage of kids who stuck with it through my teen and college years, and I think my parents are relieved at the fact.

You see, you don't have to buy your children a horse in order to keep them involved in equestrian activities. My parents couldn't afford the boarding and vet bills and farrier expenses, so I rode the horses at my barn, picking up rides whenever I could. During high school, I worked at the barn for my trainers, schooling the horses in training and showing when I had the cash. I spent hours upon hours after school and on the weekends working with horses and riding ones that no one else had time for. Because of that, I got some of the most diverse experience possible. I wasn't confined to one animal - my horse - because I couldn't afford one. Instead, I rode whatever I could get my hands on, and learned to ride anything.

There is one thing that equestrian sports have that other sports don't. With riding, you have something to work towards, and not only for yourself, but for another living creature. If I received poor grades at school, I wasn't allowed to go to the barn, and the horses with which I was working suffered as well. If I was sick and stayed home from school, then I couldn't visit the stable, and if I got into trouble at home, I was likewise grounded from the horses. Because of those horrendous consequences, I rarely angered my parents, for fear of missing even one day at the barn.

That said, parents shouldn't be concerned when they begin to hear their children asking for a pony or a horse. Let them grow in that desire, and feed it so that they stick with it. There is no responsibility like that of caring for another animal. It promotes healthy living, exercise, and a sense of adult responsibility that can be found nowhere else. Horseback riding isn't just about sitting on the back of an animal and clicking your heels to ask him to move. Its about cleaning stalls, grooming, medicating, feeding, and ensuring the safety of another creature. It requires strength, endurance, a sense of pride, and the desire to succeed, which are all excellent qualities. To this day, I get excited when I see a horse by the side of the road, even though I've ridden thousands of them. Equestrian sports can be a lifelong hobby - or, in some cases, a lifelong career. Nurture that desire in your children, and let them learn the trade. You'll be thankful you did.