I am very disappointed in the two articles you chose to write about the 4-H horse show at the fairgrounds Tuesday. The two children you chose to highlight are in the minority of kids who show horses at our county fair. Most of the other children, who were never mentioned, as if they never even showed, work very hard all year on their own. They may take lessons, have instruction and get help from family and friends, but most don't ride five-figure horses and travel the country showing in breed sanctioned shows.
Some of the kids don't even own the horse they are showing, let alone a horse trailer with living quarters and a truck that costs almost as much as some people make in a year.
The majority of kids who make up the Green County 4-H horse and pony project are hard-working youngsters who break their backs at the chance to show at this fair and, possibly, make it to the state fair.
If you are going to write an article, write about the heart and soul of the project - the kids who do the work themselves, shovel stalls, groom, ride and train their own horse or a leased one, with little more than a few lessons. Don't focus on the kids who have everything handed to them on a silver platter, show all over the countryside, then show up at the county fair to win everything.
Whatever happened to sportsmanship? If you want to go and play with the big boys, please, by all means, go. Just don't show up at the little fair just to win some undeserved trophies to add to the collection. It's not fair to the other kids who are the backbone of the project. I found it disheartening to see some of the looks on these children's faces when they found out these particular kids were in their class. You could see the discouragement before they even went into the ring. That is a really hard thing to watch.
I know several of the children in these classes, a couple who started their own "free" horse themselves. They have blossomed into fine young riders. They have wonderful relationships with their horses. Hopefully, most of them know they have so much to be proud of, and that will mean more to them than losing a placing to a kid who shouldn't have been there in the first place.
To all the kids who worked so very hard all year, congratulations. Pat yourselves on the back. Let your family know how much you appreciate their support of all your long hours at the barn. Thank them for all their help throughout the year. Many of you have struggled, not only financially, but emotionally. Riding a horse is not always a gentle sport. Learning that sometimes you fall off or get scared, or your horse spooks, can be tough. You have earned your placing, no matter where it was and I, among many others that day, can appreciate what it took to show your horses and ponies, even if The Monroe Times chooses to ignore your sacrifices and triumphs.
Some of the kids don't even own the horse they are showing, let alone a horse trailer with living quarters and a truck that costs almost as much as some people make in a year.
The majority of kids who make up the Green County 4-H horse and pony project are hard-working youngsters who break their backs at the chance to show at this fair and, possibly, make it to the state fair.
If you are going to write an article, write about the heart and soul of the project - the kids who do the work themselves, shovel stalls, groom, ride and train their own horse or a leased one, with little more than a few lessons. Don't focus on the kids who have everything handed to them on a silver platter, show all over the countryside, then show up at the county fair to win everything.
Whatever happened to sportsmanship? If you want to go and play with the big boys, please, by all means, go. Just don't show up at the little fair just to win some undeserved trophies to add to the collection. It's not fair to the other kids who are the backbone of the project. I found it disheartening to see some of the looks on these children's faces when they found out these particular kids were in their class. You could see the discouragement before they even went into the ring. That is a really hard thing to watch.
I know several of the children in these classes, a couple who started their own "free" horse themselves. They have blossomed into fine young riders. They have wonderful relationships with their horses. Hopefully, most of them know they have so much to be proud of, and that will mean more to them than losing a placing to a kid who shouldn't have been there in the first place.
To all the kids who worked so very hard all year, congratulations. Pat yourselves on the back. Let your family know how much you appreciate their support of all your long hours at the barn. Thank them for all their help throughout the year. Many of you have struggled, not only financially, but emotionally. Riding a horse is not always a gentle sport. Learning that sometimes you fall off or get scared, or your horse spooks, can be tough. You have earned your placing, no matter where it was and I, among many others that day, can appreciate what it took to show your horses and ponies, even if The Monroe Times chooses to ignore your sacrifices and triumphs.
