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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Is 5 too young to start riding lessons?

28 replies

figcake · 05/03/2011 21:14

For a rather spirited DS? He is really keen and says he would rather do that than any other activity including days out with us. DH thinks that he is not well-suited to the activity at least atm, and improving his swimming skills would be much more beneficial (given his fascination with stripping off and wading straight into the sea every time we visit a beach). there is also the cost
Any experiences to share? Thanks

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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UnSerpentQuiCourt · 05/03/2011 21:20

I know four-year olds who ride very well. My dd rides too infrequently to be good (only when the weather is good and I have time to take her to friends with ponies). Cost if you are going to a riding school is astronomical.

Jules2011 · 05/03/2011 21:24

My two boys aged nearly 2 and 3 1/2 go horse riding and love it! My eldest is trotting. They don't have lessons as such. Perhaps you could try just doing a few general rides at a local stables and see if he enjoys it?

Bumperlicious · 05/03/2011 21:26

Expensive I think, but not too young. My three year old goes ocassionally when she stays at my mum's.

Original poster

figcake · 05/03/2011 21:35

Thanks - I am mainly scared of the fact that I do not ride myself now, nor ever intend to again. I was your typical pony-obsessed girl who went off the whole scene overnight - even that happened decades ago. I think that the riding school infrequently runs open days so we shall go along to the next one and try him out

OP posts:

CMOTdibbler · 05/03/2011 21:39

Not too young at all - my 4 yr old ds loves riding

differentnameforthis · 05/03/2011 21:42

Ring some riding schools and ask. Some wouldn't take dd until she was 8.

One took her at 6, and she has been riding since.

Takver · 05/03/2011 22:15

Cost will vary depending on where you are, I think. DD's lessons cost £7 for half an hour, so expensive, but not astronomical, I wouldn't have said.

UnSerpentQuiCourt · 05/03/2011 22:25

I had heard far more. Only ride with friends though, so no first-hand experience.

differentnameforthis · 05/03/2011 23:50

7pounds! Wow! We spend $50 an hour here! (31pounds)

mummytime · 06/03/2011 00:35

Ours are now £20, so £7 seems impossibly low.

countrysidemummy · 06/03/2011 01:13

Dd (6 1/2) has been riding for two years and loves it! Her lessons cost £25 for an hour group lesson and £22 for 1/2 hour private lesson. SHe can also do a ride out for 1/2 hour for only £12 which is probably the best way to start to see if your ds really enjoys it.

redpanda13 · 06/03/2011 01:22

DD is 5 and has been riding for a year. Lessons cost £15 for half an hour. She only goes every second week as at that age they are still on lead rein.It is really just about getting used to being on a pony at the moment. DD enjoys her lessons as her school adapts the lessons for that age group so lots of games etc

redpanda13 · 06/03/2011 01:25

Oh and figcake be prepared for the worry. You said you used to ride. DD is only trotting on lead rein and I can barely watch. As a rider you know what the dangers are. She will be on that lead rein till she is 30 and will never, never, ever jump I tell you!!!!

thecaptaincrocfamily · 06/03/2011 02:20

If they like it horse riding can be fab! Gets them listening. Go for it, even at 5!

bettyboop63 · 06/03/2011 13:40

grab the lessons with both hands £7 is terrific trebble that where i live my dd is learnig piano and electric guitar , piano costs 12 for 30 mins she has 1 hour and electric guitar is cheaper simply because he comes to the school half hour once a week and takes 5 at once that costs £7 but would be a lot more if 1-1 now were looking into ice skating (damn that programme) lol but i did horse riding when i was 10 and it was £12 a hour and that was in the 1970's so £7 now all i can say is WOW

Original poster

figcake · 06/03/2011 21:49

Thanks - I don't think the lessons are as cheap as in some places but I will get the calculator out and the thinking cap on

OP posts:

legalalien · 09/03/2011 10:43

just to add to the chorus, my son has been riding half an hour a week for about 7 months (he's now 6), he loves it (and helpfully it has improved his general lack of confidence). £16 for half an hour, about 3-4 in the group and half an hour out of south london,if you're surveying prices!

Interestingly the vast majority of children attending are girls. I get that boys aren't interested in the "cute pony" concept, but surely riding is one of the truly non-gender specific sporting activities out there?

Butkin · 11/03/2011 22:29

DD started riding at 2 and lessons from 3. Now just 8 and enjoys going to Pony Club and riding at shows.

Its a fab lifestyle for them - although expensive - and gives them so many worthwhile experiences. I'd say take him now whilst he's keen and enjoy!

janet41 · 12/03/2011 20:35

DD has ridden since she was 4yo - she is now 5 and loves it; she goes to a riding school that insists that everyone does a half hour lesson and half hour stable managment each time. This way they get to learn more about the horses, looking after them, safety etc etc. i think this is great as they have to do a bit of work (tack cleaning etc etc) along with the riding, so teaches them all sorts of things about responsibility for animals but is also great fun. For the whole hour, we pay £16.

MollieO · 13/03/2011 14:30

Ds started a month before he was 5. Now 6.8 and cantering without stirrups. He goes about once a fortnight and loves it. £27 for an hour group lesson or 30 min private. He wants his own pony and it is his favourite activity.

somersetmum · 13/03/2011 14:38

dd just started going to Pony Club. She's 8. £22.00 for two and a half hours at the stables, which includes an hour riding and an hour and a half 'helping'. The first week she said 'Mummy, I even scooped up a doo doo'. Good, good, if you want to ride, you've got to learn it's not all glamour

generalhaig · 13/03/2011 14:40

sob where do you all live to make it so much cheaper?? dd (8) loves riding - she goes to pony club every other week or so - it's an hour's hack and an hour's stable management which costs £38 (and that's on the cheap side for where we live :()

LittleWhiteWolf · 13/03/2011 14:45

I started when I was 3, so I'd say 5 is perfect! Its such a great confidence builder and so much fun. I can't wait to take DD when she's older, even though it is pricy (but then, what activities like this aren't?)

EveryonesJealousOfGingers · 13/03/2011 15:16

i started at 5 on a shetland pony, and absolutely loved it from the off - go for it!

Southwestwhippet · 13/03/2011 15:24

i am a riding instructor, most riding schools are unable to take riders under the age of 4 due to insurance. At 4 and 5, they are generally a bit too little to be safe off the lead rein even on a bomb-proof pony as they are just too little and also their concentration and speed of processing skills are not developed enough to cope with the unexpected very reliably.

It takes a creative, motivated instructor to keep lessons fun and challenging on the lead rein for a long time. I personally would think about trying to have a half hour lesson every fortnight so it doesn't get dull/repetative for your DS and he is still getting a 'feel' for the pony would be best at this age. Then when he is ready to come of the lead rein and ride alone, he can start riding more frequently/for longer. JMO based on personal experience though

The place where I work charges £12 for half and hour in a group of no more than 4 I think just to give you an idea of prices.

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