All 4-H'ers...6yr old wants to get into horses, how to do it????

[DuckyBoys]

Quote:
Most 4H programs are about giving kids a chance to do things not in their comfort zone - your club's rules sound a bit unreasonable. It completely discriminates agianst a whole class of kids i.e. town kids or city kids.

 

[Florida chick]

Things may have changed, I am talking 15 years ago. BUT that said we were judged for states etc on our horses care, upkeep, daily chores etc...
SO an honest question here... WHY would it be fair for me to get up at 5:15 everyday and feed and water
get home from school groom/feed/ water/ much stalls and pastures.
EVERYDAY...
When another "senior" could board her horse and only do feeding or stalls a few times a week? In our club it was about responsibility. I am not trying to discriminate, just sincerely asking, what would make it for? It seems very very unfair for a person to earn points etc and board an animal. Its very different to do all the care yourself. The same with goats and cattle. Parents couldn't even help otherwise the kids would be disqualified. I am suprised it has changed so much. How sad for the kids doing the "real" work.

 

[s6bee]

Quote:
I think you need to be careful how you insult those that don't have the luxury of having the land to keep and work the horses everyday. My daughter works her little fanny off, no not every day, but she's at that barn working and learning everything she can under the unfortunate circumstances she was born into ( the suburbs ), but it doesn't mean she doesn't know what she's doing or that she's not doing "real" work. I think it's the Knowledge they are looking for as well, not the just the daily sweat, and you CAN learn without doing it daily, yes it's different than what your kids or you grew up doing, but she is learning it. My daughter also does Pony Club in addition to 4-H. This is way more demanding as well compared to 4-H, but it's not required to have a horse in our backyard. Here at 4-H county fair or states you are judged for the time there, usually a week on resposibility, care, and knowledge of the horse. However, you either know it or you don't. And any good judge should be able to tell that when doing his job.

 

[Florida chick]

I am truly not trying to insult anyone. I just am suprised to see apples compared to oranges. Its a HUGE difference to keep your animals at your barn instead of a boarding facility. How does your daughter keep records? Our children fill them out 3X a day for car and grooming etc...

 

[s6bee]

But you have...
That seems to be a lot of wasted time. The diet shouldn't be changing that much. She fills in exactly what he eats, how many times a day, etc. So for example, feed- type, brand, protein %, etc. -how much and how many times a day. IF it changes, then the change is added. To write the same thing 3 x day, every day of the year doesn't make a difference or sense. I know it is different when your kids did it. But the kids do know what they are doing. I also think you may have a different sense of what some of these kids who "Board" are like. It's not a bunch of rich, snobby kids paying others to do the work. It may seem like it, but many times you'll also find kids getting down to work at the barn, turning out, or in, feeding, watering, mucking, etc., They practically live there.
So if your kid has a million pages of every tiny brush that ever touched the horses back, then maybe you should get higher points. But don't insult those who don't get to the barn every a.m. and say they don't know what "real " work is.

 

[Florida chick]

I guess IMHO we will agree to disagree because in my opinion a boarded horse is not near the same amount of responsibility. Records done daily here also include any grooming and a teeth and body ck daily, the kids need to put down any marks, or bug bites etc. Horse care that is not done daily should not qualify period! How are the children just as responsible for the horse if they see them a few times a week? They just are not!

 

[Wolf-Kim]

That's sad, because I know I could have never been able to qualify for a horse 4H if the horse had to be on my property. I live in a subdivision, no horses would be able to live comfortably here. I've always had to board my horses on someone elses land. It would have broke my heart if someone said "No, you can't qualify because the horse ain't living on your own land". It's just a plain and simple fact, my family lives in a subdivision and my parents aren't "farm/rural" orientated. All my country-style activities had to take place at the boarding barn or Adam's property.

I guess not being blessed with acreage or a family that "does" lifestock, I wouldn't see it as fair to be barred from the educational opportunities of 4H.

I agree the paperwork and the requirements shouldn't be any different. If you have to fill out certain charts, certain charts should be filled out irregardless whether you board or have enough of your own land. I don't think paperwork is the case here.

-Kim

 

[Florida chick]

I am glad kids from the "city" or subdivisions have a chance. I am not happy they are given the same rewards for 1/3 the time and commitment. All kids should have the chance, but paperwork should be very different. Esp areas of care and management.

 

[HorseFeathers]

I think you should just do whatever it takes to let her have a horse. I'm REALLY into horses

and my mom is too, but she says we can't have one.

You don't have to take MY advice at all, just want to save your friend's daughter from being horse-less and alone, like me

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

All states and counties have different rules for 4-H. Your first step should be to contact your (Or your friend's) local ag extension office. The people there will be able to give you a bunch of information regarding the rules and qualifications of local 4-H clubs.

Our club was extremely laid back. I was a member for over nine years and some kids didn't even have horses. Others boarded and some, like myself, kept the horses on our own property. As a club, we held so many fun activities, and of course there were some shows and county fair. Project books were not a big deal. The few years I filled one out, I DID NOT have to keep daily records. With the project books we had, it just wasn't necessary. I did have to keep track of expenses and monthly duties. It wasn't that big a deal, and I always did very well. I even won awards for my books on many occasions. It's the same way with poultry and my other projects. I used to do the books a week before they were due and often my books were used as examples for other kids. I guess I have just been doing it so long that I can do the books in a short period of time.

4-H is a wonderful experience and I really do recommend getting involved. I would not suggest to your friend to just go out and buy a horse right away. It is, as others mentioned, a HUGE expense. However, she can get the same amount of experience (while having lots of fun) without having a horse of her own. After she has learned and it is clear she wants to continue with the project, then perhaps they could start looking for a horse. However, when she is a bit older, there are competitions like horse judging, conventions, horse shows that she can enter and participate in without owning a horse. Many times, other members will offer their horses via lease, etc. for use by other members. This was always another great option in our club, because younger members were aided by older members and sometimes learned more than they would otherwise.

Good luck and let me know if you have any further questions!