No, your child did not and can not train a horse. Nope, no s/he can't.
This has got to be in the top 5 things that make me just crazy is when I speak with a parent (or read an ad) that tells of a 10 year old kid TRAINING horses. I'm not sure if these parents think the barn yard is like Charlotte's Web or if horses are like Lassie or what is going on but I seriously question their reasoning abilities.
Of course, I'll talk a little bit about why (just in case there is anyone out there reading this that is disagreeing - because their ten year old is currently out "training" their pintabian-paso fino cross unsupervised without a helmet, in a field fenced with barbed wire except where the tree fell last winter.)
First, I'm going to say that size has only a little to do with it. I also happen to think children are not good trainers of ponies. A good rider who is also good at following direction, under a trainer's instruction (not just an instructor's instruction) can get that done. But not just popping some kid up there because the size looks right, that creates nasty ponies (one of my theories on why so many ponies are nasty, but that's another day).
So, besides size, horse training requires foresight. The trainer needs to be able to plan for the effect, way before s/he started the cause. Kids don't have foresight. That's why they have to be 16 to drive cars. This is not a slam on kids, I think kids are a lot smarter than people give them credit for. But they are KIDS, they are still learning about things like foresight. To think that they have it all ready to go is to ask too much.
Next, horse training requires agility, muscle memory and separation of body parts. A person needs to be able to do one thing with one hand, something different with the other, one thing with one leg and something else with the other, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Ever see a little kid stick their tongue out when concentrating on something? That is lack of separation of body parts. They can't do it yet and that's NORMAL. That's why it's important for them to get off the couch and out playing, just riding horses, bikes or whatever. They need to practice that stuff so they can do it as an adult.
The muscle memory piece is pretty important as well. If a horse starts to bolt or buck with me, they are usually stopped before they started and I didn't have to think about it. I have muscle memory. Likewise, when I get them under themselves, when I get my gives, when I get the face, I automatically soften. I do not have to think about it or question WHEN. There is no way in H-E double hockey sticks a child has ridden enough horses, or been riding long enough to get that kind of muscle memory. It's plain out experience.
I do believe that the only difference between an old fool and a young fool is age, but experience does take time.
Horse trainers have to have experience. Having ridden 10 horses, or even 20 horses, and then claiming trainer ability is in my opinion pretty ridiculous. A person could be on their way, but most definitely not a trainer.
Horse training can be pretty dang boring. I know some people are going to disagree with me on that. But I guarantee you, they have not been training very long or on very many horses if they do. OR they spend more time riding than they do schooling. Horse training requires tons of repitition and patience. And, because we are dealing with a living being the saying goes: five steps forward two steps back. If you have that going, you are doing pretty good.
Kids are still learning. They are little sponges. Running around, making mistakes, learning whatever comes their way. The idea that they can make good, consistant behavior changes to a 1000 pound animal is assinine.
On to the rebuttles (I have heard all of these):
"Well, when me or my husband rides the horse is not well behaved at all! When my child rides, the horse shapes right up. My child is gifted with animals."
Nope, not quite. You and your husband are double, triple or quadruple the weight of your child. You are also considerably stronger. When you ride, you put more demand on the horse because of your weight and the amount of pressure you put on. The horse doesn't like the demand. When your child rides, the horse is comfortable packing less than 100 pounds. He is comfortable meandering around and your child is not putting on a lot of pressure. He likes your child for that reason and that reason only. It's easy for him and he likes things easy. He's a horse, don't get mad at him for that, just understand it.
"My child caught a horse that I couldn't catch for days! Whenever my child goes to the pasture, the horse comes right up to my child. My child is gifted with animals."
No, there is no giftedness there. Every time YOU go to catch the horse, you make the horse do something or go through something. Your child walks into the pasture and your horse thinks, 'what the heck is that little thing? Perhaps it's edible. I'm hungry.' Your child does not worm the horse. Your child does not hold for the vet. Your child does not tack up the horse. All your child does is let the horse follow them around. Once again, very easy on the horse and horses like things that are easy. The horse LOVES your child for that reason. The horse gets annoyed with you because you mean WORK (you also probably mean a lot of other things to the horse but we won't go there right now).
"My child was there for the birth of our now yearling filly. The filly has bonded with my child. The filly follows my child all around and let's me set my child on top of her. My child is gifted with animals."
No and shame on you, no. Your yearling filly is very comfortable. Life has been good. Eat, lie in the sun, poop, play. Repeat. Your filly is like 60% of horses out there - tolerant, sensible and curious. As long as nothing hurts, as long as nothing is hard to do and as long as it's not during feeding time, the filly will remain quiet. If you don't believe me, halter up the horse and have your child trot it down the road away from home during feeding time. Then tell me what kind of bond you think your child has with the horse. By the way, quit putting your kids on top of 500+ pounds of untrained animal. What the heck is wrong with you?
"My child was riding a horse and the horse went crazy and tried to buck my child. My child stayed on. My child is gifted."
No, your child's body is geared to self preservation and learning. That's part of being a kid. By the way s/he can do penny drops off the monkey bars, crash a bike, do cartwheels and flips off the diving board too. Now you go and do all those things. Seriously, if the horse really did go into a fit of bucking, shame on whomever said that was a good horse for your child to ride. I'd hazard to guess the horse danced around a little and crow-hopped. I should say I have seen kids ride some pretty serious horse issues but it makes me sick to my stomach remembering it.
People, let's let your kids be kids. Let them just be, don't put so much pressure on to do things they can't do. Pressure them to get good grades, to try new things, to not quit early, to try to improve even. But don't make them have jobs that adults have. Kids should clean their rooms, take care of their bikes, water the livestock, walk the dog, do the dishes, clean the cat box, mow the lawn, rake the leaves, etc etc. YOU be a parent. Keep your child safe and one way to do that is to make sure the animals they hang around are trained.
Last but not least, if you still think your kid is a horse trainer and is training a horse, take them both to the next show in whatever discipline you choose and have them ride in the Open classes.
