COTH articles: Thinking about lesson barns and horsemanship skills

[beowulf]

@mroades

I have judged the USPC Championships three times. This year the participation was down by a large number.

It’s too expensive to go for most USPC members. I qualified this year but opted not to go. The logistics alone made it a four figure “vacation”. Our org only sent one this year and usually we are well represented.

I am surprised to hear this year was the first year for contesting. I’ve done a ton of turnbacks for my local org and cannot tell you how many times kids have contested their scores.

I’m lucky and belong to one of the best (imo) PC orgs in the state. The kids may contest but they’re almost always respectful.

BTW - thank you for judging! It is hard and often thankless work.

[fivestrideline]

@kaya842

Why would they invest time and money into the grassroots or middle “class” categories when those aren’t the individuals that bring USEF money? Should USEF be focused on the good of the sport vs the income it brings? Absolutely. Do I believe that is the case at all? Nope. Maybe I’m a cynic

If you’re a cynic, I’m a cynic. I agree with everything you said, but especially this point. I really don’t think USEF cares if the sport becomes a sport of kings. They’re catering to a really wealthy clientele while actively pricing out people who can’t or aren’t ready to pay to play.

USEF doesn’t give a flying fart about the grassroots level program/instructor/rider/owner. I’m not sure they (we! I’m in this market myself right now!) should care any more than that about USEF support/recognition.

(Sorry for all the edits. My phone is doing something really odd tonight)

[Tackpud]

@Bending_Line

I agree that USEF is irrelevant to what I do, but why should it be? Shouldn’t a national federation for equestrian sports have some kind of programming to support riding schools, or help families navigate that process? Why fundraising and grants for the international teams, but not the points of entry for people to participate in the sport?

Because USEF is focused on the international and Olympic level. USHJA has programs for the lower levels - Recognized Riding Academy, Horsemanship Quiz Challenge, and Instructor Credential to name a few. Look into those to find the true stars of the sport.

[kaya842]

I was thinking about this thread en route to the barn tonight and thought that PC might be brought up as the obvious answer.

IME, PC is regional. In our area I believe there is one club within an hour radius of a major metro with a fairly active HJ and dressage scene (tons of schooling and some rated shows within the same bubble), so it’s not for a lack of English riders. The one club is entirely kids (bummer as I’d love to get involved as an adult, but not the only adult), far from the city and suburbs, and not well marketed / known at all. Their website is awful and outdated, same with FB and they are horrible to get in contact with. Not exactly a winning combo for bringing in new to the sport, never heard of PC kids or parents. Not a PC problem per se but PC can’t be a good option when access is limited to one club for a whole market. Even if the club was awesome getting the word out and all around perfect they shouldn’t/couldn’t take in all the grassroots people in our area.

[urban_teacher]

I am in Pony Club. I am also working to go to other horse organizations to get the word out. Most adults don’t know anything about it.

I rode in NJ with a trainer who used levels and it was helpful.The drawback as an adult with anxiety, some days I didn’t want to work on the level I was. I wanted to work at a level I was comfortable with. My trainer now in CA allows me to work on something over and over. The key is she still has a plan.

I started riding as an adult with trainers who were on phones, a lot of posting in circles and no plan.No horsemanship either.
The first barn I rode at in GA had great bad weather horsemanship classes but lousy horsecare. The second barn, I fell off every week practically because safety was not a concern. It was very much jump what they told you to jump and never mind your position.

That is why I appreciate both my NJ and CA trainer. I think levels and plans are so important to teach basics.

[LCDR]

I have been involved with two Pony clubs , but that was (gulp) about forty years ago. IMO I learned way more about horse managment that any of the young members did, as they were with one boy exception all adolescent girls who really just wanted to ride. But the trainers both had their own chapters and you were expected to participate in their Clubs.

IMO Pony Club suffers from its name. It isn’t a cool sounding club to older non-rider teens and I lnow there was teasing or maybe even some bullying of our members.

Both of my Pony Clubs were run by fox hunters, and many of the girls became lower level eventers as well. They just dropped out of Pony Club.

[CBoylen]

If you are interested in supporting grass roots shows and land conservation, invest either your time or money in your local hunt club. Encourage your friends and neighbors to put their land in conservation and to open it to these clubs. Community ambassadors make a big difference.

[fivestrideline]

I honestly didn’t think about this angle!