Get 'em while they're young
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326093)
Rockingham, Australia
August 31, 2018 7:03pm CST
One of our interests is attending endurance rides where horses and their riders cover a specific distance over a certain period. The rides are closely monitored by veterinarians and any horse showing signs of stress are not allowed to continue. Luckily they don’t vet the riders or there would be no events. LOL
Competitors also have to complete shorter distances before tackling the longer ones and ‘social’ rides of 10 and 20kms are often offered as well. This young man participated in a 10 km ride led by his mother. She is out of the picture here and the lead rope has been removed. His fat little pony is called Twinkle. Twinkle looks to be thoroughly enjoying his outing as does the small boy although he was suffering quite badly with hay fever.
It is good for the future of any sport to get younger people involved as early as possible and endurance riding is no exception. .
18 people like this
17 responses
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
1 Sep 18
I believe in this, start the children while they young and as the grow the development is very beneficial. Like the athletes, start em young and they will bring home the gold medal.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Sep 18
Without young people coming through, some sports would die out.
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Sep 18
@ilocosboy That could be so and it seems if a child has a particular skill they have no choice but to follow the sport they've been chosen for. The western world doesn't have quite the same expectations but some parents are equally as pushy as a government agency might be.
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
2 Sep 18
In asia the country that always hauling gold medals is China... they say its because the start the sports program for prospective individuals when they still child.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
1 Sep 18
Start young. That's what we always encourage children here who are into sports.
2 people like this
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
2 Sep 18
@JudyEv definitely. There’s no need to pressure kids or stress them out in doing things they don’t like at all. Though some parents are like that. Trying to achieve their dreams through their children.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Sep 18
@toniganzon It is very sad to see how some of the parents speak to their children when they don't do well.
1 person likes this
@Torunn (8609)
• Norway
21 Feb 19
Awwww! They both look so happy!
And yes, get them started young so that they'll never have any money for stupid stuff but spend all off it on riding gear :-)
I've never tried endurance riding, but I'm competing in dressage. Might do one of the social rides, my horses aren't fast enough for the long rides. But do love sticking their tongues out ...
1 person likes this
@Torunn (8609)
• Norway
22 Feb 19
@JudyEv I have two, one could compete as a pony (he's 145) but the other one is 150 so he's a horse. The smaller one is built like a barrel, so they're about the same weight. Both could compete in carriage driving but I never done it myself.
Australia would too warm for them I suppose? They don't get heat rashes like the Icelandic horses but they prefer the cold, and I get weather reports from my friend in Sydney that sounds too hot for me too
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Sep 18
@compslick It isn't a very interesting sport for spectators as once the riders leave on their ride you don't see them again for ages.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85540)
• Bangalore, India
1 Sep 18
Twinkle looks really round with her belly
The young looks happy and proud. He doesn't look to be sick at all.
The young looks happy and proud. He doesn't look to be sick at all.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Sep 18
I doubt that Twinkle would manage a 40 km ride. She would need to lose a bit of weight. 
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Sep 18
@compslick It was the little boy who was sick. He had bad hay fever and it was hard to get a smile out of him.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170419)
• United States
1 Sep 18
I wonder why they don't do those types of rides here? If they do, only the "horsey" set knows about them.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170419)
• United States
2 Sep 18
@JudyEv I know they do steeplechase and some fox hunting here..but I am thinking the endurance rides might be mostly in the western states. It is so funny, where we used to live..which was an urban area there were horseback riding signs. I asked my son, who was out and about alot more than I was, if he had ever seen anyone riding a horse in the area..he said no..left over from an earlier time. I guess.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Sep 18
@snowy22315 It seems there are rides in all states bar Montana, Wyoming, Nth and Sth Dakota, Minnesota and Nebraska (and perhaps a few others). If you're not into a sport it is easy not to think there is none in your area. We've been having our house concerts for about 9 or 10 years but there are plenty of locals who have never heard of them. Here's a link which shows a map where rides are being held:
The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) is the organization for equine endurance riding in North America.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16544)
• China
1 Sep 18
Twinkle looks like a gentle and docile pony suitable for young rider.I agree with you,attending endurance rides does the young a lot of good .
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95648)
• Marion, Ohio
1 Sep 18
They both look like they are having a good time
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95648)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Sep 18
@JudyEv Some of those ponies can look like that and go all day.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Sep 18
@wolfgirl569 That's very true and many have no trouble keeping up with bigger horses.
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Sep 18
I guess it won't be too many years and he'll need something a bit trimmer, especially if he wants to do more than 10 or 20 km.
@moffittjc (118546)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 18
I taught my kids at a young age to have a love and appreciation for the outdoors, and even as teenagers they both still love to go camping and hiking.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118546)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 18
@JudyEv You have to get them involved in the outdoors at a very young age before video games and smartphones and computers take over their lives!
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
2 Sep 18
It looks like the boy and the horse enjoy each other's company. The horse looks beautiful too, with shorter legs.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Sep 18
He does have short legs. He would be easier to mount than some of the taller mounts.
@jobelbojel (34730)
• Philippines
1 Sep 18
The little man is enjoying it for sure. And the horse too. I believe that when people start young on sports, they are going to be successful on it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Sep 18
As long as they don't have pushy parents, it is good if they start a sport while they are young.
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Sep 18
It was hard to coax a smile from him as his poor face was puffed up with hay fever.
