Eventing legend Denny Emerson recently decided to outline a list of his horsemanship goals for kids. Denny has been poosting a few each day on the Tamarack Hill Facebook page, and he is up to #62 right now. Jackie, an EN reader was kind enough to compile a list of Denny’s goals. Here is goals number 1 through goal number 27. Denny is, in my opinion, one of only a few remaining true horsemen (and women), so when he talks about horsemanship I sit up and listen. How many of Denny’s goals have you accomplished Eventing Nation?
Horsemanship challenge to kids, No.1–Learn about sporthorse and racing pedigrees. You are all totally ignorant, only because you choose to be. You should know ALL ABOUT this stallion, for example. And about DOZENS of others. You don`t because you are disinterested and lazy!
Horsemanship challenge to kids, No. 2–Start to develop an “independent seat” so you don`t bounce at the sitting trot and canter. Too hard? Then try out for your high school ski team, or swim team, or wrestling team, so you can learn what “hard” means.
Horsemanship challenge to kids, No. 3–Ride bareback enough so that you are completely comfortable, on all kinds of terrain, and at all gaits. And, while you`re at it, learn how to get on bareback. Do you think a little Cheyenne Indian kid asked his mother for a leg up?
No. 4–The picture speaks for itself.
No. 5–Teach your pony to drive.
No. 6–Show your horse or pony in fitting and showmanship classes.
No. 7–Ride in a 100 mile trailride or endurance race. Or at least a 50 mile.
No. 8–Learn how to determine distances between fences by developing an accurate 3 foot stride. Then, learn ALL the math. Know the normal distance in a bounce, a 1,2,3,4,5 stride line. Don`t be dependent upon a coach to have to babysit you.
No. 9–Take your horse for a sleigh ride. (This is a toughie if you live in the Bahamas!).
No. 10–Ride Western if you ride English, English if you ride western.
No.11–Try a discipline totally unfamiliar to you, or a breed totally unfamiliar to you, like, perhaps, saddleseat.
No.12–Breed and raise a foal.
No. 13–When that foal gets older, break him to ride.
Horsemanship goal/challenge for (older) kids No. 14–Ride in races, either flat or over jumps.
No. 15: Study–really study—the great riders, so that you have a picture in your head about how whatever it is you want to do, should be done. Another way to say this: Acquire GREAT role models, whatever your sport.
No. 16–Try, try, try to get to ride an APPROPRIATE horse or pony, that will LET YOU MAKE MISTAKES, while you learn. Your browser may not support display of this image.
No. 17–Whatever your sport, go watch the very best riders, on the very best horses, at the very best competitions, and STUDY, ANALYSE, and EVALUATE, what you are watching. Become a STUDENT of your sport, not just a dum dum, as a famous trainer says!
No. 18. Learn all about bits, and how they work, and the principles behind the various kinds. From this antique, you can see they have evolved!
No. 19–Create the kind of bond with your horse that Dorothy Trapp had with Molokai.
No. 20–Try to emulate Becky Holder`s total commitment to self improvement, a striving toward excellence that won`t take no for an answer. Your browser may not support display of this image.
No. 21–Whatever your sport, learn its history, riders, horses, traditions. Your sport didn`t just happen, ready made for your enjoyment. Learn more, be ignorant less!
No. 22–Learn how to properly lunge a horse the way the classical masters like Richard Watjen knew how to do. Know all about the requisite equipment.
No. 23–Understand, as Bowdoin graduate Alison Springer does, that becoming a top rider and getting a top college education, are not incompatible goals.
No. 24–Become involved, either as a volunteer, or paid, in helping to run shows or events. The perspective from “the other side” is very different.
No. 25–Learn how to work horses in long lines.
No. 26–Try to get the chance to be a scribe for a dressage judge. Even “towering figures” in the horse world, like General Burton, will be happy to help you learn.
No. 27–Just because these are listed as goals for “kids”, realize that you have years to attain your goals.
We’ll post more of Denny’s horsemanship goals later, but check out the Tamarack Hill Facebook page to view all of them in real time. Thanks for putting the goals together Denny, can one of the horsemanship goals be to go eventing?
