by Ruthie Stewart

Youth horses are perhaps the luckiest horses in the game. They get tons of attention, time, and love. For just about any horse, that’s a nice life. Like the pink Energizer bunny, youth horses go all day from the first showmanship class to the last western riding. Kids have boundless energy and most of them want to show in just about every class they can. Much is expected from a youth horse and a lot “rides” on their backs.

First, a youth horse must be pretty; for those are the ones starry-eyed kids go for. Second, they must be talented and trained in many events, just like the kids who ride them. Last, they must have endless patience, as after a long day of showing, there are often bareback rides and “fun classes” they get pulled out of their comfy stalls for. In between all the skill and infinite kindness a youth horse needs to possess, there is also a huge list of other attributes that go along with the package. Things like soundness, sanity, and sweetness, are prerequisites in a youth horse and just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the expectations that get placed on such an animal.

Yes, the youth horse is an elusive creature and are both hard to find and hard to make. The youth part of any show is unique. There’s an energy and a joyfulness that is inherent in the young and innocent. The amateur/open classes have a much different feel. Horses and exhibitors in the youth classes are special pairs and their world reflects that. The trainers that make and mold our youth riders have a great responsibility to them and their parents. Youth clients come with their own challenges and, in turn, their own rewards for the ones who put them on the path to success. Before they can find their own greatness, they have to be fit with the right horse. That’s where the fun begins.

“I think all youth horses need to be quiet, reliable, consistent, patient, good-minded, forgiving, and willing to work,” says trainer Sarah Aron whose youth students are formidable ApHC competitors and brought home an impressive eighteen trophies at the 2007 Youth World Championship Show. “The age doesn’t matter as much as the individual horse.”

For Aron, a great all-around horse has a good work ethic, is versatile, and shifts gears between events easily. “I think it is important to match the horse to the rider whether it’s a youth or amateur.”

There are unique challenges to working with youth clients. Coaching them involves dealing with different age groups and the issues that go with them. Teaching kids about responsibility, accountability, respect for themselves, their parents and coach are part of Aron’s job. “I think you treat each kid and horse team as individuals. Once you’ve earned their respect and trust, the friendship is icing on the cake!”

“When coaching youth clients, I need to wear two different hats. They know I’m their friend outside of coaching/show time, but when it’s time to focus they know I’m in charge,” she adds. Each student with Sarah has a private weekly lesson and every Saturday there is a two-hour team lesson with all students. Once a month Aron has an overnight clinic where students stay with her.

At shows with Sarah each student is responsible for the care of his or her own horse and each student is prepared individually for the upcoming events. Upon completion of each day they are required to check in with Aron to make sure they feel prepared and also to make sure they have taken care of their team responsibilities.

At Capstone, each student sets goals for themselves for the year and makes plans accordingly. At the monthly clinic, Sarah encourages the team to plan what they want to accomplish in the months ahead. When she has the opportunity, Aron will bring in other specialized trainers to conduct clinics.

The show day schedule is a flurry of responsibility. At a show, the team simply needs to be a team, says Sarah. They take complete care of their own horse(s), from stall cleaning, feeding, and grooming to bathing/banding. A practice schedule is posted for each student depending on his or her needs and a volunteer schedule is created for maintaining the barn aisle. “At the end of the day, we meet as a team to make sure everyone is complete and prepared for the show.”

Each team member’s goals for the year may include personal and show goals. “We review them together, make changes, and create a plan to make those goals happen,” adds Sarah. Goals are written and kept at the barn to review and encourage their success.

When problems come up, Sarah hits them directly. “All my clients know if they have an issue or are upset, they are to come speak to me so we can work through the problem. Capstone Farm holds to an environment of honesty, encouragement and support. It is important that the youth know that this is a safe place for them to discuss their problems.”

Aron has produced some stellar youth kids. “I have been very fortunate to have great clients and have had the opportunity to ride great horses. I have also been very dedicated and committed. Every child has its own personality, needs and learning style. It’s amazing how an environment of support and encouragement can bring all things together!”

When a kid is ready to move into a higher level of competition, they are usually excited and ready for this next step, which makes the transition to a more competitive horse easier, says Aron. “I am always part of the decision making process and I advocate for what will be best for both the family and the kid.”

Her successful program has attracted a large clientele that is both rewarding and challenging. “The upside is the team camaraderie and watching the kids grow both in their skills and as a team. The downside is that it is hard to be constantly available to all my clients at the level they require.”

Sarah chose the name Capstone for her training facility in Redmond, Washington because it had special meaning for her. Aron adds, “I have always wanted my own horse training business. Capstone means crowning achievement and my place is my crowning achievement.” At a mere 30 years-old, she has accomplished a lot, and will continue to turn out flawless youth riders that are hard to beat.

Liz Flohr works out of Recchiuti Show Horses in Heath, Ohio. She likes her youth horses to be, “athletic, cadenced with willing attitudes. Also, pretty never hurts. A lot of times I’ll have my eye on a two or three year-old that’ll make an all around horse, but personally I don’t care what age they are as long as they can perform at a top level.”

Flohr has had great success recycling horses for different uses over the years. She adds that she doesn’t think there is a difference between a top end youth horse and an amateur horse. “A good horse is a good horse.”

Liz has a tendency to get close to her youth kids and says it’s hard not to because they spend so much time together. “Take, for example, Holly Hannewyk. She rode with me since she was 13 and she is now 21 and has become like a sister.”

