horse riding party for a 6 year old

[cylonbabe]

ds2 wants one. he has been horse riding a few times, on holiday.
has anyone done this? any suggestions on what to do and what not to do? is this a disastrous idea completely?

[cylonbabe]

meant to add, tia

[Gobbledigook]

Ds1's friend had a horse riding party last week for his 6th birthday. Unfortunately ds1 couldn't go as he had an injured leg, but by all accounts the kids loved it and didn't want to go home!

Apparently they all got to 'choose' a horse adn they had a ride round with the horse walking adn trotting.

Sorry I can't help more with any details but I know everyone loved it so doesn't sound like it's a disastrous idea!

[fortyplus]

A friend's dd had one aged 5 - the mums led the ponies! The pony in front kicked the one my son was riding.

The children had a fab time but I didn't feel happy - the hard hats were old and tatty, so can't have been safe and most of the children were wearing wellies, which can get stuck in the stirrups if the child fell off.

Check out the riding school first if you consider the idea - ask how old the hard hats are - they should be less than 5 years old.

[Gobbledigook]

I think at the one last week the minimum age was 6 and I think you can only have a max of 6 children.

[Gobbledigook]

And yes, each child had to be accompanied by an adult who lead the horse - so I'm glad we couldn't go as I'm not a horse lover at all!

[oxocube]

my daughter had one for her 7th birthday and loved it. She and a few friends have since joined a riding school and this is now their great passion. Be warned though, one girl wouldn't go to my daughter's party as she was terrified of horses, another went but refused to get on the horse and you have to check for allergies. But on the whole, they all loved it.

[oxocube]

Oh and forgot to add that one little friend turned up to the riding party in a frilly pink party dress. Very odd

[fortyplus]

Bet that chafed!

[cylonbabe]

THANK YOU ALL,
okie, so it seems like a feasible idea
i would never have thought of the hard hats thing.
will check out riding schools etc.

[chocolattegirl]

Oxocube - there's always one isn't there .

[cylonbabe]

hmmm, had vague idea of going to one we went to last year for a ride on, but cant find it, and yell.com giving me far far toomany options. maybe i should check out netmums?

[cylonbabe]

celiea, where is this? and whatsi t called please?

[cylonbabe]

what sort of place doesnt do parties on the weekend?
£200 for max 12 kids. is that normal? and olny three poinies

[Ellbell]

Very timely... dd1 had a pony party for her 7th birthday on Sunday!

My dds ride every week anyway, but the friends who came were all complete beginners.

If your ds doesn't ride anyway, check out the stables. It should be registered with the BHS or ABRS (or both) and you should have an instructor who knows what s/he is doing with you (don't rely on the mums). Children who haven't ridden before shouls have someone walking beside them/leadingthem at all times. Children will need to wear comfortable trousers (leggings/tracky bottoms are better than jeans - the seams in jeans are too thick and tend to rub!), shoes with a heel (not wellies/trainers) and gloves. The stables should lend you hats (and sometimes boots too). When you ring up to inquire, ask whether all their hats conform to the most recent British safety standard.

All this sounds a bit 'formal' and stuffy, I know. But I wouldn't trust a place that didn't insist on all this... It would suggest a bit of a tin-pot operation to me, and I'd be a bit worried.

At dd1's party they did a bit of basic 'how to ride' stuff (walk, trot, stopping, steering) and then they played some games (races, etc.). It was great fun. The only slight downer was that it poured with rain the whole time. A stables with an indoor school would be ideal (ours doesn't have one!), but otherwise just be prepared to get wet, and bring a change of clothes if necessary.

HTH

(Oh, it was £20/child for an hour's riding.)

[cylonbabe]

ellbell, that is just the sort of thing ineed to knnow. tbh, i wasnt toimpressed by my phoneconversations today.
where is your riding school if yo dont mind telling me? i live in surrey

[Ellbell]

Ah, sadly I am in W.Yorkshire! Places in Surrey might well be more expensive.

[Ellbell]

The British Horse Society website allows you to search for approved centres. You might be able to find somewhere near you.

[Ellbell]

Also Association of British Riding Schools list of approved places in Surrey here .

[anniebear]

If my 2 got an invite like that we would have to turn it down

No way would mine get on a horse!!!

But a lovely idea if all the children like it!!!

[Fauve]

It's near me, Celia2. Do you recommend it?

[Fauve]

Lessons. My two already have lessons somewhere else (where it's kids only), but dh and I also ride if and when we can afford it. I'd love to find a stables where four of us riding as a family could do so without breaking the bank!

[Fauve]

Actually, so more hacking than lessons as such...