How young did you/your children start riding?

[Vagaceratops]

DD is 4 in October. She has ridden a couple of times on her cousins pony and is very keen to start lessons at a local stables. They have said they will take children from 3 for 'lead outs', but I dont know if she is too young.

I was messing about on horses at that age, my children were, I don't think it too young.

Same here, started riding aged 4, kids started at the same age. Not real lessons as such, just getting used to ponies and gaining confidence

Dd2 also sat on her cousin's pony a couple of times, although she mostly didn't want to when we offered. We bought her a pony for her 4th birthday two weeks ago not because she'd shown any especial interest or keenness, but because it just so happened this pony came up for sale at the time I was musing that it would be safer for dd to be on a pony than underfoot. Basically, she got one by accident.

We have been riding every day practically since then, and she loves it (phew)

I don't think she will actually learn anything other than to sit and keep her balance until she starts pony club rallies - which will be a while yet, but I have got her membership for the insurance in the meantime.

Dd loves just walking out with a lead and a few seconds of trotting. I have taken her stirrups away for the time being until she's a little bigger. She is a very small just 4 year old.

DS started at 4 with tots tasters - 15 min of walk and trot led, and worked up from there.

I began my riding career when my mum was pregnant with me, DD rode regularly with me when I was pregnant with her . I have a theory that DD and I both love riding because we both experienced the horse endorphins in utero.

Apart from that, DD first 'sat' on a horse at about 3 months, and was going on regular 'rides' in a basket saddle from the moment she could hold her head up (around 6 months), so imo it's never too young to start.

SmallWhite - I think that sounds like an excellent reason for buying a pony.

Ds has his pony bought for him when he was 2 1/2. He first rode when i was pregnant with him and sat on his cousins pony at 3 months. He used to be held on from about a year just a walk out of the school when i finished riding.
He did his first pony club rally when he was 3.

I was put on a pony as soon as I could sit up.My grandads on both sides were horse dealers/farmers so it was inevitable I suppose.We were sent to riding school after that and I had my first pony of my own at 10.

The dds started at 4,which is as early as the riding school would take them.Mean mummy that I am I made DD1 have lessons for 3 years before I bought dpony,who the girls share.We have had her a year and pony no2 [for DD2] arrives on Wednesday.I'm proud that they are carrying on the family tradition.

About 5, clinging into the back of my sister! Then own pony at 9. Lead out would be nice:)

Me about 5yrs, DS about 3months (firmly held in place obviously)!!!

Me, 2 I think - mum was horsey. My eldest 8 weeks or so. Pony club starts at 3, 11 months to go! :)

There will not be structured lessons at all for quite a while, we've plenty of time for dressage - I need him to hone his wits against a shitland first.