That closeness can have it’s up and downs. “Hormones flare up and comments can be taken personally during a lesson, but as long as you keep the communication lines open, the small stuff can be worked out.” Liz tries to keep an open door with her youth clients where they feel comfortable talking about just about anything. “Although, honestly, I’ve been told stuff I didn’t need to know, but I tried to give them the best advice possible and keep communication flowing.”

Flohr’s customers live all over the country, and when she’s at home her door is always open for them to come and stay over when they ride. At the shows, they all pitch in and are a big help. “They help longe, groom, pick stalls, and pack the trailer. All the youth kids I’ve had in the past have never had a problem being part of the team. We keep extremely long hours at the shows, just like everyone else, and I try to get the kids to sleep as much as possible.”

Liz has been fortunate that barn rivalries haven’t occurred in her program. She has always tried to emphasize that they’re all in it together and it all goes back to being a team player. “When I used to have a large group of 14-18 kids, I would tell them that I didn’t care how they would end up, and that there was nothing cooler than to see them be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.”

Each youth client is given an even amount of time, so they all feel like they have a fair chance when they hit the pen. As far as sour grapes, she says, they are kind of like bad apples, and bad apples need to go no matter how much money they have. “No matter how good they could be, if you keep a bad apple, believe me, things will only get worse. It’s better to nip it in the bud and be done.”

How do boys compare with girls? With a competitively driven boy or girl, Flohr doesn’t think there is a difference in the show pen and she likes to help both sexes. Her success stems from being fortunate in that she has great kids and horses to work with. “I’ve also not been afraid to work hard and set high goals. My show philosophy has always been to try to keep it fun because it’s a lot of hard work for everyone involved. So, fun is a must! If it isn’t fun, they why are we doing it?”

Along with the good times there comes a stage when a client needs to step up their game. Liz has never had a problem convincing people to buy better horses. She says that keeping horses cost the same at the end of the month, and she tells her clients that in no uncertain terms. The horse they’d rather take care of every day is the one that will take them to the next level. “When it’s put that way, it never seems to be a problem to step up.”

One great part of a large youth clientele is watching them grow and excel. Liz finds the learning process fun and likes to stand back and watch her prodigy. “To me, there are no downsides with kids. No matter what, at the end of the day one of them is guaranteed to make me smile!”

Home for trainer Becky George is Tomball, Texas. Becky says that finding a horse for the Under 13 division is not as tough as for the older kids, as a good, solid, broke horse can be successful in most 13 and Under events. The 14-18 age bracket requires a much stronger horse that will change leads and is preferably competitive in the hunter under saddle and the western pleasure. Such a horse must be competitive in the rail classes as well as the pattern classes whereas a 13 and Under horse can be competitive in the rail classes as long as it’s broke and does its job.

As a general rule, adds George, an older horse is better for a youth client because they have more experience. A younger horse will have fresher legs and be competitive in the rail classes, but isn’t always as solid as the older horse when it comes to dependability.

“I actually prefer the younger horses because I can mold them into my program as long as they are a good-minded individual, which is mandatory. A great all around horse starts with a great mind, a willing attitude, and a great set of legs. As a general rule for me, the best all arounders are geldings.”

There are distinct differences in amateur and youth horses. “In Paints, the youth will show all day starting with showmanship, then into the English events, on into the western pleasure, and finish with the reining.” George finds that it takes a great-minded and athletic individual to show all day and maintain a good attitude. “These horses have to be equally talented in the equitation and horsemanship and run circles and spin at the end of the day. An amateur horse can be more disciplined and do less events and still be competitive as an all around horse.”

Competition is always good in the barn, but kids have to learn to respect and support each other because they are working together as a team. Everyone is allowed to have a bad day or bad ride and learning to deal with it is the key. If someone persists with being upset with the way things are going or how their horse is doing then sometimes you have to analyze if they are in the correct program, says George.

Becky’s success is rooted in hard work and she says that she has been “lucky enough to have great kids with great horses. One great horse can make a person famous. I’ve been lucky enough to have several.”

When it’s time for a kid to sell and move into a more competitive horse, she finds that it’s an easy transition and it usually works itself out. Usually a youth rider just gets sick of of losing. When one of her youth kids has moved on to the next level of horse it’s usually easy to talk to the parents and explain their child has improved beyond what they currently have and they need to step up to the next level.

George gets closely involved with her clients and their families and works to find the right horse/rider combination. “If you haven’t matched the right horse with the right kid, you haven’t done anyone justice. You can buy the best horse out there, but if it doesn’t suit the kid they aren’t going to make a team and no one is going to look good.”

A big group of youth riders has many upsides. “It is very rewarding to watch your kids start and grow through their youth career. Having a part in developing them into a young adult and accomplished rider is part of the reason I do this for a living.” On the downside, George says that youth clients are very focused on their show careers and have a specific time frame to accomplish their goals. As a trainer, she has to work with her client’s emotions under that added pressure. “When you have an amateur client, there are no deadlines because there is always next year to show. For a youth client, this could be the last year in a division.”

Whoever said youth was wasted on the young never went to a horse show. Despite the blood, sweat and tears that are all part of each show day, there are countless moments of pure fun in every barn and arena. From the wee morning hours primping horses and hair-dos to the late night practice sessions for the next day’s classes, kids are learning, laughing, and growing. A show is a great mix of work and play and kids seem to bloom when they are a part of it. Their trainers guide them in the journey and are instrumental in their development. At the end of it all, they’ve touched a life and maybe helped make some big dreams come true. Not bad for a day’s work.