Safety for child horse riding?

[GreensAreGoodForYou]

I'm realising I'm a right scaredy cat when it comes to my kids and now both of them have started horse-riding. I'm terrified of a horrible accident. Stupid really since neither of them do anything else remotely physically risky (not even skates or cycling in a city!) so I know I should just chill. But I'm wondering if any of you have some kind of calming advice? Like 'Relax, they're more likely to get killed in a traffic accident' or something (although... that will probably just make me even more paranoid in cars!). I suppose I'd just like to hear about people who either learned to ride as kids themselves or have kids that did and are still alive and kicking...

They're 11 and 15.

Also, I meant to add, when my DD was at a riding school, she was taught to fall off safely.

Not always possible, but she had a whole lesson that seemed to consist of flinging herself off a pony to learn how to tuck and roll, and how to chuck yourself off the side safely if you think you’re going to come off.

She’s fallen off often over the years and (touch wood) has only had 1 incident when she didn’t get up and straight back on.

To be fair if they're riding at a reputable riding school and have suitable riding hats and body protectors they're pretty unlikely to come to much harm.

DD11 has 2 ponies and has fallen off so many times (she showjumps) but has never even needed to go to hospital - falls often look a lot worse than they are, especially to an inexperienced eye.

If either of them does fall, always replace the hat if there's even the smallest chance they hit their head - hats are designed to absorb impact so often look undamaged on the outside after a fall, but the inner could be.

Try and see the positives in horses rather than the dangers - it gets them outside in all weathers, teaches responsibility, determination and empathy 😊

If they are at a reputable riding school, they should be fine with a professionally fitted helmet and riding boots and chaps and shouldn't come to loads of harm. I personally don't like riding in a body protector as I find them very restrictive so I always ride my event horses in an air jacket, especially after a bad fall last year. They are very pricy but worth it in my opinion. I fully tested mine out this weekend after I got launched off onto the road at speed from a very big horse and I could get up straight away and get back on with only a few grazes.

Thanks so much! We don't live in the UK right now (we are in South America) and the horses here are criollo which supposedly means they are very sure footed and stable (and everything I've researched backs that up). We've done horse riding trips at a place down south where the horses were just wonderful (I also rode). Now they are doing weekly sessions with a local horse business, and they work with children year-round. The galloping was NOT on purpose, she was cantering and, says my daughter, she leaned forward (for some reason) which then led to the horse thinking she wanted to gallop. She says she was so focused on just staying on (and enjoying it! she says!) that she didn't pull the reins towards her to stop the horse, and we've been told that doing a single-rein pull while galloping can be dangerous. Honestly, the more advice I could get (and in English!) the better I'd feel.

I'm thinking a) body protective gear b) next session ONLY working on commands and control, in a small area, so there cannot be any galloping or even cantering, and just creating a better 'connection' between the horse and my daughter? The instructor suggested something similar, although with a ride through the local fields as well - I'm thinking no ride, just practising commands and moving this way and that. Thoughts?

That sounds like a very clever idea!

Aaah thank you. That is definitely soothing for my paranoid mind!

The galloping wasn't on purpose... and it really was galloping. I wasn't there to see it, the instructor told me afterwards (my ex husband took them to the place and was watching too).

The more I read everyone's comments here the more this is revealing itself to be that typical 'not how they do it at home' scenario. Clearly there's a more cavalier attitude to safety where I am (S. America) than back in the UK. The instructor didn't seem all that worried about her having galloped, said that it was the first time it had happened with all the children she'd taught, but that my daughter was good in the saddle in general so she wasn't overly worried. But reading your comments about how to teach BEFORE and also after something like this happens is making me realise that the attitudes are very different!

*They horses are Criollo Chilenos (apparently known for their stability rather than galloping tendencies!) and usually former work horses.

My 3 year old goes on led walks. He has a helmet, the drop from his little fat pony isn't far and it would be onto squishy mud anyway.

I think starting them young is good

Ah, crucial information there that's it's a different 'system' of riding not in the UK and not in your own first language! Very understandable that you would be worried in that case. Do you have any equivalent to the BHS accreditation system for riding schools and instructors where you are? I'd try and find out as what's important for me, more so than any protective gear, is knowing the people in charge know what they are doing and are sticking to approved and regulated safe systems of working and teaching. As a non horsey parent you do need to be able to really trust the place your children ride at, that their horses are suitable for beginners and that the teachers will advise you properly about what is and isn't appropriate for your kids as they learn and develop.

In the UK/Europe it's much more normal to learn to ride in an enclosed, artificial surfaced arena and children are usually only allowed to ride in open spaces or hack out when they are more experienced and stable. Whereas in american styles trail riding or riding in fields is more normal from an early stage. One is not better or more safe than the other per se, but I do think it would be useful to take the instructor up on their suggestion of interspersing the trail riding with some work in a smaller space on her position/balance and control of the horse (personally I don't love the word 'connection' as to me it's a bit woo, people talk about their 'bond' with their horse as though that's what keeps them safe, whereas I think having a secure seat and being largely in charge of where and at what pace you go that makes a safe rider, of course the two can go hand in hand!). She doesn't need to stop riding in the fields altogether if that's normal for that school and she enjoys it, so long as you trust that they have the situation under control but perhaps no cantering (or accidental galloping!) until her balance is a bit better so she doesn't tip forward and also if she does pick up a bit of speed she can sit a bit of a swerve or emergency stop. This will probably take more than one session, in the UK kids wouldn't be cantering full stop, never mind in an open area before at least 6-8 weeks of lessons working on their position, control etc (and it takes some a lot longer to be ready) BUT like I say there are big differences to how western and south american style riding is taught compared to english style so don't panic...

