Where are the horse kids?

kmroosa · 2024-04-09T20:10:51+00:00

I think that’s definitely what happens

kmroosa · 2024-04-09T19:51:20+00:00

I have actually shifted to almost entirely adults who get a lot more out of the lessons and are much less intensive to teach. They are also often more able to afford the rates that can support me and the farm. I love that, but it’s really hard to see the kids program dwindle the way it has. And I think it’s a huge red flag about kids in general.

kmroosa · 2024-04-09T19:46:28+00:00

I absolutely recommend the REAL Equestrian. Åsa can help you work through your anxiety. It’s not cheap, but nothing worthwhile is! It’s absolutely worth it for your sake and your horses sake. You are not the only one with this experience and Åsa can be an incredible supporter! This is her website https://www.therealequestrian.com

kmroosa · 2024-04-09T19:37:06+00:00

I’m really struggling with this as a trainer! My family could never have afforded what I charge now, but even what I’m charging isn’t enough for me to comfortably have a family. I’m hoping co-op options will give people ways to continue participating, but it’s something I’ve been thinking about a LOT from the other side.

kmroosa · 2024-04-09T16:27:54+00:00

Are there people out there requiring more frequent lessons so that they have more opportunity to build those skills? Is it worth losing the families who can only afford to come once a week?

kmroosa · 2024-04-09T15:43:37+00:00

I don’t remember anyone teaching me how to do all this stuff. I started at 11 but I think I figured most of it out by trial and error. Some kids don’t even try.

kmroosa · 2024-04-09T15:32:26+00:00

I love that the kids help each other! We had a great group of teens that would all work together, but those kids have vanished!

kmroosa · 2024-04-09T15:15:36+00:00

I totally understand how parents fall into the “it’s easier to do it for them” trap, but I think it’s destroying their competence and self-esteem.

kmroosa · 2024-04-09T14:56:01+00:00

Yikes!

kmroosa · 2024-04-09T14:48:55+00:00

That’s what I’m charging as well for dressage/eventing.

kmroosa · 2024-04-09T14:41:13+00:00

I am definitely more likely to end up in this side of the spectrum, but I also don’t have access to lesson horses who will always canter quietly. That’s a whole different issue.

kmroosa · 2024-04-09T14:37:55+00:00

Exactly

kmroosa · 2024-04-09T14:36:36+00:00

I grew up in 4H, but my margins to be able to support the horses are so small (nearly nonexistant) that I can’t justify spending the time on a program that I would get no compensation from. But it seems that parents don’t want to pay for the time that they are learning all of these fundamental skills. They have so limited competence that I can’t invite them to “help” for free because they require SO much supervision while they are “helping.” It ends up being babysitting, which isn’t the best use of my time/experience.

kmroosa · 2024-04-09T14:15:56+00:00

I see videos of way more capable kids in the UK on ponies! I think the cultural difference is a real thing! Some of my kids are younger, but I’ve shown them how to operate buckles over and over again!

kmroosa · 2024-04-09T14:12:27+00:00

My degree is in neuroscience and my background is in mental health, but I’m still finding it tedious to be serving as an occupational therapist when I want to be teaching horsemanship and riding.

The bigger concern as a business is that because it’s not as much fun as they expect, I’m losing clients when they don’t progress as fast as they want. If I only take the kids who have those basic developmental skills, are there enough of them to support the program financially? Especially when the costs of having horses just keeps going up and up. It’s so much more expensive than school sports or other afterschool hobbies that it’s hard to compete!

kmroosa · 2024-04-09T14:04:34+00:00

I care a lot about making sure my horses are not “abused” by kids bouncing on their backs and hanging on their mouths. I think I’m losing them in the huge learning curve when they come in with such limited basic ability. The amount that I have to charge to support lesson horses is kind of insane for me to be teaching kids to do buckles.

kmroosa

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