HSM's....Who here has quit riding so their child can ride/show?

[Natalie Kimball]

Hey all! I've been MIA from COTH for a while now. So long in fact that my Baileybff name has long been forgotten, ha ha.

I have ridden and shown since I was 7 years old (so 25 years). I just sold my gelding in September to save up for a pony - for my 6 year old daughter. While I'm saving, we are leasing a small for her to start showing in the walk-trot's this year. I'm so excited to now be a HSM!!! It's a weird feeling...not being the one riding/showing. However, to watch her ride is AMAZING! She's not your typical 6 year old either. As Wild Horsefeathers states - she would rather clean a stall than her room. She lives to groom, pick feet, all the little things that go along with the riding part. She has no fear - and is all business when it comes to the riding part. We purchased her first pony when she was just 2. We lost that pony the end of May 2008. We then leased her a small for 6 months - and he returned home November 1st. She hasn't ridden since - until Yum Yum got to the barn a week ago yesterday. These two hit it off...and are (yes, I'm biased) absolutely the cutest little things EVER! They will be making their walk-trot debut on the 24th of this month!!!!!!

Just wanted to meet some of the other HSM's here on COTH. Since I can't talk about my personal riding experiences - I must talk about my daughters, ha ha.

If you made it this far - thank you for listening:winkgrin:!

[Natalie Kimball]

Oh....and if you want to see some pics of them - you can see them on my blog!!!

http://www.nataliekimballblog.com

[Candle]

Oh my god, that is SO CUTE!!!!! I love your photography also, by the way. But that pony..... that is the cutest pony and your daughter is a fantastic little rider, but you knew all that already :D That pony looks saintly. I need a pony like that. No really. Never mind the fact that I don't have any kids yet and can't ride a pony that small. I NEED one :D :yes: And the name? Don't even get me started on the name. So cute. :D

[Natalie Kimball]

Thanks so much! I ADORE the pony - and she IS a total saint. Boy are they hard to come by (as everyone knows). Isn't her name the cutest!!! Of course, at 6 my daughter likes to come up with names - however, Yum Yum Bubblegum came with her name and my daughter LOVES it so much, ha ha.

[Ambrey]

OMG, could they BE any cuter?

[Dakotawyatt]

So you had to sell your big bay cutie? I apologize, I can't remember his name, but I remember when you got him. Sad, but dang! Yum yum and Sydney are ADORABLE! My son is 6 as well, and just rode today one of the school ponies. He enjoys it, but loves golf more! Very cute, hope everything works out well!

[MunchkinsMom]

I haven't quit riding, but became the show mom as my daughter has grown old enough to show my gelding. This has worked out for all of us, the horse is dead broke from all the years that I showed him, and I taught my daughter to ride, so she knows how to ride him well.

I'm enjoying being the "show mom" more than I enjoyed showing myself.

[Natalie Kimball]

Hey Jenny - yeah, Nikolas now lives in Pennsylvania. His new mom loves him VERY much! We keep in touch - and I do believe that I found the perfect new home for him!

Awww...yeah, my son (who is now almost 12) gave up the horses to play soccer when he was 6. So I've been waiting until my daughter was ready, ha ha.

Thank you Ambrey and Munchkins Mom! I do hope that one day we'll both be able to ride and show. Right now I just don't have the time or the money to do both (and we even own our own farm, lol). My photography keeps me pretty wrapped up time wise. I'm pretty psyched at the idea of her showing!!!! I will let everyone know how it goes :)

[Foxtrot's]

Joke heard at Pony Club:

"I'm suffering from PMS."

reply: "Oh, dear, it too will pass."

"I don't think so - it is Pony Mother Syndrome".

Don't know why, but it just stayed with me.

[Starda01]

I'm also a HSM, and I take great pride in my daughter's efforts!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX2Ouh308Ac

You're daughter is super cute, and you're so lucky to be able to start her off so well.

There is a thread I started that you might be interested in also, Moms Who Ride with Daughters Who Ride
http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=182724

I guess its sort of the flip side of watching your youngsters follow their dreams.

[MunchkinsMom]

I figure it this way. My daughter will be off to college in 4 short years, and the horses will be all mine once again. And I will miss having her home with me!

She is not as horse crazy as I was at her age, and I think part of it is because we have the horses here at home. And that is okay, I never wanted to be one of those rabid HSM's, if she enjoys it, that is a plus, and if she tells me she doesn't want to do it anymore, that is okay too. Because it was my "thing" first anyway.

[billiebob]

Yum Yum Bubblegum?!?!? Why oh why did I have to miss out on the ponies by not taking up riding when I was little?!?!? Actually I would have grown out of the ponies when I was about 10 (damn you DNA!).

That kid....and the pony.....are the cutest things ever. Love the clip job!

[GettingBack]

I love ponies too - and was secretly very disappointed that I had all boys who are not remotely interested in riding. I console myself with the thought that "it's more horseyness for me then".

However, I now have a niece and though she's less than a year old, I've got her whole riding career started for her - starting with her wonder horse this birthday.

I didn't start riding until I was 12, billiebob, I know the feeling - and at 12 I was tall enough for a horse. So, I ogle ponies that everyone else has - something so adorable about a little equine (but I'm not fond of minis...go figure).

[wolfpackfan]

Hey There! I too gave up a horse I loved and decided to be full time HSM! I have not ever regretted the choice. I figured I have zero talent so let the kid have a crack at it!!

It is so much fun and I have met some great people along the way. Your daughter and her pony are so cute and remind me of my DD and her little small back at the start a few years ago. Please visit our blog as well. We even have a section in which we put up photos of other kids and their horses/ponies! Good luck and have a blast!

[theoldgreymare]

HSM here. I haven't given up riding but with every pony purchase, "my" horse seems to fade further and further into the distance.

Your photos are great (I do remember seeing your talented work before) and your DD and Yum Yum are too cute! Have fun being a HSM. I wouldn't trade it for the world!

[Nootka]

OMG, could they BE any cuter?

if they were i think it would be against the law:yes:

great pics!!!!:winkgrin: