Horse Show Parenting Your EquinePost.com Horse Show Parenting Expert is: Ange Finn

Horse Crazy Is as Horse Crazy Does

Just in time for Christmas, I've found the greatest stocking stuffer for horse show parents. It's called Horse Crazy! A Tongue-in-Cheek Guide for Parents of Horse-Addicted Girls, by Bob Goddard.

Everybody knows show parents are a breed apart. And no one knows it better than Bob Goddard, who was, according to him, hoodwinked, haggled and hornswoggled into becoming a horse show dad by two horse crazed daughters and his otherwise-rational wife.

Well, of course he says he was hoodwinked into it; once we're in this game, none of us wants to admit we got into it of our own free will. Becoming a horse show mom or dad is the parental equivalent of being kidnapped by aliens. We swear we have no memory of how it happened.

Bob says his book relies on humor rather than imparting useful information. I say he is selling himself short. He thinks he's not imparting useful information? How about this gem on page seven: "If you are new to horsegirl parenting, you are probably feeling a little confused. Perhaps you even feel overwhelmed. Be assured that millions of parents have gone through what you are now experiencing. And most of them would agree with the following advice. Hide. Run away and hide. Do it now."

Not that anyone ever takes this advice. We plunge right in, happy to spend all our time and all our money on what Bob calls our "horsegirls", even happy to completely change our lives to accommodate this craziness that overtakes our family. Bob and his family went from normal suburban Leave It To Beaverhood, to owning a horse property in the country.

Our family got so far into this madness that once our horse girl went to college, I bought a horse for myself and put him with our trainer who lives three and a half hours away. Everyone who hears this looks at me like I'm mad. I look at them like they're mad for not understanding that when you find the right trainer, three and a half hours is nothing. Is this so difficult to grasp? Not for horse people.

So, we've teamed up for the holidays to offer our two versions of Horse Show Parenting Advice: my practical, somewhat schoolteacherish primer, and Bob's tongue-in-cheek approach that reads like a warning label. A little advice, a few laughs--just what you need as you gear up for the show season this spring!

To buy The In-Gate plus Horse Crazy, visit The In-Gate.

Want more inside advice for horse show parent? Get The In-Gate: A Parent's Guide to Horse Shows. Click here for details.

Your EquinePost.com Horse Show Parenting Expert recommends these websites:

The In-Gate for Horse Show Parents
Arabian Horse Today recently said about The In-Gate: "The In-Gate is ninety-two pages of extremely important information for parents beginning on the path to the show ring, or for those who have already considered a horse show activity for their youngsters."

Horse Illustrated
Read this article for a different perspective on being horse crazy--it's how horse artist Mindy Winchester found her career.

Bob Goddard's Horse Crazy
Enjoy more of Bob Goddard's Horse Crazy tales at his site.

EquineU.com
Visit EquineU to hear regular podcasts on many horse issues. This podcast features Ange Finn with tips on the top horse-buying mistakes that people make.

Your EquinePost.com Horse Show Parenting Expert recommends these products:

The In-Gate: A Parent's Guide to Horse Shows
The definitive guide for parents who are just starting out in the wonderful world of horse shows. If you don't know a wrong lead from a right diagonal, this book is for you. "A little gem of a book." Arabian Horse Newspaper

Tip Sheets for Horse Show Moms
Order free tip sheets by email, for lists of great places to shop, tips on what to wear to the first lesson, a ready-to-show checklist, and more.

"Heads Up!" by Dr. Janet Edgette
"Heads Up! Practical Sports Psychology for Riders, Their Families and Their Trainers" is for riders, but Dr. Edgette also addresses the concerns of other people close to the rider, such as instructors, trainers, parents, and spouses.

Fun Stuff for Horse Show Moms (and Dads)
Treat yourself to clothing and gifts that celebrate your horse show parenthood! Gifts for other horse lovers as well.

Past articles by Ange Finn:

Keep Your Cool in the Heat of Show Season: Coping Tips for Show Parents (June, 2003) | That Championship Season (August, 2003) | Interview with Dr. Janet Sasson Edgette (December, 2003) | Horse For Sale: Humor in Advertising (March, 2004) | Life Lessons from the Show Circuit (May, 2004) | Selling Your Horse: Retread or Retire? (July, 2004) | Clothes, Clothes, Who's Got the Clothes? (November, 2004) | Making a List (December, 2004) | From The Horse Show Dad's Mouth (March, 2005) | How to Dress Your Young Rider for the First Lesson (July, 2005) | 5.5 Tips to Make Money--To Spend on Your Kid's Horse! (January, 2006) | Best of the West: Fashion for Western Riders (August, 2003) | Hunter Fashionistas in the Show Ring (February, 2005) | Simplify Your Show Season--As If! (February, 2006) | Take That Riding Vacation (July, 2006) | Well-Groomed for Show (July, 2006) | (January, 2007) | (February, 2007) | From The Other Side of the Rail (April, 2007) | So Very English: Fashion for Hunter Riders (September, 2003) | Finding A Trainer (October, 2003) | Finding The Horse: Owning vs. Leasing (November, 2003) |