What age to start riding?

[SamanthaVimes]

DD is 4 in the summer which seems to be the age that most riding schools near me have as their minimum. She’s definitely interested and has enjoyed the little pony / donkey rides we’ve had opportunities to do.

I’m wondering if 4 is a good age to start or if it’s better to wait a couple of years until she’s a bit taller / more coordinated and can pick things up a bit quicker?

I rode as a child / teen but it was on a family members horse on their farm so nothing formal. The last time I was on a horse was my honeymoon which was years ago.

Once she’s got the basics I’d love to share a lesson with her or go on hacks, is that even a thing with mother and daughter (obviously I’d expect the lesson to be at her pace rather than mine!)

Happy to take any advice

My DD and DD started at 4.

I'm not sure they necessarily learnt much for a couple of years but they loved the lessons and being around horses.

I don't think there is a right age.

DD started at 3 and is now 12. The younger the better imo, reduces their fear.
Next door neighbour child didn't start until she was 12 and now at 14 is way behind her horsey peers.
Make sure the yard is BHS approved and has qualified instructors. You may think it doesn't matter at this age but this is where they need to start learning the basics correctly and more importantly, safely. You also want to ensure the welfare of the horses that are being used.
BHS isn't a gold standard but at least it should ensure safety, proper instruction and welfare of the horses.

Our eldest started properly at 3 but had ‘ridden’ our Shetland from the time he could sit in the basket saddle and our daughter started at 4 at riding school having private lessons . I started riding at 4 .

My dd didn’t start until she was 7/8 - our local riding school didn’t offer lessons for under 8s but we started her off with lessons on holiday until she could get a regular time. She never had any fear and because she’d been desperate to ride since she was tiny, as soon as she started she made progress really quickly. For a while she worked at a riding school teaching very little children (3-6) - for the most part the younger ones didn’t have the concentration span or strength to get much out of it - there was the occasional child that was a natural but generally the older they were the quicker they picked things up. It’s different if there are horses at home and riding is just part of the normal day but if it’s just once a week at that age it will probably take a while - but if you can afford it and she enjoys it then why not?

Thanks for the opinions everyone, really appreciate it

Yeah as Please says, children will get to the stage where there have both enough strength and enough concentration power to really get the most out of a half hour lesson and therefore make speedy progress beyond the total beginner stage at different ages, probably average is about 6ish I'd say but some children will be much earlier and some later. That's not to say there's no benefit at all to getting them lessons earlier, the main thing is they enjoy themselves really. And a good teacher will recognise when they're getting tired or bored and switch the lesson around accordingly, play little games or whatever. So if she's keen why not give her a go, just adjust your expectations as to how quickly she'll progress...

Mine were both cantering and doing small jumps at 5 , even the one that was only riding at riding school but she was having 2 private 30mins per week . It may have helped that they had been around horses since birth though so no worries about being around them etc .

The children at our pony club who were riding their own ponies regularly from 18 months were jumping small courses at a canter by 4 years old.
My dc got their own ponies at 6 years old, rode daily, had weekly 1 hour private lessons and had caught up by the time they were 8.
So in summary the right time depends on you, but older children will learn quicker.
Also I would caution lessons at this age unless you would consider buying a pony at some point. You are setting yourself up for years of horse mad but horseless unhappiness.

My eldest sat on a pony at 20 months, had her first at 3.5 after hacking on the lead rein on friends' bigger ponies in the interim. She's 7.5 now and has a fizzy 2nd pony but was cantering/jumping at 4 on her super safe FR. I would've preferred a 1.5 pony for the next few years she's a natural rider and obsessed with ponies.
My youngest has had similar opportunities as was 2 when we got the first pony but just isn't particularly interested. Works well as he's now semi1retired as she can ride on the odd weekend, should save me money though she has designs on the whizzy pony despite a phobia of cantering, she likes the idea of it more than the actual riding

I really disagree with the part about not bothering with lessons unless you can afford to/are willing to get your own pony later on. There's loads of families where for various perfectly valid reasons owning a pony is never going to be a possibility and the kids still get plenty of benefit and enjoyment from riding. There's loads they can do without their own pony especially at a well set up riding school, own a pony days, pony club, mini competitions, PC or BHS progressive tests, helping out, riding holidays and camps. Later on when they're older maybe a share/part loan or loan a riding school pony. Yes it is a pricey hobby, no doubt there and of course every horsey kid yearns for a pony of their own one day, but I wouldn't class that as 'unhappiness' (or if it is it's a very privileged/first world unhappiness ). No need to exclude all but the very wealthiest from even having a go!

I agree. It is vital for kids to have lessons in both riding and stable management. Pony Club centres are brilliant for this.

I didn’t mean those who can’t have their own pony shouldn’t ride, just not as much point starting early. The lessons for under 5s tend to involve being led round an arena, mostly at walk. They are just as likely to be put off horses as to develop a love of it. If you are not planning to buy a pony at some point I think 6 to 8 is a good age to start. They can then quite quickly get to a stage where riding is enjoyable.