A Passion for Horses

I suppose you could say I was born with it, destined to fall in love with the warm back and the soft muzzle. However it came to be, the fact remains: I love horses. They're my passion. From playing with plastic toy horses to my first riding lesson, I was born hooked. So it's from personal experience that I can say, if your daughter or son has the horse gene, there's no hope of distraction. You can try to suppress it - leave soccer balls around the house, pay for weekly piano lessons, and encourage dance lessons - but I'll tell you straight up, it's no use.

Resources for Learning About and Becoming Involved with Horses

Clubs, private riding instructors, camps and guest ranches are great ways to learn about horses and to ride. Additionally, equine rescues and sanctuaries commonly offer volunteer workdays; some offer horse sponsorship & riding lessons.Guest

Ranches and Camps

Almond Country Farms Equestrian Center; Durham. (530) 343-1558.
Coffee Creek Ranch; Trinity Center.
websiteq.com/member/coffeecreek; (800) 624-4480.
Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch; Quincy. www.greenhornranch.com; (800) 33-HOWDY / (800-334-6939)
Kidder Creek; Etna:
www.mounthermon.org/attend/kidder-creek; (888) 226-7386.
NorCal Kids Horse Camps.
www.norcaltrailrides.com;
(530) 515-8958.
Northern California Facility Camp; Quincy. www.myncfc.info;
(530) 283-0844.
Omega Oaks Ranch; Redding.
(530) 223-0313.

Equine Clubs for Youth

4H in California: www.ca4h.org.
- Butte County: (530) 538-7201.
- Shasta County: (530) 224-4900.
- Siskiyou County: (530) 842-2711.
- Tehama County: (530) 527-3101.
Pony Club: www.ponyclub.org.
Regional office: (209) 727-0247;
Chico club: (530) 570-4707.
Redding Jr. Rodeo Association:
www.reddingrodeo.com/jrclub.htm; (530) 241-5731.

Equine Rescues & Sanctuaries

NorCal Equine Rescue; Oroville.
www.norcalequinerescue.com;
(530) 370-4056.
Safe Haven Horse Rescue; Cottonwood.
www.safehavenhorserescue.org;
(530) 347-4941.
Sunshine Sanctuary for Kids and Horses; Los Molinos. www.sunshinesanctuary.org; (530) 529-0183
Wild Horse Sanctuary; Shingletown. www.wildhorsesanctuary.org; (530) 474-5770
The Mustang Project; Corning. www.themustangproject.org; (530) 824-5258

It will probably start with your child refusing to wash his or her hands after petting a horse. This, as strange as it may sound, is just a symptom of horsey love. Another sign is when your child "sees" horses in every aspect of life and mistakes words for horse-related terms. For those of you who aren't wired into horse lingo, if your child starts shouting out things like, "Bits!" "Bridles!" "Headstalls!" "Reins!" you're pretty much out of luck. Soon your child's bedroom walls will be littered with pretty pony posters, complemented by a growing collection of horse movies.

Once you've faced the fact that your child is head over heels in love with any kind of 1,000 pound chunk of flesh and fur that neighs, what can be done about it? There are several programs I recommend. Both 4-H and Pony Club offer opportunities for horse-loving children to get involved safely and with minimum difficulty. They're great programs for families with non-horsey parents, because they are run by knowledgeable leaders who have been in the industry for several years. Personally, 4-H has navigated me safely through the horse world. I was able to learn about local barns and trainers, and eventually able to sponsor one of my 4-H leader's horses.

If a Pony Club or 4-H Club is not available near you, or the club offered does not cater to your specific discipline, talk to people in your area who have horses. Call your local large animal veterinarian or check out your local feed store's bulletin board to locate riding instructors. Be aware that the first person you pick might not be a good match for your child. They might not be as safe as you would like, or may not practice good horse husbandry. Attend lessons with your child, observe the situation, and follow your gut instinct. Pay attention to the trainer, their facilities, and their horses. Always make safety the number one priority for your child, and always require your child to wear a helmet. If something doesn't feel safe, it probably isn't.

Another common mistake among new horse enthusiasts is buying a young horse or an untrained horse right away. I rode for ten years before I even considered buying a horse. Even if it's "a really good deal," let it pass by. There will always be another horse, and over time you will gain the experience to judge for yourself what is best for you and your child.

So, besides spending a lot of money and time, what will your child get out of being horse crazy? When I finally bought my first horse, nicknamed Classy, it took less than a week to figure out that everything I "knew" about how to work with an older, trained horse did not apply to my young colt. I stuck it out, however, and after a year of steadily working together we've grown as a team ready to take on the world. Classy has taught me confidence, independence, responsibility and patience. In the desperate, unsure time of teenage years, it is an incredibly comfort to know that no matter what happens, that big, soft nose will still ruffle my hair and nibble at my fingers.

Horses have changed my life for the better. They have taught me lessons that no other teacher could - things like perseverance, responsibility and leadership. They have helped me grow as a person and transitioned me from a lost little girl to a self-assured young woman. For me this is a lifelong commitment, but more importantly, it is the lifelong opportunity to grow, expand and accomplish.

Author Amelia Clyatt, junior at Mattole Valley Charter School and a Mt. Shasta local, has ridden, shown and worked with horses for over ten years. She is leaving for Hamburg, Germany soon, to experience a year-long cultural exchange and to hone her equestrian talent.