To Be or Not to Be a Horse Owner: Expectations to Talk Through With Your Kids
Your daughter or son comes back from summer camp where he or she enjoyed the horseback riding program and has found a new love – horses…or perhaps the child has been horse crazy all along…or maybe your inner-child has always thought it would be fun to own a horse. Now, for what-ever reason, you are considering taking the plunge to purchase a horse. Do you know what you are signing up for?
Horse ownership can be a very rewarding experience, and the satisfaction level increases exponentially with the right preparation. The Animal Welfare Council’s Lesson’s about the Unwanted Horse can provide a template for you and your child to work through to help develop a realistic set of expectations for the responsibilities and expenses involved in owning horses responsibly. Lesson Six in the six part series is entitled: To Be or Not to Be A Horse Owner. The lesson covers horse housing to healthcare, exercises to estimate expenses in year one and two of ownership, clues to finding the right match between horse and owner, and alternatives to horse ownership. The lesson even assists potential owners with identifying an exit strategy should the new horse ultimately not fit the owner’s needs, or otherwise become “unwanted.” The activities in the lesson guide the learner through retrieving information to accurately estimate the costs and to identify the local resources that will be a key to successful equine ownership in his or her community.
The Animal Welfare Council is offering the entire six lesson series (including “To Be or Not to Be a Horse Owner”) at no cost through its website; it is downloadable either as a package or in parts, at www.animalwelfarecouncil.org. Each lesson includes goals, background information, a teaching outline, and resources for further study, plus student activities meant to underscore the lesson in various entertaining, lively ways. The underlying message reinforced in all six lessons is the vital importance of conscious, responsible horse ownership.
Based on current research by acknowledged industry experts, the curriculum is suitable for use in youth activity settings such as 4-H, Girl or Boy Scouts, or Pony Club as well as in traditional classrooms and home school programs. Lessons are designed for the 10-12 age group, but may be easily modified for older students, parents or other interested adults. Each lesson is aligned with stated Common Core State Standards and may be used to teach such skills as mathematics, writing, vocabulary building, reading comprehension, civics, understanding statistics, and more. Go to www.animalwelfarecouncil.org and download your copy today.
Animal Welfare Council members support the use of animals in recreation, entertainment, industry and sports. The organization is dedicated to advancing the responsible and humane use of animals in these activities. For more information about the AWC, visit www.animalwelfarecouncil.org or contact Jill Montgomery at 719-547-7677 or Jill@jramenterprises.com
