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Original poster

What age can children start riding lessons?

34 replies

Mirage · 13/09/2005 20:39

DD1 has just turned two & is horse mad.My neighbours have 3 horses & put her on one of their ponies last week & much to my surprise,DD1 loved it.I thought she'd be scared,but she had 4 rides & cried when we had to go home.She's been on the pony again today & whenever she see a horse,she says 'I ride it'.

I'd like her to have riding lessons when she is old enough,but don't know what age its best for her to start.My neighbours say not too early,because toddlers bones are still pliable & she could end up with damaged legs & pelvis.I grew up with horses & was sat on one before I could walk,so am a bit confused,about this.

Any suggestions?Thanks

OP posts:
Nemo1977 · 13/09/2005 20:41

riding stables used to work at was around 4-5yrs to start lessons.

princesspeahead · 13/09/2005 20:41

you won't find a riding school that will take her before 4, because they can't get the insurance.
put her on ponies belonging to friends when you can, but you won't be able to start lessons until 4 I'm afraid!!

Thomcat · 13/09/2005 20:46

Pssst, don't tell PPH but I found somewhee that took L when she was ... 3.

I was very nice to the woman and it might have been because I said she couldn't walk and had SN's but they let us take her and walk rounfd on a pony with her. It is a bit early but I was desperate to find something to do with her and wanted her to meet and hopefully love horse from an early age.

But the majority of people i rang said they started proper lessons at age 5. Just try and find a friendly stables. Where do oyu live, which sort of area?

princesspeahead · 13/09/2005 20:47

i'm not the pony police thomcat, just an extensive user of riding schools!!

I remember your posting years ago about lottie and a donkey.... at least I think it was lottie, was it?

Nightynight · 13/09/2005 20:55

how much do riding lessons cost these days?

Cam · 13/09/2005 21:14

£18 an hour round my way

Eve · 13/09/2005 21:19

I had DS on at 2... but that was on lead rein and with an adult holding him. Only at stables I knew very well though.

I now have a Shetland for the boys and DS2 is 3 and loves him, but again only on lead rein.

Where I am in Hampshire is about £15 for 1/2hr, £25 for 1 hr.

Where are you?

Blu · 13/09/2005 21:28

DS went for a long pony ride when we were on hol, and really enjoyed it. But the man in charge said they don't do regular lessons for under 4's because of potential damage to young kids backs and pelvises, if they ride a lot.

ghost · 13/09/2005 21:44

just enquired about dd and was told the earliest was and that depended on the child. have been out a few times on a lead rein down stairs,trotting a bit etc dd loves it.

ghost · 13/09/2005 21:44

should say earliest age was

ghost · 13/09/2005 21:44

sorry number lock off!! 4

moondog · 13/09/2005 21:47

My dd is 4 and goes every week. For the first time ever last Saturday,I sat in the car and let her go off to the field on her own with the teacher.
Managed to read the whole paper in one go-probably the first time in about 4 1/3 years.

Bloody great. I'll be sending her a bit more often.

Thomcat · 13/09/2005 22:04

LOL at Pony Police PPH, great visual
Lottie and a donkey, PMSl, ehem, how dare you, only throughbreds for us darrrlinnggg!
Seriously though, do you mean the donkey we thoguht was pregnant and we thought we saw the bay kick her from inisde and thought it was lovely?
Turned out it was a tumor and wind! Nice!
She didn't ride it though!

NannyL · 13/09/2005 22:04

Our local riding school is 5.... my 3 year old charge simply CANT WAIT!!!

moondog · 13/09/2005 22:21

Psml at the donkey with wind story!!

Original poster
Mirage · 13/09/2005 22:28

Thanks for the feedback.So it is true about potential damage to soft bones then? Had never heard of that before now.

Thomcat,does Lottie still ride?

We are in Leicestershire-so it is very horsey around here.DH blanched when I told him dd had been on a pony,he could see his bank account emptying before his eyes.We are quite lucky though as my parents have a farm 1 mile down the rd,with loads of empty sheds/stables & we wouldn't have to worry about finding a paddock-they are like gold dust around here.But all that is waaaay into the future.If she is still keen when she's older,she'll have to do what I did & go for lessons & make sure it isn't just a short lived thing.Horses are a big responsibility & expensive [plus the thought of mucking out early in the morning doesn't fill me with joy!]

OP posts:
mrspink27 · 13/09/2005 22:28

my dd has a 1 to 1 lesson and she has been riding every 3 weeks or so since she was 3 in june. its £12 for 1/2 an hour with lovely lady on surrey/sussex borders.

only problem is being a bit on short side they ave to twist the stirrups so she can put her feet in!

i just stand and watch with my dd2 and the teacher's ds4.

mrspink27 · 13/09/2005 22:29

ave = have

mrspink27 · 13/09/2005 22:29

ave = have

Original poster
Mirage · 13/09/2005 22:30

Moondog-I can only dream of being able to read a WHOLE NEWSPAPER in one sitting.

OP posts:
Thomcat · 13/09/2005 22:32

We've taken her a few times but tbh it wasn't her most favourite thing to do and all the gear was far too big for her and not helping, full body armour etc! So, I thought I'd wait now until the spring and then start again. She wants to be near the horse and then when she is gets all scared. I put her on anyway and she loves it 1 second and then literally arches her back to come off the next then goes back to loving it. I don't want to put her off so going gently but am going to perservere and hopefully get there. It's a time thing too, they can only do week days so that's a Friday for us and we have to do hospital appts etc as well so, hopefully by the spring things will be easier and she'll feel more confident and ready for it.

chatee · 13/09/2005 22:37

tc,is there not a riding for the disabled near you?
my dd has been going weekly since she was 3 and the staff and volunteers are wonderful...dd had one on either side and one leading to start with, now only has 1 to gently guide the pony around.
you've all got me worried now about pelvis, back etc but dd was recommended by her physio and gp..???
eeeeeekk.

handlemecarefully · 13/09/2005 22:41

I hope that my dd doesn't show an interest in horse riding....it's just seems too middle class somehow (and I'm in denial)

Thomcat · 13/09/2005 22:47

Not that I could find chatee, but the one I did find is really lovely with a great woman so I'm happy enough tbh.

Janh · 13/09/2005 22:53

It was Lou's DS2 that rode the donkey and fell in love