What would be better for a beginner child

[Barbeasty]

We're looking to start riding lessons for DD.

We've had recommendations from friends who ride about which stables to use. But can't decide what lessons to go for.

Due to commitments we couldn't do more than every other Saturday. What would be better for a complete beginner: group lessons every other week, or private lessons every 3-4 weeks?

DD would prefer to have lessons on her own, but would put up with group lessons if she had to.

Approximately how old is DD? Is she a complete beginner? Will you be buying the basic gear for her (ie hat, boots, joddies)?

If she is a complete beginner and is fairly young, she may benefit from a small number (say 3 or so) of 1/2 hour private lessons to begin with, before progressing to group lessons. Even if she is a bit older, a few private lessons first may not go astray. Please tell us a bit more about DD as it will help posters give you more specific answer to your questions.

I would say more frequent group lessons. Then she will get the benefit of regular practice - a lot of riding is about 'feel' which can only be gained by actually doing it, and the more she does it, the quicker she will progress. Also, a private lesson can be very intensive and she would tire quickly, whereas in a group lesson she will be have the instructor focus on her for a couple of minutes, then be able to relax while the instructor focusses on each group member in turn, all the while seeing how other people do it and picking up tips from their errors and successes.

I have been riding for 36 years and would still pick a small group lesson over an individual lesson for myself or my kids. A private lesson is hard work! And riding is supposed to be enjoyable.

She's 4. She's done a couple of lead rein rides, and on the latest one they said she's probably ready for lessons.

The riding school have hats and body protectors. I'd probably like her to have a few lessons before buying the rest of the kit, to make sure is isn't a short lived phase! But we'd get boots, jodhpurs and gloves between now and Christmas I should think.

I suspect group lessons are the way to go, simply to keep momentum up.

Thanks- it isn't just DD that's new to all this!

Definitely group lessons then! 4 is very little - at that age really she will just be sitting there and enjoying the ride. My kids have their own ponies, have had ponies since my first child was born (companion to my horse,) but my DD (7) only started having serious lessons 18 months ago and DS (just turned 4) is not ready to concentrate on lessons yet.

Decathlon is a good place for cheap starter riding kit for kids.

At 4 definitely lead rein group lessons. Once she is abit older private lessons are great, but at this age you won't see much extra benefit, for a lot of extra cost.

Group lessons!
If nothing else they are usually more fun, less intense and it gives her a chance to watch others which I personally think is a invaluable part of learning!

Thank you all for great advice.

I know she's young. It started as telling her that nowhere would let her ride until she was 4 which, with toddler logic, she turned into "I can learn to ride a horse when I'm 4".

Now she's got on a (very small!) horse, after being too scared at a stable fun day just before she turned 4, I'd like to keep up the momentum.

So I'll get some group lessons sorted and take it (slowly) from there.

Group lessons are the way to go to start with as she'll get tired in a private lesson. Groups allow them to watch others and have sort rests.. They also love doing "round the world" races etc. together. Hopefully she's starting off on something like a 12 hand Welsh Section A. Perfect for that age group and much easier than a Shetland..

Just a quick update.

We had the first group lesson today. Just 3 of them in the lesson. DD had a Welsh Section A, exactly 12 hands (Javier ridden a Shetland for the lead reins!)

She absolutely loved it. Watching her try a rising trot was really good. But I get the feeling this could get expensive....

Her brother took her hat as she took it off, put it on, and looked expentantly at me- a good few years to go (he isn't even 2 yet!)

Thank you all for your advice (and the boots from Decathlon went down very well.)