Horse riding is very high risk though.
Always have them wear a brand new body protector and up to standard hat. Good fitting boots with adequate heel.
Make sure they always check their girth is tight and tack is in good repair before riding.
Little habits to get into can prevent an avoidable accident.
Maybe a stable management weekend to learn about horse behaviour etc.

I’d definitely take up the offer of riding in a smaller space and working on balance, core, posture, etc.

My daughter did lots of trotting with no stirrups, she learned to canter on a lunge with no reins or stirrups - not for whole lessons of it, but part of them for a while.

My daughter fell off after an accidental gallop, everything she knew and everything her instructor yelled at her just flew out of her head

Aaah that helps a lot, just to know there isn't 'one perfect' method! Here, most kids (and adults) learn and go without any kind of safety equipment (not even helmets) which seems insane. It seems the only places where they insist on safety equipment are usually teaching dressage or jumping - my kids just want to ride, literally to be on a horse, to be able to canter, gallop etc eventually, but nothing more than that. I get torn between the voices in my head - my own family telling me I'm too helicopter-y (they were gobsmacked that I insisted on helmets on a four-mile bike ride for my kids, for eg) - so then trying to be 'freer' with them and the other 'safety voice' in my head telling me I'm insane for letting them get on this huge animals when I don't know how to do it safely myself!

I'm going to discuss what we can do with the instructor for the next session and take all this advice! And get the body gear!

THANK YOU ALL!

I rode through my whole childhood and fell off more times than I can count with no serious injury. I think it helped I rode a lot at quite scrappy riding schools and did a lot of bareback bringing in horses etc- I really learned how to fall, which is a skill. But it is a dangerous sport and they need good hats and body protectors.

We're in a similar position to you in that we are overseas, and my 9 and 6yo are learning in a slightly less, erm, measured way than they would in the UK. All the instructors wear trainers and no Helmets. But- they are really confident riders quickly and that has been tremendous for them generally.

The approach is more- try it and we'll work on the technique at the same time, rather than getting the technique first. They also do fun stuff like 'circus' on the lunge where they will stand on the pony's back or dangle off the side. One of their friends did break an arm last month, but DD got an identical fracture falling off the bed last year so...

I've also gone back to riding after a 20 year break and was quite surprised when the instructor popped up some jumps on lesson 3 and just let me at them. But it was fine.

There are lots of different ways to learn! If the kids are comfortable with the approach you could keep it up, but some 121 in a smaller space could help as well on developing their seat. I have found I have to proactively ask for instruction a bit more as there is a sort of 'figure it out as you go along' approach, so you could try that if culturally it's a bit different. Glad they enjoy it, there's nothing like it!

Aww that's good to read! Funny about the circus lunge - the kids did a few sessions at an indoor arena here a couple of years ago) and they also did that as part of their learning. Is the idea to create more confidence or something?

And yes - no helmets or boots or anything here either (instructors, and they don't require it of the students either).

I'm so glad I posted here, I had no idea I'd get such informed and useful – and calming! – answers. Calming because I feel more informed now. Thanks lovelies!

Ah well if you are riding somewhere where they don't need helmets (USA?)

I cannot fathom the USA, we went on a trail ride and they were shocked when we asked for helmets. We were cantering on the ride.

Ditto the rodeo mentality where they strap teeny kids onto the saddle with no helmet and once they graduate being strapped in, still no helmet. Granted their saddles are like sofas but it would be interesting to see their accident stats.

We ski, ride and my kids skatebaord, helmets are non negotiable.

She’s not a lover of body protectors as she finds them restrictive and feels unbalanced so she wears it for XC, but not schooling, hacking or jumping.

I have ridden for 25 years and have adopted the same approach. I find wearing a body protector makes me less agile, so arguably more likely to fall so only wear it for XC and young horses/new situations.

As someone else said riding is a spectrum, plodding round a riding school vs doing badminton or playing polo or all very different in terms of risk. A bit like driving my SUV to work vs doing formula 1. The risks aren’t equal.

I'm a new rider and have been told that canter is the gait where most newbies have their first fall.

I didn't make it that far. My favourite school horse, who usually gives no fucks about anything going on around him, freaked out when another horse knocked a cross pole down and I went flying off the side of him.

I am rather overweight, he is nearly 17hh and I landed flat on my back. Not a great combination really. But I was fine. I had a wet arse and slight whiplash which disappeared after a few days but otherwise fine.

I sat up, was advised by my instructor not to try and exhale for a minute, got up and planted my bruised backside back on the very sheepish looking horse who had stopped the second he realised that I was no longer on his back and was standing quietly, looking embarrassed.

Its not very often that good schools have serious accidents. The arenas are generally sand which makes for a soft landing and the horses of a calm disposition.

At the school where I'm learning the horses and ponies are all either current or ex comp and so can be a bit firey but still for all their quirks they are generally even tempered and well schooled.

They wouldn't teach on horses who were dangerous. I mean it's a risk sport but they aren't going to use horses who are a liability.

Thanks for sharing your fall experience! Yes, she was fine after the fall too. They're not HUGE horses either, which definitely helps. In fact, I think we'd call them ponies in the UK. She's been back a couple of times since and the teachers went over control and how it's really important not to let the horse do whatever it wants otherwise... it may well decide to do 'whatever it wants' at some point when that means you getting a surprise!

I'm sorry, but if you are anxious and can't work through your anxiety, then horse riding is probably not right for your child (you) as it is a high risk sport!

If it helps I've ridden for 34 years and the worst injury I had was whiplash coming off a horse

On the other hand I broke my ankle getting out of bed so...

My dad was raging when I went back riding after spinal surgery (not horse related) and when I pointed out my worst ever injuries involved getting out of bed and stairs, he did admit I was probably safer on a horse than day to day life