Shes 4, I know shes too young to start now… but shes interested in it and i just wanted a gauge of what a good age to start would be.
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It has less to do with the child’s age and more with her maturity and the safety precautions you take.
Many stables offering riding lessons don’t take children under age eight to ten, depending on their insurance. So if you don’t have a horse of your own or access to a friend or family member’s horse that is child-safe, you may have to stick to pony rides until she’s older.
If you do have access to an appropriate horse or pony, then the most important thing is to make sure your daughter stays safe and happy. Keep rides short – 5-10 minutes, as young children fatigue easily. Get a child saddle that is appropriately sized for her (Wintec makes a child’s leadline saddle that has no tree, so it can be fitted to any horse) or get some "Lil’ buddy stirrups" – which are stirrups which attach to a western saddle horn and are adjustable to fit kids from toddlers to kids about 8, so they can grow with your daughter. Make sure she has an appropriately sized helmet, and if she’s going to ride regularly, consider a protective vest.
For her first rides, have someone you trust lead the horse while you walk alongside your child. Even if she insists that she’s alright, hold on to her the first few times until she finds her balance, and even then, walk close to her for awhile after that. Once she’s comfortable and confident without you holding on or being within a few feet of her, then you can consider not having a side-walker and maybe letting her out on 10-15 feet of lunge line.
You want to go slow and let her set the pace.
Also, a good rule of thumb is that for every minute she spends in the saddle, she should spend two working with the horse on the ground – learning safety skills (not to walk behind or under the horse, how to lead, etc).
I started at about that age I think that would be fine.
you could probably start her when she’s 5 or 6, just don’t let her ride on a big horse, try a pony.
A lot of little kids start around 5 or 6, I’ve seen some as young as 4 but I personally think its too young.
I started at 8
I say 6
My friends started horse riding lessons about when they 7 or 8? but some advice, make sure she really wants to do this. because if she’s not really sure about it then she’s going to go for the first 3 lessons or so. and be bored of it already.
Good Luck(:
my friends little sister started when she was 3 her mum got her a pony on loan….. she was not intrested and only rode about once a month then all of a suddeen she just started wanting to ride alot shes now 5 and goes to shows with her pony
on the other hand thers a boy at my stables hus 3 and hes a really good rider 4 his age he can canter with someone running with him so it depends how intrested ur girl is..
I started at the age of 5 but I couldn’t ride a big horse. I started out on a pony then a old gentle horse then a horse and last a mustang.
She’s not too young at all! I would suggest finding a good beginner trainer ((like myself
)) somewhere in your area where young riders can take weekly group lessons. Most hunter-jumper trainers do lessons for girls ((and guys)) from 4-6 exclusively, teaching the kids how to handle horses and simple facts, such as anatomy and how to groom, tack up, and feed horses.
You might want to find a local tack store ((most feed stores carry the right equipment and people)) and ask around. Also, try and find some ‘beginners clinics’ that will teach your daughter how to do the pure basics. Make sure you purchase a good pair of breeches, paddock boots, and a sturdy helmet ((bike helmets are NOT okay!)) that fits her snugly.
if you are going to teach her start now on a pony if you are going to get her lessons you will have to wait a couple of years.. i think most places they don’t let you start until they are 5 or 6
4 is not too young. the younger the better. go for it. you should check out the horses/ponies she has the opportunity to ride – ie at a riding school or a friends pony. they should be insured. my daughter started at 6 and now at 13 has her own pony and competes. if you have no horsey experience PLEASE DO NOT go bananas if she comes off. she’ll be fine – it is the best thing to do if they have the opportunity. good luck xx
I have started children at 4, but its difficult. 5 or 6 is better, but it varies by child. A lot of it is simply determined by how well the child can follow instruction, and if they can focus for a reasonable amount of time.For example, I have two students right now who both started at age 5, at the same time one year ago. One can now walk, trot, post, and two-point with or without stirrups while riding independently. The other spent 10 months on a leadline at a walk, and has only recently started sit-trotting very slowly on a longe line.
I would recommend finding a local trainer who specializes in teaching children and set up an evaluation lesson to see if shes really interested and so the trainer can give you an idea of when she thinks you daughter will be able to start.
Depends how interested she is, and how much input you can give.
I started riding just before I turned four; my mother taught me. I started teaching my daughter when she was 2 1/2 – she’s now 5 and can canter off the lead. Her brother is 3 and has been riding for over a year, but is less keen than Ellie and has not progressed so quickly.
If you know what you’re doing and can teach her the basics yourself, a good rule of thumb is if they can run, they can ride. If you’re going to be sending her elsewhere for lessons, many places don’t take children before 5 or 6.
I started at 5 and the place i used to ride did 4 and up
Most trainers will start at 6, they (usually) have a better attention span by then. You can do little pony rides sooner though, with one person leading the gentle horse/pony and one person (or more) at your daughter’s side.
Search youtube for ‘leadline class", they are classes at horse shows for kids 6 & under. It’s basically dress-up and show off, but still lots of fun!
6 or 7 is a good time to start (:
I started at 4. But I started on my own and wasn’t forced into it. It was definitely something I wanted to do. So I say go for it now or at least teach her the basics( grooming, leading, saddling, etc) especially if it’s something she is interested in.
I started at 2 years old however it was on my own pony with my mum as instructor.
