Camp 2009

What Is It About Kids And Horses?

Summer 2009 was a rainy one but the kids and horses still had a ton of fun. What is it about kids and horses? The two intertwine like the sunshine and flowers. They need each other. The kids learn and grow from the horses and the horses love the kids.

I have noticed that the horses being such sensitive beings have a thing for kids. Biggest our PMU Percheron mare is 16.3 hands high and about 18oo lbs or more. Her feet are as big as dinner plates. She has a very abusive past. To this day she is mistrustful of people. When someone new comes to the barn and wants to pat her she is usually stand offish and remains a safe distance from them. She is not one to show emotion and will remain uncommitted, so not to risk the chance to trust and be regretful in the end.

Now, usher in the children. Dragging with them the stools that enable them to reach her back that resembles a soft cushy couch and the tote of grooming paraphernalia. Biggest, or G as we call her, will stand all day. The children bring no baggage or emotions to the table. There are no bad vibes for the horses to pick up on. The air is clean and clear. There is only fun times and laughter floating around. The kids brush her from head to tail.
They being under a 100 lbs and her being 1800 lbs are quite a contrast. The kids feel small compared to her but gain pounds of knowledge and confidence from being in her presence. She learns that not all people are mean and hard.


POOP

Here at Black Horse Farm we strive to teach children it's not always about just riding a horse. There is much more we can acquire from being around horses. Sure riding is fun but I hear from the kids all the time that they also enjoy cleaning stalls, grooming and learning all there is to learn about horses and their care.

Sometimes when we get a student who has not had a lot time around horses they are apprehensive about being around them and around all the other stuff that goes along with being around horses. Including manure. So during camp the first day we were cleaning stalls. It was a first time for some campers. As we enter the stalls their eyes get big, and they wrinkle up their noses and say 'eeeewwww'.

As I stand in a pile of poop I tell them they will not die from horse poop. Then I sort of stomp and kick it around a little. I call it the manure dance and soon they join in and they forget all about poop.

We also have a poop-throwing contest. Don't worry moms and dads, they use a manure fork. In the pasture where the horses graze, what they take in also comes out. So in an effort to spread the manure piles around we had a poop-throwing contest. The girls armed themselves with a manure fork. I instructed them on the proper technique of launching the manure. After a few practice tosses we fired poop around. There was a prize for the furthest poop. We had some laughs and the manure got spread. Ahh nothing like life on the farm.

Among other adventures like a horse riding obstacle course, making horses treats, learning the parts of the horse, saddle and bridle we also went on a few field trips. One to the Therapeutic Riding stable Hearts and Horses in Buxton, Maine and another to the Maine State Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Equine division in Windham, Maine.

I had acquired some horse equipment from various places and wanted to donate a bunch of horse stuff. So by incorporating the kids in this it would be even better. So we loaded up the car with bags of blankets, leg wraps, saddle pads, bridles, halters and a box of carrots, apples and some of the horses treats they made and drove on over. They have 86 horses under their care. We saw about 45. Each horse came with a story. The children listened as Becky told each horses previous life of abuse, neglect and sadness. By exposing these future horse enthusiasts to this side of the horse world will hopefully inspire them to be advocates for horses.


The Answer

I can't end this without mentioning Willy and Anna. They both have been teaching children for a number of years.
Anna a Welsh cross pony of 30 years and Willy a 26 year Quarter Horse have been so patient when the kids give them baths, spraying them with the hose, soaping them up and then standing endlessly while the kids braid their manes and tails with ribbons and bows.
Never complaining when asked to stand while the kids stick stickers with the names of the horse's anatomy all over their body. The endless rides and being so patient while the kids learn. Lesson horses are the best. They put up with a lot. They deserve a lot of extra carrots and apples to say the least.

I guess that is the answer to 'what is it about kids and horses'?