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USEFUL INFO |
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What Horses and Riding Can Do for Children |
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I firmly believe that horses and riding are good for children - physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. Together, horses and instructors make riders; together, good horses and good instructors make riders, horsemen, and good human beings. Riding is a physical activity, but it’s an activity unlike any other. Like track and field, gymnastics, and diving, it improves fitness, strength, flexibility, and endurance. Like dancing, doubles tennis, and pairs skating, riding requires physical skills and a partner, but in the case of riding, the partner is not just another individual, it’s another individual of a different species. Riding is a physical activity that requires skill, balance, and coordination, plus intellectual and theoretical understanding — and then there’s the emotional component that has to exist in order to build a genuine relationship that will develop into a true partnership. What does riding do for children? It gets them up and active and out in all kinds of weather, year-round. Once upon a time, this wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, but nowadays, when so many schools are eliminating physical exercise from the curriculum, riding may be the only way for some children to tap into the benefits of physical activity and fitness. For horses and for humans, physical activity is essential for good health. Restricted movement and confinement aren’t natural or healthy, and neither horses nor humans can stay sane and sensible when deprived of movement, circulation, and oxygen to the brain. In terms of posture and breathing alone, riding makes an enormous difference that is noticeable at school and at home. |
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Riding teaches children in a way that classroom lectures cannot. Through interacting with horses and watching good role models, riders learn much more than riding skills. They learn to be thoughtful and gentle, compassion ate and empathetic. They learn to be patient. They also learn courage — and determination. Riders learn to take responsibility for their own actions, and for the consequences of those actions. This is essential training for school, for college, for a career, for life as an adult and a parent and an all- around useful citizen. As they learn to look after horses well, they also master any number of subjects that they aren’t offered in school — the value of exercise and conditioning, and the importance of warm ups, cool-downs, and proper nutrition. Horsemanship isn’t limited to horses - the attitudes and habits of a horse man can be applied throughout life. Learning to care for horses properly means learning how to take responsibility for another being that is completely dependent on them for its care, health and happiness. It’s an ideal education for future parents. (In Pony Club, we used to say — and rightly - “When Pony Clubbers grow up, they make the best parents!”) Grooming horses, cleaning stalls, scrubbing water buckets and cleaning tack are chores that must be done. Whether the ride was enjoy able or frustrating, when it’s over, the horse’s needs must be met. Cooling the horse down, giving it water, grooming it, being sure that it has a clean stall or paddock in which to relax, feeding it, and only then taking time to look after their own needs — these are the habits of a horseman. They are also the habits of good parents — and of young riders who are learning to be horsemen, and who will grow up to be compassionate, empathetic, careful, caring parents who put their children first, see to the children’s needs before getting their own drink, dinner, shower, or nap, and who won’t back away from diaper changes or from sick and fretful offspring. Riding and horsemanship don’t distract children from their studies they help them study more wisely and much more effectively. Riding involves discipline and self-discipline. Attentive riders learn to appreciate the value of systematic, progressive training. They learn to apply themselves to their studies, and they learn how to stay focused, work hard — and work smart. Riders learn to understand the importance of process. In riding, you can’t copy someone else’s answers, because it’s not just a matter of getting the right answer, but of getting the answer in the right way. |
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With the help of good teachers (human and equine), they learn about themselves, and they learn how they learn best — and what sort of teaching approach they find most useful and effective. They also learn some very practical social skills, such as how to put their own egos aside, how to look for causes, reasons, and solutions, and how to think instead of just reacting with a burst of temper. These skills will benefit the riders forever, even if they give up riding. Riding lessons provide useful reality checks. Riders learn to be attentive and observant. They learn the importance of having and using safety equipment and safety practices, and they learn that no matter how much they may adore their horses, the horse are still horses and are always capable of reacting to surprises or pain with a startle, rear, or kick. Horses and riding can provide children with self-esteem, Gaining competence as riders makes them special and gives them a type of confidence that simply can’t be matched in any other sport, because they’ve not only acquired skills, they’ve built a relationship. Sondra was concerned about the values that her daughter might learn in the world of horses and riding. With a good instructor, Marian would develop balance and core strength — not just physical strength, but mental, emotional, and moral strength as well. Good riding and horsemanship both require consideration for others, and in addition to sympathy and empathy, Marian would learn that there are no shortcuts to doing something right. “It builds character” is usually said about things that are unpleasant or painful — things we don’t enjoy doing and don’t want to do. Riding is a pleas ant and enjoyable way to build character. Respect, compassion, empathy, responsibility, honesty, integrity, focus and follow-through - who wouldn’t want their children to have and live these values? At this particular book-signing, I had been told that my talk would last for “at least half an hour – may be an hour if people are really interested”. The second half hour stretched into three- quarters of an hour, then to an hour, and nobody left. The oh-so-patient store manager brought out more cookies and coffee. It seemed that all of the readers with an interest in horse behavior had an even greater interest in the influence of horses on children, and on the beneficial effect of riding lessons. At one point, I went out to my car and brought back copies of Riding Instructor to hand out. When we finally broke up and I was preparing to leave, Sondra came back for a moment. “When I came here tonight, I was really hoping that you’d talk about riding in terms of money and ribbons and status, because that would give me good reasons why Marian shouldn’t get involved with horses. But now I think we’re going to have to let her try. All the qualities you described are exactly the way we want Marian to be, so I’m going to go home, talk to my husband, and start looking for an ARIA instructor. Thank you!” She gave me a “thumbs up” sign on her way out. Sondra’s ideas about riding’s “elitism” and “snobbery” probably came from bad, made-for-TV movies. But she isn’t unique. There are a lot of worried, non horsey parents out there, with children like Marian — fascinated by horses and desperate to learn to ride. Let’s do what ever we can to reach the parents! If we can show them that the values and quali ties they hope to instill in their children are precisely those values and qualities that good riding lessons will introduce and reinforce, we may be able to help them understand why horses and riding have so much to offer their children. Jessica Jahiel, Ph.D. is an award- winning author, an international clinician and lecturer. Her method, Holistic Horseman ship®, emphasizes communication between horse and rider, utilizing the principles of classical dressage. Jessica can be reached at (217) 684-2570, or e-mail jjahiel@prairienet.org. To subscribe to her weekly electronic newsletter, HorseSense, visit her web site at www.horse-sense.org or www.jessicajahiel.com. |
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