| Emilee Duncan & Czydeco Photo by Tracey Bish |
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BSJC/IHJA combined membership forms are now available on the
“Membership” page. Please sign up for the 2008 year!
“Membership” page. Please sign up for the 2008 year!
| Our show judges for the 2008 BSJC/Idaho Center shows have been selected! The “Summer Spectacular” hunters & equitation will be judged by Tami Masters of Lakewood, Washington. The “Fall Classic” hunters & equitation will be judged by Meg Skafgaard of Maple Valley, Washington. Our local favorites Lise’ and George Jumper will once again be taking care of the jumper rings for us! |
The 2008 BSJC Board of Directors has been elected!
President: Kathryn Almberg
Vice President: Jamie Brewer
Treasurer: Carol Deis
Secretary: Nancy Roche
2 Year Term General Directors (Exp.11/30/08): Emilee Duncan,
Becky Klaus-Young
2 Year Term General Directors (Exp.11/30/09): Jennifer Koval,
Midori Bennett
Youth Directors: Lexi Almberg, Austin Brewer
President: Kathryn Almberg
Vice President: Jamie Brewer
Treasurer: Carol Deis
Secretary: Nancy Roche
2 Year Term General Directors (Exp.11/30/08): Emilee Duncan,
Becky Klaus-Young
2 Year Term General Directors (Exp.11/30/09): Jennifer Koval,
Midori Bennett
Youth Directors: Lexi Almberg, Austin Brewer
| Boise Saddle and Jump Club |
Because My Daughter Grew Up with Horses
An essay by Tracy Meisenbach
My daughter turned sixteen years old today, which is a milestone for most people.
Besides looking at baby photos and childhood trinkets with her, I took time to reflect
on the young woman my daughter had become and the choices she would face in
the future. As I looked at her I could see the athlete she was, and determined woman
she would soon be.
I started thinking about some the girls we knew in our town who were already
pregnant, pierced in several places, hair every color under the sun, drop outs, drug
addicts and on the fast track to no where, seeking surface identities because they
had no inner self esteem.
The parents of these same girls have asked me why I "waste" the money on horses
so my daughter can ride. I'm told she will grow out of it, lose interest, discover boys
and all kinds of things that try to pin the current generation's "slacker" label on my
child. I don't think it will happen, I think she will love and have horses all her life.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has compassion. She knows that
we must take special care of the very young and the very old. We must make sure
those without voices to speak of their pain are still cared for.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned responsibility for others than
herself. She learned that regardless of the weather you must still care for those you
have the stewardship of. There are no "days off" just because you don't feel like
being a horse owner that day. She learned that for every hour of fun you have there
are days of hard slogging work you must do first.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned not to be afraid of getting
dirty and that appearances don't matter to most of the breathing things in the world
we live in. Horses do not care about designer clothes, jewelry, pretty hairdos or
anything else we put on our bodies to try to impress others. What a horse cares
about are your abilities to work within his natural world, he doesn't care if you're
wearing $80.00 jeans while you do it.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned about sex and how it can
both enrich and complicate lives. She learned that it only takes one time to produce a
baby, and the only way to ensure babies aren't produced is not to breed. She learned
how babies are planned, made, born and, sadly, sometimes die before reaching
their potential. She learned how sleepless nights and trying to outsmart a crafty old
broodmare could result in getting to see, as non-horse owning people rarely do, the
birth of a true miracle.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she understands the value of money.
Every dollar can be translated into bales of hay, bags of feed or farrier visits.
Purchasing non-necessities during lean times can mean the difference between
feed and good care, or neglect and starvation. She has learned to judge the level of
her care against the care she sees provided by others and to make sure her
standards never lower, and only increase as her knowledge grows.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to learn on her own.
She has had teachers that cannot speak, nor write, nor communicate beyond body
language and reactions. She has had to learn to "read" her surroundings for both
safe and unsafe objects, to look for hazards where others might only see a pretty
meadow. She has learned to judge people as she judges horses. She looks beyond
appearances and trappings to see what is within.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned sportsmanship to a
high degree. Everyone that competes fairly is a winner. Trophies and ribbons may
prove someone a winner, but they do not prove someone is a horseman. She has
also learned that some people will do anything to win, regardless of who it hurts.
