What Every Parent Needs to Know BEFORE Their Child Gets on a Horse
So Katie wants a pony. Well that’s how it started for me – and for countless other parents too! And then the questions start racing race through your head. Is he/she ready to ride, let alone responsible enough to care for a horse or pony? Can I afford it? Where will we keep it? Is it safe? Pretty soon you are confused and your head is swimming. . .
Where Do You Start?
Relax. Those questions are normal. How do I know? Because I’ve been there. I felt the same way back in 2002 when, at age 8, my daughter, Katie, approached me wanting to learn to ride a pony. Having no prior experience with horses, I had no idea where to look for good information, advice and guidance. But Katie’s enthusiasm was contagious, so thus began my education in beginner horse riding.
My Pain is Your Gain
Katie & I have learned a lot together over the past few years. As she grew in the sport, we became experts at finding teachers and facilities that enabled her progress without killing our budget. Now, I’d like to share my knowledge with other parents. So, if you are struggling as I was, save yourself time, money and hassle.
Get Answers to the Most Pressing Questions
The free guide from Horse Riding For Beginners – “Great Questions Parents Ask About Starting Children’s Horse Riding” gives the essentials that every parent should know before enrolling their child in horse riding lessons. For example:
How will the safety of my child be protected?
What are the different types of horse riding?
How long does it take for a child to learn to ride?
What should I look out for in an instructor?
What are the related riding costs?
Should I purchase a horse for my child?
Grab Your Copy Today!
Just put your name and e-mail address in the box to the right. Your details will not be shared with anyone else and you can remove your name at any time. There’s no catch and no obligation—just useful information to give your child the most enjoyable horse riding experience possible.
Horse Riding Instruction – What Is The Best Age To Start?
One of the most frequent questions instructors receive is inquiries from parents wondering the appropriate age for their child to receive Horse Riding Instruction.
This common question comes with no exact answer, but instead, a series of guidelines for parents to consider. Physical and emotional development coupled with the ability to follow directions are key attributes to examine when considering riding lessons for your child. Parents, knowing their children best, should proceed with guidance from skilled instructors.
On average, most children are typically ready to start riding between the ages of six and eight. However, some children will be ready well in advance of their sixth birthday while others needing to wait until after eight.
A child’s physical development should be one of the driving factors when considering riding lessons. As riding involves the entire body and requires extensive muscular control and coordination, parents should be attune to their child’s individual development. Children at younger ages often struggle with requisite coordination and the exacting physical demands of riding.
Waiting until children are slightly older to start riding lessons often helps with overall success in the saddle. Working around horses also involves heavy equipment and an older child will quickly be more self-sufficient than a younger counterpart when tacking-up and caring for their mounts.
Emotional development is as important as physical development to the overall success as an equestrian. While many young children are passionate about horses and overly committed to their desire to ride, they may not be ready to handle the intense amount of direction, critique and scrutiny that will come with the process.
Additionally, as younger children often struggle with communication, adding the perils of learning a new sport can challenge the most emotionally well-balanced of all young equestrians – horseback riding is an extremely technical sport that is loaded with detail oriented directions that can challenge younger students. While individuals of all age are often challenged to follow the exacting directions offered by an instructor, the ability to receive and attempt to follow directions is imperative to succeeding safely in the saddle.
So along with physical and emotional development, parents should assess their child’s ability to receive and follow directions.
Another aspect of determining the correct age to start children riding is their innate ability to assess risk. As previously discussed, riding has its own set of inherent dangers, and a child needs to be able to perceive and respond to these situations; in return for the fun and enjoyment of riding time. Unfortunately, this can represent one of the largest challenges for parents of a child determined to start riding lessons.
Parents often struggle with the correct age to start their children riding. While your child may spend hours lobbying to start lessons, it is incumbent on you to honestly assess your child’s personality, development and ability to assess risk before proceeding with lessons. By considering these points you will be well primed to determine your child’s readiness to start riding.
I wish you well!
If you would like some more information, then based on my own experience and research, I’ve written a Question and Answer style report looking at the issues that confront most parents as they consider horse riding for their child. The report is free and easy to read and you can enjoy it today with my compliments!
Horse Riding Lessons For Beginners – Where Do You Start?
Trying to find out what you need to know when you’re trying to help your child take up horse riding it can be a nightmare!
I’ve been there because back in 2002, after many years of pleading, my wife Susan and I finally gave in to our daughter Katie and agreed to let her start riding. At that time Katie was aged 8 and we knew absolutely nothing about horse riding lessons or indeed horses!
Our initial concerns were over the usual areas of cost and safety – but also we really didn’t know where to start researching what we needed to know!
