10/08/2026
I am proud to say that we teach horsemanship not just riding. Riders are expected to catch their horse out of the fields, groom, tack, and after ride care. They are praised when they notice something off with their horses and bring it to my attention so we can handle it Together! Riders clean their tack and pack for shows. They are even expected to learn how to body clip and braid for themselves. These skills are important for riders, but it also teaches responsibility and critical thinking that will serve them for whatever life brings them.
Ask Dr. Holly Helbig what she worries most about for the future of the sport, and her answer isnât about judging systems, prize money, or even veterinary shortages. Itâs about kids.
âWeâve done this to them,â she said during a recent Plaidcast In Person event. âWeâve tacked up for them, been their grooms, enabled them. They arenât getting the hours it takes to build intuition around horses.â
That loss of hands-on timeâthe small, daily habits that teach empathy and awarenessâhas become one of Helbigâs biggest concerns. And as both a veterinarian and professional trainer, sheâs seen how taking those opportunities away doesnât just change young riders; it changes the horses too.
Helbig describes herself as a âhorse-crazy girl, not from a horse family.â She didnât grow up surrounded by resources, but she found a way to make it work. âMy parents went through bankruptcy,â she said. âBeing a kid, not coming from a ton of money, I had to be scrappy.â
That scrappiness, she believes, is part of what shaped her success. âI didnât have the money to pay a braider or a bunch of grooms,â she said. âYou just jump in and do what you have to do. At the end of the day, I wouldnât trade it. My relationship with that horse was stronger because of all the time I spent with him.â
Today, she worries that many young riders arenât getting those same opportunities. âI think weâve created a generation that can ride beautifully,â she said, âbut hasnât had the chance to really know horses.â
In her own training program, Helbig made sure her students stayed involved in every aspect of horse care. âMy kids tacked for themselves at the horse show,â she said. âWe had grooms, but they tacked for themselves.â
When something medical came up, she used it as a teaching moment. âWhenever anything happened in the barn, Iâd scoop all the kids up and say, âCome look at this. What is it? Look at this ultrasound. Letâs look at this x-ray together.ââ
Those experiences, she said, taught her students to see horses as living, breathing partnersânot just show animals. âThey learned to pay attention, to notice things, and to ask questions. Thatâs what builds confidence.â
đ Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/10/22/let-the-kids-tack-up-why-the-next-generation-needs-more-time-in-the-barn/
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