I Wish I Had A Horse, but...

After hearing the discussions on the Equine Industry Survey at the AHP Seminar, I was very surprised at the surprise industry professionals displayed at the results.  They were most surprised at the fact that very few people around the ages of 25 and younger owned horses.  I ask, why were they surprised?  I am 21 and do not own a horse, yet I have nearly 12 years of horse experience and knew many, many people my age involved with horses.  I have several simple answers to the question, why are there so few young horse owners?

1. Their parents own horses.  This is how it is with almost every single person my age involved with horses.
2. They don't have enough money to keep horses.  I would LOVE, beyond compare, to own a horse RIGHT NOW.  Fiscally, I cannot, plain and simple.
3. Young people are involved with horses but chose not to respond to the survey, thus skewing results.  I believe there were many young people who looked at the survey and chose not to respond because it called for "horse owners," and as I pointed out above, they are not horse owners, their parents are.

The next question asked was, how do we get young people involved with horses?  Again, a few simple answers.

1. Embrace older owners, parents and grandparents, who can make horses available to their children.
2. Disperse information and educate people in order to overcome the idea that horse involvement means a huge bank account and a lofty nose.
3. Make horses available.  Not necessarily for ownership.  Reduce the costs of getting involved, share and make it known that horse owners want green people involved.

The horse industry must reach out and actively change the perceptions of non-horse people.  It won't be easy, but it is possible.  I'm doing it now, in my internship.  How?  I've written a "Horse Show Survival Guide" for the State Fair's media guide.  I will also be writing a blog on "How to Watch a Horse Show."  These are written to explain the basic concepts behind a horse show and help viewers understand what is really going on.  If they understand it they will be better able to enjoy it.  We must help them understand.