To give you a head start, please have a look at the following questions – I think they cover most of the things that parents, who are new to the world of horse riding, will want to find out more about:
- How will the safety of my child be protected?
- What is the appropriate age to start horse riding?
- How will my child learn to ride?
- How long does it take for a child to learn to ride?
- How difficult is learning to ride?
- Where should my child learn to ride?
- What techniques will I as a parent need to learn?
- What should I look out for in an instructor?
- How will an instructor address individual confidence levels?
- What are the different types of riding?
- What are the related riding costs?
- What sort of Equipment Purchases will be required?
- How will an instructor address individual confidence levels?
- Should I purchase a horse for my child?
- Is leasing a horse an option?
- What types of insurance requirements are involved in riding?
- Are there any governing bodies I should be aware of?
- What type of fitness levels should a rider possess?
Based on my own experience and research, I’ve written the answers to the these questions in a free, easy to read report which you can enjoy today with my compliments!
Best wishes
David
Horse Riding Clothing and Equipment
As you have likely learned, and quickly at that, horseback riding has its own unique set of equipment requirements. One of the top questions at the onset for parents involves equipment purchases and requirements. Unfortunately, the answer will vary based on a multitude of extenuating circumstances. Below we outline some recommended purchases, when they should be made and why along with some helpful hints.
Standard Preliminary Purchases:
First up will be a pair of boots. Please, find a local tack shop for all purchases. Street appropriate shoes are not designed to withstand the rigors of riding. Instead, you want to find sturdy paddock or jodhpur boots which will have the requisite heel needed to keep your child safe on the ground and in the saddle. Given how fast small feet can grow, if you can find a used pair, feel free to purchase used or borrow boots. There are no known safety concerns and your wallet will thank you. A good boot will help protect your child in the unfortunate incident of a fall, by keeping their foot from slipping through the stirrup.
Next up will likely be a safety helmet. Some stables may offer a to lend you one for the first few lessons. However, safety helmet fit should be taken extremely seriously and the sooner you can invest in a properly certified helmet for your child, the better. Unlike boots, helmets should always be purchased brand new. Also, do not buy a helmet with room to grow. A riding helmet needs to fit snugly in order to properly do its job. As with the boots, you need to purchase a riding helmet; bicycle or other sports helmets are not designed to withstand the perils of riding. In the unlikely event of a fall, involving a head injury, please replace your child’s helmet. This is never an area to try and save some money.
Additional Equipment Requirements:
With the initial two purchases made, everything else will be based on your child’s desires coupled with their instructor’s preference and requirements. Items that will likely appear on a list sooner rather than later include gloves and either riding pants or some form of chaps (full or half). If breeches are required, you will also be in need of tall boots.
As your child learns to ride, there will be a learning curve for both parent and student. Likely, your child will be working hard to absorb everything possible about their new hobby. In turn, you will be working to figure out what is needed to participate and how much things will cost. At first, equipment purchases will likely be limited to safety equipment. Eventually, tack purchases may be necessary however, many years could pass before that is necessary.
Further Information
If you and your child are just starting out with looking into horse riding and you don’t really know where to start, then why not claim a copy of our free report – 18 Essential Questions about getting started with Beginner Horse Rider Lessons – Answered! – just use the simple form above.
Horse Riding Safety – Every Parent’s Top Concern
Parents, take heart, the safety of your child is one of the top concerns for everyone involved in teaching your child horse riding. Riding, as with all sports, has its own set of inherent dangers. By enrolling your child in a lesson program that adheres to proper safety standards, you convey the importance of acting prudently around horses. A combination of equipment, education, instruction and experience will help protect the safety of your child as they learn.
Equipment is the best way to protect the safety of your child as they learn to ride. Simply purchasing equipment is not enough; items bought need to adhere to specific standards and be properly sized. A trip to a local tack shop is typically the best way to make initial purchases. Here, knowledgeable sales people will help measure and offer suggestions for brands that best fit. Parents will find helmets come in standard sizes; however, fit varies by brand. In addition to a helmet, boots with a heel are another important investment. Optional equipment purchase, for the conscious-minded parent, is a safety vest. As with any sports equipment, in the unfortunate incident of a fall with head impact, the helmet should be replaced. Damage may be not be visible yet the structural soundness of the helmet compromised. The cost of a replacement is negligible compared to the safety and well-being of your child.
Education and instruction will be the secondary components of protecting your child’s safety and well-being while learning horse riding. Instructors and riding school/barn staff should work from the start to educate your child in safe practices around horses. Safety starts on the ground and simple directives including slow and planned movements, not walking directly behind their mounts and learning to read body language are important first directives.
