The message I was working on just disappeared, so here I go again. Reading Janice's plan to have her child-nephew "start" her young Icey and all the responses reminds me that with little kids and horses IT IS ALL ABOUT COMMUNICATION. Just allowing a little kid to sit on my mare, who is a very calm and sweet girl, starts a whole conversation about what to do if..... and it is never enough preparation, they are always surprised when she moves, have rarely paid attention and `most important are subject to fears they act upon that surprises me.
So, I think whoever is given the challenge to be "first" or "start" must be a person with good communication skills with people and horses, who is resourceful and experienced enough to have a plan of their own. I think that might eliminate most people under age 16. Nancy
