Stable Time

For several years our Girl Scout troop asked f to go horseback riding with some of the proceeds from cookie sales. Late last spring, we finally were able to do a trail ride. The outing was a hit but as someone who used to care for, ride and show horses as a youth, I knew that getting up close and personal with horses could bring some amazing things to the girls. So while the trail ride was exciting, it really didn't offer the girls what I had hoped for as we didn't get a more intimate experience.

Being with horses can be magical, powerful, transformative. Being with horses increases confidence; it encourages risk taking; it helps build a respect for animals; Taking care of a creature so much bigger and powerful fosters pride; and the list goes on. I wanted my troop to experience these things but finding a big enough stable, with someone who understood kids, had proved quite challenging.

Then we hit the horse jackpot. A friend told me about a local stable that had enough horses to accommodate our large troop, worked with kids and that would do more than a thirty minute trail ride. To say I was excited was an understatement! (check out their website http://kimshorsetraining.com)

For four weeks we hit the stables each Friday. There the girls got to groom, bathe, saddle up, ride, walk and put the horses away for the night. The horses, who were so much larger than our little ladies, invited them to dig deep within to try new and sometimes scary things. Each week they were asked to bring out their inner courage as they began to become familiar with the world of horses.

Our time at the stables was short but consistent, and fun; enough to plant some seeds. I know that several girls in our troop will continue on their own and I suspect we may return as a troop come spring. As the troop leader, it was a such a pleasure to see my scouts be able to use their hard earned cookie sales money in doing something that will most likely stay with them for a very long time to come. Being with the horses taught some invaluable life lessons while also being a whole lot of fun!