what age to ride?

[Reiltin]

Hi! My 2yo lg LOVES horses. What age do they need to be to ride? Is there some way of getting her on a horse now - like me & her on a horse together? TIA

[Booboostwo]

DD has been doing little lead rein walks since she was 3yo. The instructor leads and I am next to her for extra safety and we do a 20 minute hack round the lake. I've promised she can try a proper lesson when she's 5yo this spring. I do think she needs to be a bit stronger and better balanced to have a chance at getting the rising trot and I don't want to put her off with a negative experience too soon.

[Butkin]

Yes they are passengers when little but DD learned an independent seat and was easily able to trot properly on the lead rein. What we didn't do was rush her off the lead. In fact we kept her on it much longer than Pony Club mums would and yet she now rides better and more confidently than most..

[Girlwithnoname1]

Lots of riding schools do 'toddler rides'
Maybe ring round a few? It's usually just a little plod about:-)

[mrslaughan]

we have a lovely pony that DS that rides mostly. DD is 5 1/2, and has really struggled with the strength required to properly ride until this half term, when she has made huge in roads , and graduated from the lead rein to the lunge. She is a really fit strong little girl so I would say before 5 1/2 they are really just passengers.......

one thing to think about is the strength of their neck muscles at 2......I know some on here (and I can see where they are coming from, but haven't researched this) have said before that much more than walk is too much for them.

[Butkin]

We got DD her own pony for her 2nd birthday. She started competing at low level at 3 - and we know lots of children showing at this age.

Until recently I was Membership secretary of our Pony Club and most children seemed to join about 5 although many were 4.

Unless you have your own pony you may have trouble finding a riding school for children less than 5 due to insurance issues.

[PuppyMouse]

If it helps my DD is also 2 and loves horses. Mine is perfect temperament but just slightly too big for her to ride without two adults - one to lead and one to help her hold on.

I went looking for under 4s options for her birthday last week and found a stable near us that offered this. It was 20 mins round a field but she loved it and stayed on despite only just resting her boots on the stirrup treads! The yard I help out at only takes them from 4 up. I assume it's insurance related.

[carabos]

DH used to take DS2 onto the pommel with him from a very early age. DH is a professional horseman however and this is definitely a "don't try this at home" type of thing. I think they can properly learn to ride and enjoy it from about 5 or 6, but will get something out of it earlier than that.

Please remember that even the smallest pony is potentially dangerous and that small children both frighten and tire easily.