Confessions of an equestrian parent

Our parent “confessions” series gives an inside, anonymous (unless you choose otherwise) look at life in the activities that help define our kids’ childhoods. Want to share an inside look at your kid’s activity of choice? Email [email protected].

In this edition, a Sioux Falls equestrian mom shares insights on horseback riding with children.

How did it all start in horseback riding for your family? What drew your daughters to the sport?

I grew up on a farm in Mobridge, South Dakota. My father was a general surgeon, but we also raised cattle. I grew up riding out on the prairie with my dad moving cattle and fixing fence. Those are really my best memories of horseback riding as a kid. We moved to Alabama when I was 9. I missed riding and my father bought me a quarter horse named Sugar, and I began doing jumping and dressage.

When we moved to Sioux Falls and my daughter started getting older, she was interested in learning to ride. I wanted to ride more too! When she was around the age of 5, she started taking lessons, and she was a natural. She quickly outgrew the lesson horses, and it was clear that we needed something of our own, so we got our first horse about seven years ago. We now have four horses.

Talk us through the progression. How did your children start off in the sport as far as level of participation, frequency of practice and how it has steadily increased?

At first, my daughter was doing lessons just once a week, but this quickly progressed to her wanting to ride more, so that’s what led to us getting our own horses. She is now out there daily – ALL DAY!

My other four children ride too. My daughter who is 6 probably rides almost as much is my 12-year-old. My son, who is 10, rides every now and then, and my 8-year-old daughter likes to ride when it is nice outside. She is not much of a cold-weather rider. My 2-year-old son loves horses and just recently went on his first trail ride with me.

What does their participation look like today? How often do they ride and compete?

My 12-year-old, Grace, has gotten much more involved in barrel racing and pole bending. Pretty much every week we are at some barrel race somewhere.

My 8- and 6-year-old go to the barrel races as well, and they do the peewee races at the beginning. It’s like a practice run for the younger kids. It is pretty cute to watch the little ones run though their barrels.

How would you describe the travel? Do you have a most memorable trip?

Most of our travel is within an hour to 90 minutes from Sioux Falls. I have a four-horse trailer with a small living quarters for us, so we can spend the night if needed.

We love going to barrel races, but we also love going to places like Newton Hills and Turkey Creek for trail rides.

We also recently had a fun trip to Selby, South Dakota, to buy a yearling, which we hope will be a future barrel horse for Grace.

So if we were watching you (and/or your spouse) in the stands during a show, what might we see? What kind of parent-spectator are you?

I am mostly trying to keep an eye on my other kids during the barrel races. I am usually videoing Grace during her run so that she can watch it later and see what she can improve on.

This sport has one big difference to other sports: the horse. How does that work? Do families own the horse? Do some rent horses? What are the logistics behind the living arrangements for the livestock?

It varies widely, depending on participation in which equestrian sport. There are opportunities where people can “lease” horses.

Most of the girls who barrel race own their own horses in my experience. Some people board their horses at a stable, and there are obviously a lot of people who have acreages in South Dakota, just based on the nature of our state, where they keep their horses at their own property.

OK, be honest, what should parents budget with a child in horseback riding? A range works fine!

I think this is very variable as well. There are some equestrian sports and horseback riding where the horses are quite expensive. The horse market right now is fairly high. You can certainly find a good horse for between $3,000 and $5,000, but the more training they have and the better the horse does in its discipline, the higher the price.

You can buy a young horse typically for less, but you’ll likely need to invest in more training versus paying a higher price for a horse that is already trained. It just depends on what works best for you.

What’s the coolest or most memorable thing you’ve seen happen during one of your daughter’s shows?

I think it was the first time Grace won a check on her barrel horse, Jet. She had worked so hard on improving, and the smile on her face that day was priceless.

It motivated her to keep working, and it was a huge reward for all her hard work over many months.

What do you think your daughter’s biggest benefits have been from participating in horseback riding?

The biggest benefit is definitely seeing her hard work pay off. Horses can be frustrating at times, and you have to have patience and persistence.

You learn life lessons constantly about this, as well as disappointment when you knock a barrel or pole and don’t have a good run. You have to pick yourself up and try again. I think that goes a long way with helping you in life.

If you could go back and change something about their experience in the sport would you do anything different?

I really wouldn’t change a thing! I am glad I jumped in and we bought our own horses and started going places on our own to compete. I enjoy the time with my kids and hope they know that I love watching them do something they love.

What do you wish you’d known about being a horseback-riding parent that another parent should know?

Horses are addicting! So addictive! I wish I could have 10 and a big horse property, but that isn’t realistic for me right now. So I’ll keep boarding for now.

Finish this sentence: When my daughters are done riding horses, I hope they …

Continue a lifelong love of horses to share with their future families.