The Horse Mom Version of the "Let Them" Mantra

Okay, so let's get into this whole concept of let them as it pertains to our horse kids.

Now, 100% genuine broke horse moms, which is most of us, we entered this sport with our kids with zero horse background.

We've established this.

We looked around, we saw that show ring, and then we assumed that that was the sport that getting to the show ring.

There would be lessons and then shows and then off-property shows and then bigger shows and rated shows and blah, blah, blah, more, more, more.

But as I have come to find out, the show path is one road that can be taken and many kids, including my own, love that road.

but they can travel on multiple roads anytime they want.

There are show rings, but there are also trail rides and barn life, horsemanship, and all that other weird and wonderful stuff that happens around horses, which I have found happens to be where the real journey of this sport lies.

From what I have seen, and this is 100% anecdotal, but the kids who tend to stay in this sport for the long haul and who grow into adults who continue to ride are the ones who love horses, not just ribbons, like we talked about in episode 19, are we raising riders or buying ribbons? It's the kids that recognize the horses are the backbone of this sport, and that's what they love.

This part of their life is truly unlimited, and we as their parents get to help them decide how big it becomes.

When I was back in outside sales years ago, my boss once told me, Angie, I love coaching sales reps who I have to hold back instead of push along.

And I have taken that idea with me in many different parts of my life.

But with horses, I think about how they themselves, the horse, have this magical power to pull kids along with them who otherwise may have not been as motivated in this sport.

Now, over the past couple of months, we have been navigating some health issues with my mom.

So I have been away from the barn more than normal.

And while I can't really be a part of many of the horse activities that Chloe is participating in, I'm so happy that she has more to look forward to than just show days.

Her barn life and barn family are a huge part of what brings her joy.

And as life sometimes forces us adults to be adults, and not hang out at the barn all day every day, it's really comforting to know that she's able to continue to become an even more well-rounded, confident horse girl every day by experiencing this whole full spectrum of horse life.

I know you're like, Angie, what in the heck are you talking about? What do I mean by any of this? So what are examples of letting them and bonus points? How do we afford to let them experience this horse world fully? We're going to go through that.