As there is so much to learn about riding, children often become overwhelmed with the details. It is incumbent on instructors, parents and barn staff to continuously remind children of the rules. Providing explanations to accompany instructions can be a helpful tool. Simply telling a child to not walk behind a horse may not elicit the same response as describing the swift kick that may result from walking directly behind a horse. As your child learns the basics of riding, they will also be instructed in correct position that helps protect their safety. Learning to keep heels down will be one of the first points that helps prevent a foot from slipping through the stirrup in the case of a fall.
Experience is typically the third component of protecting a child’s safety around horses. Time spent around knowledgeable equestrians and horses, coupled with observation is the best way to learn best practices. Here novice equestrians can see firsthand the value of following direction and being comfortable with their mount. Instructors typically expose students to safe and controlled situations. Most students will learn on quiet, trusty mounts familiar with starting new riders. Building positive experiences from day one will help build confidence. If you find your child is being mounted on a wild-eyed crazed horse, you are probably not in the right environment for learning and should rethink the planned lesson. Children should also learn to speak up, when they feel nervous. Many an injury could be prevented by practicing the basics or reassessing a situation.
Safety is one of the most critical lessons a child will learn as they progress in horse riding lessons. Parents can do their part to make proper equipment purchases and start their children with skilled instructors. The safety of your child will be protected through proper equipment usage, instruction and simply experience around horses.
Why not download our free report ” 18 Essential Questions On Getting Started With Beginner Horse Riding Lessons – Answered” just use the request box above!
Horse Riding Lesson – Teaching Young Riders Fundamental Seat and Body Position
A certain level of excitement builds as a child prepares to meet the horse in the first horse riding lesson. Parents also feel an equal level of nervous excitement, as their child will mount an animal with a 15-time weight advantage. A qualified instructor certainly knows these fears and would never place a child on the back of a horse before the child is ready. Early lessons are structured towards teaching beginning riders the basics on how sit properly and guide these marvelous animals.
Riding classes often focus on teaching students English style riding. Advanced English style riding includes areas such as dressage, fence jumping and basic riding skills. However, for the first class only simple fundamentals will be the focus. The instructor may choose to lead the horse out from the stable or allow the student to lead. This is simply a matter of holding the reins and walking in front of the horse to where the lesson will begin.
The child will first be instructed on the names of the equipment such as bridle, reins, saddle and stirrup – thus ensuring that when the instructor says, for example, pick up the reins, the young student will understand the instruction. Then it is time for the student to mount up and find proper seat position.
The proper seat and body position are some of the most important aspects for learning to ride a horse. The rider communicates to the horse using body position and legs. A rider improperly leaning forward is communicating to the horse to move faster, for example. Proper position includes sitting with the back straight and legs slightly bent. The feet will be in a straight line with the shoulders. Horseback riding differs from a number of sports because the rider keeps the weight in the heels instead of the balls of the feet. This helps to keep the back straight. The knees always maintain contact with the side of the horse.
Once the child has learned a proper seat, it is time to ask the horse to walk. There will be no trotting or cantering in the first class. The young rider will first need to learn how to properly guide the horse using the reins and legs. Most important, the student need learn the proper command for stop. Sometimes the instructor could choose to guide the horse holding extended reins called lead line.
An approved riding school provides well-trained school horses for novice riders. The younger less-trained horses are reserved for more advanced riders. Parents can cconfidently observe their child work on developing a good body position and the fundamentals of guiding the horse on a well-behaved animal.
The child will also be in the capable hands of a qualified instructor. Approved schools provide instructors with the essential experience and patience for working with young children. Parents will see their child develop confidence working with large animals while learning an enjoyable new skill – right from their very first horse riding lesson!
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Horse Riding Tips for Beginners – What Is That Horse Trying to Tell You?
When children are introduced to horse riding lessons, it’s useful for them to be able to understand some basic horse body language – it could save them from a kick!
Horses by nature are expressive creatures. Unlike humans who often say one thing and mean something different, horses are remarkably straight forward with their expressions and behavior. For any parent with a child looking to ride, please know that your child has found the greatest sport ever. In no other sport will children learn as many life skills as riding. Before embarking on the journey of the equestrian world, possessing a basic understanding of horses and their cues will ensure the safety and well-being of your child and their equine partner.
With a lesson scheduled, the time has come to recognize some common equine behavioral traits. In general, horses are friendly, well-mannered and loving creatures. Anyone walking down a barn aisle will be greeted by inquisitive faces looking for a pat or treat. Happy and healthy horses will have ears perked up along with a sparkle to their eye. An occasional nicker or kick of the stall door is a cue that your equine friend is requesting attention.
