If you are a horse lover, you are always happy when your children also have a passion for them and enjoy their company. Their first words are usually horsey, horsey! They seem not to be afraid of anything. No matter how well-trained your horse is, the fact remains that it’s an animal. Never take your child’s safety for granted around horses. If you have a passion for equines, your kids must share the same love for them. And while it’s great to pass on your passions to your kids, you also need to teach them how to stay safe around horses.
A child may become inspired by a book, equine performance, or movie, and suddenly they are ‘galloping’ everywhere, whinnying when you call them. For some, this may spawn a life-long passion; for others, the excitement may cool down in time. Wait it out, and a new passion may develop.
Horses are powerful animals that, when tamed, make excellent companions and co-workers. With the proper training and a talented rider, a horse can compete in races, participate in challenging ranch work, or they can simply provide a way for people to burn some recreational time. Because horses are strong but often require the help of humans to stay healthy, the care and training of these animals can impart big life lessons on children.
Set a care schedule for your horse and give some of the responsibilities to your child. They must complete these tasks regardless of mood or weather; for example, as we see in the video, if your child is responsible for feeding the horse in the morning, he can’t skip it simply because he is tired. The horse needs to eat. Emphasize the idea that the horse’s needs must come first when it comes to the relationship between your child and the horse. A child must learn to respect a horse’s perspective before being a safe rider or handler.
Do what is needed to help your child develop trust. Trust in you and trust your horse. Make it fun, do fun things, or ride out together. Let the child ride out with other horses if you know it is safe. All this care and devotion from you will help your child enjoy his experiences with the horse world and conquer his fears.