Wow! People responded so well to our holiday offer for Horse Crazy! plus The In-Gate, we're continuing it as a Show Season Special. If you are a newcomer to this site and don't know what I'm talking about, read on.
Everybody knows show parents are a breed apart. And no one knows it better than Bob Goddard, who was, according to him, hoodwinked, haggled and hornswoggled into becoming a horse show dad by two horse crazed daughters and his otherwise-rational wife.
Well, of course he says he was hoodwinked into it; once we’re in this game, none of us wants to admit we got into it of our own free will. Becoming a horse show mom or dad is the parental equivalent of being kidnapped by aliens. We swear we have no memory of how it happened.
Bob says his book relies on humor rather than imparting useful information. I say he is selling himself short. He thinks he’s not imparting useful information? How about this gem on page seven: “If you are new to horsegirl parenting, you are probably feeling a little confused. Perhaps you even feel overwhelmed. Be assured that millions of parents have gone through what you are now experiencing. And most of them would agree with the following advice. Hide. Run away and hide. Do it now.”
Not that anyone ever takes this advice. We plunge right in, happy to spend all our time and all our money on what Bob calls our "horsegirls", even happy to completely change our lives to accommodate this craziness that overtakes our family. Bob and his family went from normal suburban Leave It To Beaverhood, to owning a horse property in the country.
Our family got so far into this madness that once our horse girl went to college, I bought a horse for myself, who I put with our trainer who lives three and a half hours away. Everyone who learns this looks at me like I'm mad. I look at them like they're mad for not understanding that when you find the right trainer, three and a half hours is nothing. Is this so difficult to understand? Not for horse people.
In fact, I just got back from visit to Quarter Horse trainer Lynn Palm's Ocala Florida farm to observe one of her custom training sessions and met folks who travel over half the continent to study with Lynn every year. This seems perfectly normal to me.
So, we've teamed up for March and April to offer our two versions of Horse Show Parenting Advice: my practical, peppy primer, and Bob's tongue-in-cheek approach that reads like a warning label. A little advice, a few laughs--just what you need as you gear up for the show season this spring!
As a Super Show Season Special, treat yourself and get two for the price of one and a half. Bob and I are offering The In-Gate plus Horse Crazy for $19.90 (regular price for both: $24.90) plus shipping. Click the Buy Now button below.
For more information on Bob Goddard and Horse Crazy!, visit Bob's website.
For more information on Lynn Palm, visit Lynn's
website.
