At 19:23:31 on 12.05.11, Flicka wrote:
The knives are out in the press because a trouble making teenage girl, who is accused of robbing boys at knifepoint is they claim being rewarded with riding lessons (see link for full story) However I wouldn't say that going to the Northern Racing College is as cushy as getting riding lessons. I imagine they're trying to get her involved with a career that will turn her around-sometimes people just need a chance. What do you think?
http://tinyurl.com/6amjnnv

At 20:56:07 on 12.05.11, dizney princess wrote:
i think horses are actually quite therapeuatic, its been known to help kids with learning difficulties is very good for kids with autism also i read an article in a magazine of mine and saw a documentary about this lady who rescued ponies and where she had them was being vandalised so she got the kids who were doing the vandalism to come and muck out and work and they actually came back out of their own choice she was shocked, and now shes a registered charity she saves the ponies who then in turn save the children, the kids get paired up with a pony and have to work with them, most of which have a history of being beaten etc so are very nervous and the kids can relate to the ponies and they halter break and get the ponies to follow them and everything, its amazing. horses work for most things and people!! they just need to be given the responsibilty and the opportunity :-)

At 09:57:45 on 13.05.11, Em28 wrote:
I think people should be given a chance, especially young people who often are very messed up without having a great start in life and no suitable role models. It's better to send her on a course for 12 weeks in the hope she will make something of herself and be inspired to change her direction, rather than pay for her to be in a young offenders prison for a year, ultimately costing the tax payer a lot more. Or as statistics have proved a young offender getting a prison sentence, will more often than not have many more sentences, become institutionalised and become a prolific offender, again increasing the 'cost' to the taxpayer. Solving the cause of the problem is so much better than dealing with consequences as and when they happen, as Dizney Princess said horses have an amazing ability to heal and what better opportunity. My only objection would be, I think it would be great if young people were given more opportunities in the first place, rather than people entering into the criminal justice system. It should not be a case that you have to commit a crime to be given an opportunity like this. Funding should be available to young people coming from families with low incomes etc.

At 10:24:50 on 13.05.11, picsnicky wrote:

@ dizney princess, there has been discussion on horses helping humans in the Horse Therapy for Humans group - here's a link to the threads. I can see why people without the knowledge of just how therapeutic working with horses can be to 'troubled' kids would see 'Riding lessons' as a cushy number, but life at the Northern Racing Club is hardly going to be a gentle hack (!) and lets hope that the horses give this girl the challenge she needs to discover something about herself and relationships with others...

(Click here for larger view)

At 12:48:26 on 13.05.11, kellyt wrote:
I totally agree, its certainly not going to be a few cushty lessons for her and it hopefully will give her a chance to make something of herself. I also agree with Em28 that its a shame that you almost have to be in the criminal system to get the opportunities like this! There should be more available to help young people from the word go, not wait for them to mess up first!

At 13:59:23 on 13.05.11, NMH wrote:
Agree very much with Em28, kids don't go off the rails for no reason & rehab when they are young is more likely to be effective as well as cheaper for the state. Did you see that tv programme where troubled teens were taught to handle wild ponies? The most difficult lad was given the most un-trusting pony to work with, had to learn patience, & when praised, said...No one's ever praised me before... & shed a tear. It brought tears to my eyes.

At 02:09:55 on 14.05.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
I don't think she is being rewarded just pointed in the right direction, if she is kept busy and grows a passion for horses and riding she will most likely steer clear of trouble

At 19:01:57 on 20.05.11, Handy wrote:
I also agree with Em28, it is an opportunity to turn her life around, too bad the opportunities are given after a teen gets into trouble, but better late than never!!

At 23:57:46 on 22.05.11, blindhorsedancer wrote:
From what I can geather from everyones posts, the young lady is going to be learning about horse and barn work. The ones that think this is a reward have never cleaned a stall, cleaned up a horse that has just rolled in the biggest pile of manure and then top off that roll with one in the mud. I think that allowing her to do this is better than being locked up with not much to do. We run a therapy horse program for young ladies of all ages that have been through more than most of us go through in a life time. I have seen lives change in an hour and a half. Horses communicate to these young ladies in ways we human cannot. Yes there should be more programs like this.

At 10:59:11 on 25.05.11, Flicka wrote:
It's great to hear from someone who has had positive experience of schemes like this blindhorsedancer and glad to see that everyone who has contributed to this topic hasn't had the knee-jerk reaction that the tabloid press were fishing for :)