Wed, 09/08/2010 – 14:13 — ereiter
B. Minor members (i.e., members under 18 years of age) must besupervised by an adult member at all times.C. Minors must wear safety helmets while ridingChristie on meaning of OHA supervision: “Regarding children andsupervision the legislative intent concept should control re: whatthe rule was made for as I have stated many times it was: to not allowunaccompanied minors at the pasture to be dropped there withoutpresent adults.”
kids supervision
Hi- I’m more inclined to change the rules to require supervison (within sight or hearing)for kids 12 and under but thiink it should be entirely up to parents beyond that age – I was roaming the hills & woods and creeks on horseback or on foot with no supervison at 12, as was Erica and the kids I grew up with. Granted it was a different time and place but what better space for kids now than OHA? Kids need encouragement to be even more independent these days! They get their drivers licence at 16 -so to be under supervision for hiking/horseback riding til 18 is not reasonable.
-Wakean
Wed, 09/15/2010 – 16:56 — AlisonMartin
Kid Supervision
Yes, I agree–18 is a bit old to have children need direct supervision. Editing the rule to put some parameters around age and amount of supervision seems like a good idea.
I spent my childhood weekends and summers mucking stalls, grooming horses, and eventually training horses and teaching people. My parents weren’t at the stable, but there were instructors and stable owners around all the time available to give me direction and help me when needed. At OHA its different–often there isn’t anybody around. So, let’s think about how to let the older kids have some freedom, but not set them up to get hurt.
Thanks, Alison
Mon, 09/13/2010 – 00:31 — norgaav
kids at OHA
hi all, eddie asked that I post a comment, so am doing so — I just want to add my two cents about kids at OHA: I am not of the opinion that all kids need to be watched at all times while at OHA. Certainly, if they are around horses, yes, although even then, it depends on the kid and the age of the kid. (As a 14/15 year old, for instance, I certainly was able to be around horses without my parents watching over me.) As for younger kids, if there are no horses in the pond pasture, what is the harm of mature kids (say a nine year old) wandering around and exploring nature on his or her own? Kids get so few opportunities to do so in this urban and overly nervous society we live in. None of the OHA mothers would let her kids wander on their own if she was not completely confident that her kid could handle that. So I like Christie’s interpretation of the rule and think we should not be so very overly protective, let’s leave it up to individual parents to know what their own kids can handle. Let create one place where kids can just be kids. vibek