#amateurequestrian

There's been a lot of talk in horse circles lately about how to encourage younger individuals to pursue equestrian sport and how to keep people interested in the hobby. The cost of showing, of staying competitive certainly is a hot topic in those conversations, and it's also a topic on which I don't have much to add since I don't show. It certainly does sound expensive, and that lends the belief that only rich people can own horses.

The truth is there are a lot of middle income individuals who have horses too, especially if you're lucky enough to have a small acreage or have a friend or family member with land who wouldn't mind keeping your horse for you. And the truth is, it's the backyard horse keepers who keep this industry going. We're the ones at our local feed store purchasing feed, hay pellets, and fly spray. And we're the ones who shop online for those things that we can't get locally.

I feel like the backyard horse person has been lost in this conversation. With climate change and ongoing droughts affecting hay supplies, not to mention wildfires, and the price of fuel adding to the cost of well, everything, I think it's important to take some time out of this ongoing conversation about those who are on the Florida circuit or who board at full-service barns to think about the backyard horse keeper. We may not show at anything larger than maybe a regional show, if we're lucky to have one in our area. We also may not bring in the big bucks when we visit, but we do visit events, and we do spend money. And we deserve a seat at the conversation.

In fact, I would argue that it's the backyard horse person who provides homes for horses who cannot make it at the upper levels of their sport (Though there are also just as many backyard breeders who contribute to the overpopulation of horses as well.) We'll take in a pasture companion, adopt a horse that might not be able to be ridden five days a week, but who would make a lovely companion.

I would suppose that a large portion of my readers are those who either keep horses as a backyard horse person or who would like to. I mean sure, we'd all love those fancy stables of the rich and famous, with climate controlled arenas and viewing lounges, but mostly, at least for me, I'm thankful to be able to keep my horses close and see them every day. That's what I'm celebrating as a backyard horse person, and I hope you celebrate it too.