The horse market has absolutely tanked. Drought has increased feed cost so much that everyone is cutting back on colt production. Equine professional and para-professionals from the established horse world are throwing in the towel in big numbers.
And there has never been a better time to be involved with mustang preservation. High cost of ownership, fear of injury and the stigma of being a "novice" hold many back from horse ownership. It is for those people that the Colonial Spanish Horse is best suited. He is the ideal family horse and week end trail horse. Small enough for a child yet big enough to help build a nation. Natural horse care makes horse ownership affordable to the new agriculturist that may hold the key to the future of horsemanship in America, the hobby farmer. Home schoolers are often looking to find ways to get their kids in touch with the land and with our nation's history and there is no better way to do so than to learn to ride. The taller a horse is the greater risk of serious injury from a fall. We do not stress that point often enough.
Most importantly, there is no shame in being a novice nor is there a need to remain a novice. Natural horsemanship is within reach of all who have computers or can read books. Not everyone is doing poorly in this economy. Many women whose youngest child is finally out of college find themselves with an empty home and a healthy bank account.
They are in a perfect position to realize their lifelong dream of having a horse, if only......
If only we connect with them and show them what is possible.
Look at this picture--that is our future.
It is a bright future.
Some background on this one, Anee Katherine is a Tween who lives eats and breathes the theater, and it was pointed out to her that being able to handle a horse would be a resume boost...bait..first ride, and now, even though she is not as horse crazy addicted as her father and little sister, she is almost always ready to pop over to the horse lot to catch Sampson and mess around with him, and has been pestering me for her own saddle...Anne Katherine has always had a way with animals, but never had any interest in horses, until now. This picture was taken after the first time Akey (as she is known) caught her own horse and haltered and led him out. Daddy was (is) proud. What I see in this photo, is a horse who is relaxed and happy, and a girl who is doing it right. There is no question about her little sister..Joyah, Like me would gladly live out with the herd..until it gets too cold anyhow...
ReplyDelete-Lloyd
I sure do love my sampson..he is a good boy ^¬^
ReplyDelete-the girl in the picture