As with people, horses often need their own space and occasionally retreat to the back of their stall. This is no cause for alarm, but novice equestrians should ask their instructor before working with a horse under these conditions. If a child’s regular equine partner appears listless or out of character (tired, sweaty, etc) find someone familiar with the horse and ask their opinion. Illness can quickly set in and you may be doing your favorite four-legged friend a life-saving favor.
With eyes on the side of their head, horses possess a limited range of vision. As such, approaching a horse straight on or standing right behind them is never advisable. In both instances, vision is limited and can cause startling when approached in these spots. Regarding body language, children should be taught that horses often pin their ears back when upset. Unfortunately, horses and ponies can also be prone to vices such as biting and kicking, and unsuspecting children can fall prey to preventable injuries. Other common traits include stomping, pawing and cribbing. Stomping can be related to something as benign as a pesky fly whereas pawing and cribbing typically represent boredom.
Once mounted, body language continues to be of the utmost importance. Pinned ears indicate tack is not properly fitted or adjusted or something else is causing discomfort. Children should recognize horses are herd animals and often look to crowd with their friends. This behavior typically manifests in group lessons with multiple horse/rider combinations in the ring. Pre-planning by looking early, and steering helps avoid this behavior.
Horses take their cues from rider aids. Novice equestrians should know that horses spook in response to loud noises and quick abrupt movements. Staying calm in these situations helps diffuse the problem and return the horse to a calmer state.
Your child’s horse’s behavior and actions lend a wealth of insight into their general well-being. Learning to read these cues is a critical step in progressing as an equestrian and understanding what your horse is trying to tell you.
I hope you enjoyed this article? – Why not get your free copy of a chapter of Horse Riding For Beginners by CLICKING HERE!
The Best Way to Start Children Horse Riding
When a child approaches Mom or Dad with an interest in learning to ride a horse the best advice is to seek out a qualified Instructor, one who is experienced in teaching children horse riding.
Most reputable stables have a lesson program for children ages seven and older. The first concern parents may have is safety. Considering a young child may sit on top an animal weighing in excess of one half ton, safety is a valid concern. Experienced instructors provide a safe working atmosphere including a requirement to wear a safety helmet. And, what children learn from a riding class goes beyond simply learning to ride a horse. They also become more confident overcoming the challenge of learning to ride and develop a love for horses.
A qualified instructor generally starts a young student in a private lesson using a lead line. A lead line is basically a set of reins that allows the instructor to guide the horse from the ground while the student focuses on learning body position. There are many things to learn about proper body position. It is important to sit straight in the saddle with heels down and arms relaxed in front. It is also important to learn what to do with the knees and legs for controlling the horse. Although children may be capable of learning to ride a horse at home, a qualified instructor will be able to pay close attention to these basics and correct mistakes.
Once the child has learned proper body position and has developed a good seat on the horse, it is time to advance to riding without the lead line. The child is completely responsible for controlling the horse. Parents may find this moment a little nerve racking but should feel comfortable in the presence of a good instructor. The instructor would not have let go of the line unless the child was ready. Eventually the child will join a group class.
Group classes are fun and provide an opportunity for kids to meet others with a similar interest. Classes may be a little competitive as each student tries to be better than the others. Children also make good friends with other children who share a love for horses. Beginners who have joined a class and have developed a good body position are also ready to learn faster gaits. The beginner is likely proficient with the walk and will begin learning to ride the horse at a trot. This would include a posting trot where the rider moves up and down in unison with the horse or a sitting trot. Then the final gait, cantering.
Students undertaking lessons will have an opportunity to show what they have learned at the annual show. They may even win a ribbon. Children’s horse riding lessons from a qualified instructor will provide them with the best opportunity to learn proper basics and they become better riders. It is a good way to gain confidence, learn to care for animals and enjoy an activity away from the computer and television.
I hope you enjoyed this article? – Why not download our free report ” 18 Essential Questions On Getting Started With Beginner Horse Riding Lessons – Answered” just use the request box above!
Do you worry about the safety of your child learning to ride horse?
Perhaps it would be useful to share our thoughts on the subject of keeping safe when learning to ride a horse.
We try to be pretty relaxed about the dangers. Clearly there are inherent risks but then there are with every sport. Touch wood, we have been very fortunate so far and Katie has had only one fall when she hurt her arm and needed to go to the local hospital for a check up – luckily only bruises and nothing serious. On the other hand my son Matthew fell off his bicycle and broke his elbow which ended up needing surgery – so unfortunately accidents can happen anywhere.
