FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2014 55
your whole life. It gives kids a huge sense of responsibility. They’re
not just taking care of themselves, but they have to care for another
living being.
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to put someone else’s needs ahead of your own. If you’re hungry,
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them and put them away — then you can eat.
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Club?
I’d like to get my kids at least to one rating and at least to one rally. I
want them to participate and be involved.
How hav
e you grown as a rider, trainer and person as a
result of taking on the challenge of starting up
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Pony Club?
It’s made me realize that what I teach has a big effect on people I’m
teaching. I didn’t realize that until I got feedback from parents. They
told me their kids love the program and look forward to it all week. I
had no idea they were that receptive. I was shocked and it was very
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riders past the age who would like to be a kid again just so they can
be part of Pony Club?
I’ve been toying with the idea of starting a Pony Club Horse Masters
program as there are a number of women at the barn who seem
interested — they’d like their own program for adults.
Sounds good, sign me up!
And we’re always accepting volunteers.
About the writer: Susan Friedland-Smith, a California history teacher living in North
Tustin, has been horse-crazy since girlhood. Susan’s love-of-her-life was a tall,
dark and handsome Kentucky Thoroughbred who was her show partner and faithful
companion for 16 years through the ups and downs of dating as she searched for
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colic. Now after a three-year horse hiatus, with husband-turned-budding equestrian
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following her blog Saddle Seeks Horse at
and on
Twitter @susanwordlover.
These middle school Pony Club riders confessed that the Pony Club
homework of studying parts of a horse was way better than school
homework. (And as a teacher myself, I totally agree!)
