How old before a child can go horseriding?

[willweeversell]

I am hoping to re-ignite an old hobby and am wondering if my ds might enjoy it too. He is only two at the moment and obviously he won't be able to really learn but would the riding school laugh at me if I ask if ds can have a ride on one of the very small ponies. I was taken for lessons from about five iirc but ds is obviously quite a long way off this!

My local stables do "doodles" for v.small children on douglas, who is a very small shetland. 1/2hr walk on lead rein - they start lessons at 5yo. my dd first went at about 2yo.

My ds had his 1st ride in France a couple of weeks ago on the smallest pony in the world. He got a bit bored and wanted to trot or go up steep bits all the time. He's 22months. DD, now 4, also rode on French neighbours carthorse, with someone else on with her. I kept smiling but it was a HUGE horse! She loved it.

We went on holiday to a farm specialising in toddler holidays when DS was 22 months - on the pony rides he had to be prised off after his turn and was quite capable of sitting unaided at all. He is fearless around horses though, and will trundle up to the biggest shire horses to pat them.

It seems round here that riding schools won't let them go at all until they are 4.

I agree with lily molly about attention span, that's why it would be easiest if you had access to small pony yourself so it is not a big issue, ie paying for a lesson that they have to do at a certain time for a certain length of time. As someone who teaches kids, there is little you can really teach other than to have fun and get their balance- best done at their request. i find it hard not to push my kids to want to like horses but have to hold back and let them decide what they want to do. on the other side, don't leave it too late! - a friend has a 12year old who is not interested at all as she was only introduced to horses as an older child and mum is regretting not giving her the opportunities earlier so they could share mum's interest if possible. can't wait for big horse trials here to go and buy cute horsey stuff for small daughter- no decent boy's stuff around!

I had my son at haggerston riding stables while on holiday this year

they are happy to take them for a 30 mins walk on a lead rope from the age of 3

I was the same as a few others, on with my aunty at a few weeks old. Used to go with her to the stables as a toddler and apparently used to like to brush her horses' tummy whilst standing underneath him

I then competed quite young (not as young as 4 though!)

DS is now 22 months and quite scared of animals in general so am going to wait a while before taking him.

My aunt was going to be an extra in Braveheart but was 6 months pg when due to be filmed so didn't coz they couldn't hide the bump!

My Gran was secretary to the chap who ran the Horse of the Year shows after the war - horsey-ness runs inthe family!

Oh its so difficult isnt it horseymum not to try and push them!!

I really try not too, but dream of the days when we can go out riding together.

We are so fortunate to have horses at home, if we didnt I dont think dd would have need ready to ride its just cos they're there iyswim and she wants to copy mum!