She knows that those who will cheat in the show ring will also cheat in every other
aspect of their life and are not to be trusted.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has self-esteem and an engaging
personality. She can talk to anyone she meets with confidence, because she has to
express herself to her horse with more than words. She knows the satisfaction of
controlling and teaching a 1000 pound animal that will yield willingly to her gentle
touch and ignore the more forceful and inept handling of those stronger than she is.
She holds herself with poise and professionalism in the company of those far older
than herself.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to plan ahead. She
knows that choices made today can effect what happens five years down the road.
She knows that you cannot care for and protect you investments without savings to
fall back on. She knows the value of land and buildings. And that caring for you
vehicle can mean the difference between easy travel or being stranded on the side of
the road with a four horse trailer on a hot day.
When I look at what she has learned and what it will help her become, I can honestly
say that I haven't "wasted" a penny on providing her with horses. I only wish that all
children had the same opportunities to learn these lessons from horses before
setting out on the road to adulthood.
An essay by Tracy Meisenbach
My daughter turned sixteen years old today, which is a milestone for most people.
Besides looking at baby photos and childhood trinkets with her, I took time to reflect
on the young woman my daughter had become and the choices she would face in
the future. As I looked at her I could see the athlete she was, and determined woman
she would soon be.
I started thinking about some the girls we knew in our town who were already
pregnant, pierced in several places, hair every color under the sun, drop outs, drug
addicts and on the fast track to no where, seeking surface identities because they
had no inner self esteem.
The parents of these same girls have asked me why I "waste" the money on horses
so my daughter can ride. I'm told she will grow out of it, lose interest, discover boys
and all kinds of things that try to pin the current generation's "slacker" label on my
child. I don't think it will happen, I think she will love and have horses all her life.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has compassion. She knows that
we must take special care of the very young and the very old. We must make sure
those without voices to speak of their pain are still cared for.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned responsibility for others than
herself. She learned that regardless of the weather you must still care for those you
have the stewardship of. There are no "days off" just because you don't feel like
being a horse owner that day. She learned that for every hour of fun you have there
are days of hard slogging work you must do first.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned not to be afraid of getting
dirty and that appearances don't matter to most of the breathing things in the world
we live in. Horses do not care about designer clothes, jewelry, pretty hairdos or
anything else we put on our bodies to try to impress others. What a horse cares
about are your abilities to work within his natural world, he doesn't care if you're
wearing $80.00 jeans while you do it.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned about sex and how it can
both enrich and complicate lives. She learned that it only takes one time to produce a
baby, and the only way to ensure babies aren't produced is not to breed. She learned
how babies are planned, made, born and, sadly, sometimes die before reaching
their potential. She learned how sleepless nights and trying to outsmart a crafty old
broodmare could result in getting to see, as non-horse owning people rarely do, the
birth of a true miracle.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she understands the value of money.
Every dollar can be translated into bales of hay, bags of feed or farrier visits.
Purchasing non-necessities during lean times can mean the difference between
feed and good care, or neglect and starvation. She has learned to judge the level of
her care against the care she sees provided by others and to make sure her
standards never lower, and only increase as her knowledge grows.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to learn on her own.
She has had teachers that cannot speak, nor write, nor communicate beyond body
language and reactions. She has had to learn to "read" her surroundings for both
safe and unsafe objects, to look for hazards where others might only see a pretty
meadow. She has learned to judge people as she judges horses. She looks beyond
appearances and trappings to see what is within.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned sportsmanship to a
high degree. Everyone that competes fairly is a winner. Trophies and ribbons may
prove someone a winner, but they do not prove someone is a horseman. She has
also learned that some people will do anything to win, regardless of who it hurts.
She knows that those who will cheat in the show ring will also cheat in every other
aspect of their life and are not to be trusted.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has self-esteem and an engaging
personality. She can talk to anyone she meets with confidence, because she has to
express herself to her horse with more than words. She knows the satisfaction of
controlling and teaching a 1000 pound animal that will yield willingly to her gentle
touch and ignore the more forceful and inept handling of those stronger than she is.
She holds herself with poise and professionalism in the company of those far older
than herself.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to plan ahead. She
knows that choices made today can effect what happens five years down the road.
She knows that you cannot care for and protect you investments without savings to
fall back on. She knows the value of land and buildings. And that caring for you
vehicle can mean the difference between easy travel or being stranded on the side of
the road with a four horse trailer on a hot day.
When I look at what she has learned and what it will help her become, I can honestly
say that I haven't "wasted" a penny on providing her with horses. I only wish that all
children had the same opportunities to learn these lessons from horses before
setting out on the road to adulthood.