My litte girl wants to learn to ride a horse - any advice please?

Question

Just wondering if any one could advise about how I would go about helping my daughter get into horse riding, she is only 4 but wants to learn to ride. Any advice about costs time involved and whether or not we get our own horse would be appreciated.
Thanx

Thanx for all your answers (well most of them anyway!) I have just spoken to a lady that says she can go and meet her ponies and feed them and get used to being with them and it will only be £8 a week so I think I might get her started with that and see how she goes.

Answer 1

hi Mel - first off 4 is a great age to start her off at - the younger they are the less fear they have of these things and you'd be surprised how smallies can adapt!!
I think the best thing you can do is visit local riding schools and watch how the instructors teach the kids and how good the interaction is between them. Most reputable riding schools will have no problem with you watching lessons.
Costs - here in Ireland vary between €10-20 per hour lesson - I find it may be more beneficial to go for a middle ranging price bracket. Time involved will depend on how many hours a week you take lessons - at 4 shes a bit young to be left above to help muck in with horsey tasks - so it should only be an hour or so a week.
With regarding buying a pony - theres no point until you know your daughter likes it - and also you'll have to bear the majority of responsibilities like mucking out - worming - feeding - rugging up and down etc - which costs ALOT!!! (remember farrier and vets costs too!) For now - Id stick with just getting her lessons!
xx

Answer 2

I don't know where you live but where we live (Michigan) kids have to be a certain age in order to take lessons. 4 was too young. My daughter took lessons from age 7 until 12. She loved it. We did not buy a horse. I couldn't afford it. It's very expensive and huge vet bills could happen at any time.

She rode English which really gave her great posture and poise. She still sits up really straight and wishes she could have a horse. Her goal in life is to be able to afford a horse.

Contact some riding stables in your area. Ask if you can bring your daughter to watch some group lessons. Get rates and information about gear. She will need a helmet at least, special pants probably, boots, gloves, some stables require you buy your own stirrups and crop.

If she shows....even the beginner/basic shows, she'll need an outfit which can consist of her regular riding pants, a matching sweater of a certain color, her helmet, boots.....and a lot of the young girls even wear make up like on stage, so their features stand out while they ride/show.

My daughter LOVED it and I wish we had more money so she could have gone further. She would live in a barn if I had let her.

I think it's a great sport for girls.

P.S. I just read some of the other replies and I read your question again. When we started, my daughter had 45 minute lessons once a week. She required no lessons beforehand in how to balance herself on the horse. The instructor will fit the saddle and the stirrups specially for her. The cost for 45 minute private lessons was about $35 when I paid for 10 lessons at a time. This was really a good price. I have seen slightly higher and slightly lower. Later, she took some group lessons with girls her age and there were about 5 of them in the group and it was $25 for 75 minutes. At the end, she was taking 3 lessons a week, two group, one private. That was costing me $125 a week.

Also, they have special chest shields. Like a vest. Not sure what it's called. It is good for if a child falls or gets kicked by a horse or stepped on.

There certainly are dangers but there are dangers with any sport. I found that the stables were insured, very careful, taught the kids safety and to respect and care for the animals.

My child was never hurt though she did fall off twice. Starting out, they will teach her how to get the feel of balancing on the horse....you get to watch the lessons. If they won't let you watch, don't go to that stable. At least not for beginners.

Answer 3

The British Horse Society website will give you a list of all the approved riding schools in your area. www.bhs.org.uk. These riding schools will have the correct insurance, qualified instructors and their horses will be inspected regularly by vets and the bhs to make sure they are properly cared for, they will also supply you with a riding hat and sometimes suitable footwear. Riding lessons will usually take about half an hour to start with and build up to an hour as the client gets fitter. Prices will vary depending on length of the lesson and whether you are riding in a group or privately.You may find a lot of places won't take your daughter until she is five years old for insurance reasons. I wouldn't advise anyone to buy a horse unless they know what their doing as they take a lot of care,time and money.

Answer 4

Check out some schools before you book a lesson. I did that with my daughter. Some schools were better than others and some I didnt like how the instructor spoke to a girl I was watching having a lesson. at 4 years, some schools offer short rides out with someone leading the pony. This gives the child great confidence and the chance to see how they like it. They get a pony that they can ride each week if they like him/her. Usually these rides last about 30 mins. this can also give the child and pony time to get accustomed to one another before lessons start. Can cost anything between £10 and £20.

Answer 5

Let her go to the lessons and try out first. Some kids just like ponies and stuff cuz they see them in films and they see that they are freindly and happy and all that, but then when they actually meet the horses they change their mind.. I went to horse riding and after a while I quit, but I might go back. You shouldn't buy a horse straight away, cuz horse riding might not be her "thing", then it wont be worth buying a pony..

Answer 6

You do everything on the left side. You lead the horse on the left side. Get up on the horse on the left side.Some horses don't care what side you get up on. If you want to really learn how to ride a horse look in to some stabled near by. You can you to google and type in Stables near then your city and state.. Example Stables near Madison Wisconsin. My trainer is the best trainer someone could ever have she is a professional barrel racer and pole bender. All her horses are worth like 7 grand. She trained my horse and there are like a ton of people asking to buy her for thousands of dollors. So make sure you pick a stable that knows what there doing. It's always good to have a quiet and calm horse for begginers.

Answer 7

Well I would start her in riding lessons.I go to a riding lessons place in Ohio and I ride once a week for an hour and it is$25 but the lady down the streets' price is $50

Answer 8

Take her to a reputable riding establishment. Make sure she uses a hat and good footwear. Costs do vary, ring and enquire. If you buy your own pony, just remember that time and cost can be quite considerable. Wait and make sure it is'nt a fad which she is going to tire of. I have had horses and ponies for nearly thirty years, and the committment has to be total. Good luck

Answer 9

what i did with my sister is a put her on my horse my horse is a kids horse anybody can ride my horse. Then i just walked him around then i got on and just started trotting she was scared at first but now she loves it i'll go running my horse as fast as possible and she just says yeha she has her own horse now and will take mine for ridding trips down the drive way and my horse does every thing she wants p.s.my horse wasnt trained to be a kids horse it just his disposition that is the main thing you want in a horse a good dissipation

Answer 10

well i think it would be really amazing to get her riding at 4 it will make her a fantastic rider wen she grows up!!! let her ride it is the best thing for kids gives them something to look forward to, improves there friendlyness, just helps them all around, its good for them to have a realationship with a horse. dont get her a horse just yet but have once a week riding lessons. awsome idea