Exactly!^! 
Vesta- Wha?! He's a NINE YEAR OLD! He doesn't give a flying squirrel about PETA type activism. Give a nine year old the choice between a trophy, some fancy parchment wallpaper and a trip to the ice cream parlor and, oh forget it...
If anyone takes him anywhere near a stables it had better be for a pony ride and not to hand him a sh!t shovel and put him to work.
Why not give a 9 year old a shovel and have them work with Animals. When do we expect children to grow up, age 32???
Kids of the age over 5 when they show interest or empathy for a breathing beast should be encouraged to follow up on interests.
9 year old kids are given badges to wear for completing each class in Boy or Girl scouts, thropy's for junior bowling or competition in sports--Little League winners as a team sport.
You and an adult go above and beyond the call at work receive citations for your work, why not children.
These kids do grow up and with their accomplishments rewarded as a child will become interested in gaining more as the grow.
Local papers publish photos of kids that were outstand achievers, family cut them out and frame them.
Human nature to want some kind of memorabilia for a job well done, often called another feather in their hair relating to the young Braves of American Indian Tribes.
Humans of any age need tangable rewards other then some pizza party, why do you think we give out medals to Animals for saving lives, not that the Anamal knows but the person that trained them has pride in their work.
Do you know anyone whose parent had died in the military with ribbons and medals galore that do not have them on display???
A 16 year old in my family female, died due to a drunk driver, closed casket as the damage was too bad to be viewed.
Her mother dug out all the things her daughter had achieved in her short life from a picture of her at 3 tyeing her sneakers with the same very tiny sneakers next to the picture, to every award framed for school excellence and sports.
It really surprised everyone family and friends that the child had been so talented------Thank heavens she was not taken out for an ice cream instead of the certificates.
