By Kari L. Sands
Reporter’s Note: At many local events or festivals, people from Valdosta and the surrounding areas are accustomed to seeing ponies or horses slowly trotting around a carrousel. Children of all ages seem to enjoy being able to ride ponies or feed them carrots. So, Kim McGhee's horses from the family's horse camp seemed the same when I saw them at a local festival until I learned what, in addition to teaching responsibility and discipline, horses can offer to people who are willing to get involved.
VALDOSTA — Kimberly Bennett McGhee loves horses and rodeo and through her horse camp has found a way to involve the Valdosta community and youth.
“I have always wanted to be a cowgirl since I was very young,” said McGhee.
McGhee teaches kids and adults about horses and the sport of rodeo.
McGhee was born to Noah Lamar and Lorretta Fay Bennett on Sept. 14, 1977, and was an aspiring cowgirl from the start, showing a fond interest in animals, especially horses, at a very young age. She attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton to earn a registered nursing degree and an associate’s degree in Animal Science to contribute to her love of animals.
McGhee said that she encourages children to take interest in “our friends,” especially horses, because caring for an animal teaches responsibility.
“I think that horses teaches a lot of responsibility because you have to take care of a horse 24 hours a day, all year long. If a kid plays ball, they don’t have to take care of the ball after practice,” said McGhee.
McGhee's rodeo team takes care of their horses before they practice and after practices.
“Horses and rodeo is a lot of work, but it is better then being inside all day, being inactive by playing video, games, surfing the Internet, or watching bad things on TV,” said McGhee.
McGhee said that the Internet can expose and teach kids bad things.
“Horses teaches the children things like the importance of being a true friend, responsibility, how to care for something that has feelings, patience, and overall, it takes a lot of time to take care of the horses.
“I would like for people to understand the true purpose of life. We need to let everyone know that whatever we do in life we need to glorify God and serve.”
McGhee has even found away to present a message through working with horses — He Offers Redemption, Salvation and Eternal life, from to spell out the word horse from Bible verses John 1:14, 3:17, 3:16, 3:18, and 3:36.
McGhee said that if she could change one thing about the community that it would be that people recognize children participating in agriculture the same as sports.
“I would like to see more people realize that the kids that like agriculture, like showing pigs and cows and are future farmers, are just as important as the kids that play football and all other sports,” said McGhee. “We need more financial support for these kids that like non-traditional sports such as rodeo. There are some kids around here that would like the chance to do these things, but can not afford to. They have the heart and the ability but lack the funds.”
McGhee said that without a host of sponsors who recognize the importance of extracurricular activities beyond football and basketball, it would be impossible to have the KB Horse Camp.
According to McGhee, KB Horse Camp hosts an annual fall festival that is free to the community.
“We put on a mini rodeo, donkey racing, a calf scramble, horse rides, and much more. We also invite 60 less fortunate children out, and my rodeo team gives them a day of horse fun. We feed them, give them all a gift, let them ride, and much more,” said McGhee.
McGhee hopes by using this different form of recreation to expose the children and families in Valdosta to long-lasting life lessons by sharing the 27 horses at the KB Horse Camp with the community.
“Please, if people can help a kid accomplish their dream, we need to help them,” said McGhee.