Riding schools are very aware of the risks and they should have a detailed health and safety risk assessment available to view – although it might be a bit dusty! I think you can tell if the riding school management are visible and thought is put into controlling risks. Apart from the first riding school, I never felt uneasy about any other riding schools’ approach to safety but wouldn’t hesitate to leave if I was concerned.
If this is a concern to parents, then my tip would be to do a search on Riding School Health and Safety assessments and find one that has been published online – that will give you a good insight into:
- What could go wrong
- Who is potentially at risk
- What reasonable and practical steps are being taken to reduce such risks
In fact I think it is becoming very difficult for riding schools because like the rest of the business community, they are suffering from an ever increasingly litigious environment which is increasing the cost of their insurance and I’m sure either pushing up the cost of lessons or denting the financial viability of the riding school. If the riding school becomes risk adverse then it can limit the range of activities that they are prepared to undertake – we’ve been at schools where they wouldn’t do hacks – which for Katie is one of the most enjoyable aspects of riding.
This is personal but I think it is really good for children to be introduced to risks and of course how to control them. I never fail to be impressed when I see Katie confidently in a stall with a great big horse – you wouldn’t get me in there! Actually when she was little that used to worry me – as she was leading out the pony I always felt that I would be responsible for jumping in to help her if the thing got out of control – only slight problem was that I would be clueless!
The only thing that we really were uneasy about was riding on roads given all the extra uncontrollable risks that the environment produces – thankfully that is very rarely a problem for Katie as currently all her riding is off-road. We did have a brief period when she loaned a pony and used to ride it around the local roads (with me following on my bike) but that was a bit hairy – especially when lorries were sharing our country lane.
Keep all your senses alive to the possible dangers – but don’t let it spoil your enjoyment of a fantastic sport and hobby!
I hope you enjoyed this article? – Why not get your free copy of a chapter of Horse Riding For Beginners by CLICKING HERE!
Horseback Riding Tips for Beginners – Safety
You can never be too safe and in this article we have some horseback riding tips for beginners on the subject of ensure that children learn to ride horses safely.
Horseback riding for beginners of any age is great fun and can develop into an extremely rewarding lifelong hobby. As with most physical activities in life, particularly sports, it is impossible to eliminate all risks. However, the possibility of injury is reduced when a new rider is properly educated. Inexperienced riders, of any age, should get lessons from a professional, qualified instructor.
Riding Lessons for Children
Parents who are contemplating horse riding as a potential pastime for their children, particularly parents with little or no personal experience with horses, will naturally find themselves asking whether horse riding is safe for their child. Horse riding is a sport involving a large animal and a fall, particularly for a child, is from a great height. If combined with great speed, the potential for serious injury is undeniably present. In fact, in terms of hours of participation, horse riding is statistically more dangerous than riding a motorcycle.
Proper horse handling techniques and safety must be taught by a knowledgeable person. In the USA, the riding school you choose should provide an American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA) certified Level II or III Instructor. In the UK, the school should ideally be approved by either the British Horse Society or the Association of British Riding Schools.
Helmet Safety
Unlike bicycle/motorcycle helmets that are designed for front or side injuries, equestrian helmets incorporate design elements that protect for impact to the back of the head. This is understandable when head injuries most often involve the back of the head in horse riding accidents.
A properly fitted and ARIA (UK British Standards Institute) certified riding helmet is the most important purchase, other than lessons, you can make for your child when they start riding. Some riding schools will provide a helmet but it is better to buy one that you know has not been compromised.
Riding Boots and Stirrup Safety
Another purchase a parent might want to consider making is a pair of riding boots possessing a large enough heel to keep your child’s foot from slipping through the stirrups. This will help prevent a foot caught in the stirrup during a fall and possible dragging of the rider, a terrifying and dangerous situation.
As an additional precaution, the school may provide peacock stirrups or break away stirrups. Another option is Toe Stoppers, an attachment to a stirrup to prevent the foot from slipping through that is adaptable to any stirrup style.
Starting Early
The earlier a child starts learning to ride, the more natural and safer it will be for them. The more natural it becomes for them to ride and ride well decreases the possibility of accidents because they learn how to avert them. Horses can be unpredictable and volatile animals at times. The sooner your child starts riding the sooner they will be in tune with horses and what they may do.
Remember at the start, when you take your child horse riding for that first lesson, do not let your nervousness filter down to your child who will undoubtedly be less nervous than you will. Do not impart your fears to them. Fear results in more accidents and injuries, not less.
Enjoyed this article? – Why not get your free copy of a chapter of Horse Riding For Beginners by CLICKING HERE!