Most riding stables are limited by their insurace as to who they can teach. In the UK the lowest age insurance will cover is 4 years old but most riding schools wont teach untill they are 6 years old (by that age i was already competeing off the leadrein at county shows)
this is me aged 5
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v442/kanuma/harvey/harveyamy.jpg
I was probably up on my first horse by 8 months (no joke) but age 4 would be a good time to get her introduced to them. Age 6 would be a little bit better, but anytime starting now would be good. I DO NOT RECOMMEND A PONY. The experience that I have had is that most ponies can be not-so-good for kids. I know it seems like perfect, but make sure that the pony you are looking into REALLY IS a well-mannered pony. My first pony ruined my experience for quite a few years due to his slightly malicious and smarty-pants ways (The first week we had him, he got out about 3 times, including one where he stuck is head through the gate, lifted it off its hinges, set it down, then went to the grain barrel to eat, opening it with his teeth).
Instead of a pony, try a smaller horse with a really good personality. If you go to a lesson barn, make sure that the trainer has experience with teaching kids, and has rock solid lesson horses. Some lesson horses develop habits after a while due to the fact that so many kids ride them and they do not have a steady rider with the same pressures and rein handling.
If you decide a horse, I highly recommend leasing it first. If the horse isn’t right for you, then you can take it back easily. Make sure you take a very experienced person with you if you go to look at a horse, and be sure that they can spot club hoof, crow mouth, vices, lameness or founder, etc.
I wasn’t quite sure how much you are in to the horse business, so I’m giving you the full slip here
Good luck! I hope it works out!
Edit: Just thought of this… You should probably take her to a natural horsemanship class if you get her a pony or horse. This will desensitize the horse of any fears. Natural horsemanship includes: swinging whip strings gently over their back, around their legs, and head; getting the horse to stand still when you are working with them and letting you crawl all over their back, mounting and dismounting from the front, back, and sides. The advanced part includes a person standing on the horses’ back (no saddle) and swinging a plastic bag all around. Desensitization is an excellent way to bond with your horse while preventing many "spook accidents." She is however, too young to do all of that herself. You will have to help her and most certainly the trainer.
I get asked this all the time. Really it depends on the child. There are some kids who are as young as 3 or 4 who start riding and actually benefit it. If you have a child that is truly interested in riding then the best thing to do is really try out a lesson. Discuss your situation to the potential teacher. Ideally, you want your child to benefit and learn something and progress but you don’t want to just pay for expensive pony rides either. But keep your expectations realistic. Some kids that young do not have the attention span to really take anything away from the lesson. At that age the child can learn the basics of steering the horse, 2-point (if riding english), how to brush the horse, basic posture, how to stop and get the horse to walk, and leading the horse. With the help of the teacher and depending on how smooth the horse, they may be able to trot a little. But if you notice that the child is not listening, looking at everything outside the arna, not attempting to try what is being asked then it would probably be best to wait 6 months and try again. Also, kids that young usually don’t have the energy or stamina to be in the saddle for an hours lesson. When I have youngsters, I will take them to a small arena, one on one, and teach a 15-20 minute lesson of actual instruction. Depending on if the child is learning or doing what is being asked it will be slightly longer or shorter. After getting a couple things accomplised I take them on a trail ride through the stable and go over simple horse things like colors, things you use in the barn, saddle, etc. Ideally, my goal is to keep them in the saddle for 30-35 minutes. But that entire time should not be spend on a pony ride. Good luck and I hope you find a stable who is willing to accomidate you or at least let you try a lesson to evaluate your child.
Some places are willing to start children that young, but they really can’t start "learning" about it until their between 6 and 8 (depends on the certain child of course)…but I don’t think she is to young to start
I actually think 4 is the minimal age to start at the barns in my area.
I started my lesson age 3. Just leadrein, but don’t have her take lessons if horses aren’t in her heart. They need to be in your heart to want to have anything to do with them.
Now I compete BSJA after 10 years of experience.
i started when i was 4 1/2 so she should be fine. though some barns do have age limits so you might find a bit of difficulty then, but otherwise if she wants to do it and feels like she’s ready when you ask her i say try it!
She isn’t too young. I know people who were jumping when they were four and others who have been riding since they were 3. It will just make her better. I started when I was 8 and I always wish that I had started earlier.
now fine i started when i was in the womb..
It is a very dangerous sport so make sure you find the right stable. I would start as soon as you want. It is very expensive and very dangerous for a little one but they do have stable rides where someone leads you. Try that and mabe in a few years she will be ready. Also riding isnt the only thing you can do with horses. You can go to a miniature horse ranch and let her feed them or something too. Even grooming a horse is great!
I would wait until she’s at least 7. I help my trainer with camps and I know how hard it is to communicate with younger kids when your trying to explain some things that take basic physics to understand. Some things in riding a four year old just can’t grasp even if they are very smart. It won’t put your kid behind to wait a few years, I didn’t start until I was 8 and I’m doing fine competing..
4 is a great age.
my nephew was on horses at the age of 18 months
he started riding when he was 3.
we also had a 3 year old starting lessons yesterday
for me i started when i was about 6 !!!
My kids first sat on a pony while they were still wearing nappies.
Actual real riding lessons began at around 4 or 5 years.
I started when I was about 7 or 8. However, she could start riding when she is 5 or 6. I say, go for it!