10/13/2026
Iโve reposted one similar to this before. Of course, the Horse Connected Learning programs we run incorporate all of these things. But in our Horsemanship lessons, where riding is the focus, all of these things are just as important. Additionally, when we have rain, and we have to cancel riding we always offer a barn lesson (as long as itโs safe). We have very few kids take advantage of that because they want to ride. But thereโs so much to learn about walking to get your horse, the leading, grooming, really spending time with them. You learn how they move, communication when your horse doesnโt โdo what you want them to do.โ You get physical exercise and fresh air. And all the other things listed in this post. Yes it may be โhardโ and the kids will say so! But thatโs the learning part. Things are hard until we learn them!
So parents, we would love to have your kids out at the barn even when they canโt ride. Please understand the importance and the benefits of working outside with the horses, riding or not. Give your kids the gift of hard work, pushing through, and resiliency.
Horsin' Around ๐๐ด๐ค ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐! ๐ค ๐ดโค๏ธ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐บ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ ๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ! Hannah Campbell Zapletal ๐
Last week, I was chatting with the father of a lovely little girl. He mentioned that he'd love for his daughter to spend more time riding and less time catching, grooming and saddling her horse.
I smiled, because I understood. But here's what I explainedโฆ
โจ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ง ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐! โจ
Riding requires strength, balance, coordination, patience and timing. And those skills aren't developed only in the saddle.
They're built through every little job that comes before and after the ride.
๐ฟ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
After a day indoors, fresh air and sunshine work wonders. Walking across uneven ground challenges balance, strengthens little legs and engages core muscles.
๐ชฎ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ข๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐
Brushing and currying develop arm strength, coordination and body awareness. More importantly, grooming teaches children to slow down, notice details and connect with their horse.
๐ช ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐
With an appropriately sized saddle and safe supervision, children learn responsibility while developing strength and confidence.
That little moment of effort teaches something powerful:
โญ ๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ.
๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐ฆ ๐๐๐ก'๐ง
Horses respond to body language, energy and emotions. Children learn patience, empathy, emotional regulation and respect for another living creature.
And when they finally climb into the saddle, they're learning to work with a powerful animal that has a mind of its own.
That's courage. That's resilience. That's growth. โค๏ธ
๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ช๐๐ฅ๐
After a lesson, children may be physically tired, but often they're mentally calmer, more focused and incredibly proud of themselves.
Not just because they rode well.
Because they caught their pony.
Because they groomed it.
Because they tried something difficult.
Because they DID IT THEMSELVES. ๐ฅน
โค๏ธ ๐ฆ๐ข, ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ง๐ฆโฆ
Let them do the work.
Let them get a little dusty.
Let them struggle a little.
Let them discover how capable they really are.
Of course, help with the heavy lifting, high buckles and anything beyond their age or ability.
But please don't take away every challenge in the name of making things easier.
๐ช๐ฒ'๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐. ๐ช๐ฒ'๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ด, ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ, ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ต๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐. ๐
I'm so grateful to share these extraordinary animals and all the lessons they teach with your families.
๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐น๐ฒ. ๐ข๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐, ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐'๐น๐น ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ๐๐ฒ๐น๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐๐ต. โจ
