More than just horses!

I'm very excited that this past month was spent researching and conducting interviews for an article based in... cheerleading. 


Cheerleading, it turns out, isn't all that different from horse showing. Let's face it, when you have a large group of competitive adolescent girls (and a couple of boys, too) there are going to be rivalries, tears, and lots and lots of glittery make-up.

It's just that in cheerleading, the girls are wearing the glittery make-up, instead of their horses.

Glitter is universal.

And the troubles that both gyms and stables face, trying to be a part of the lives of families who are being pulled in every direction, economically and by the relentlessly ticking clock, are pretty similar, as well. There isn't as much money to throw around these days. People have to make choices. Competitive sports for kids, especially ones as removed from school life as cheerleading or hunter/jumper shows, are often the first to go.

I'm really happy to have stepped out of the box this month and been given the opportunity to write about something new. In the process, I was able to meet some great people who are very anxious about their ability to stay involved in the lives of children, and witness their forward-thinking approach to changing the way they do business.