How much progress is reasonable to expect?

[Changingnameagain]

My DD started riding lessons weekly in term time last December (with usually 1 or 2 Pony mornings in holidays- these are 4 hours roughly and include around 30 mins individual lesson or an hour group session). She was 6 when she started and is now 7.
We arent a horsey family at all- we began the lessons because we'd been told by an NHS pediatrician that equine therapy was one of the only therapies with a decent body of evidence as being helpful for individuals with autism. She is still being assessed for autism and has got an ADHD diagnosis. Cognitively she is able. Focus wise she struggles though.

I'm struggling to know how much progress we could reasonably expect from the input she's had so far. She is still lead on rein up and down the lane to the school for the lesson. It is a private single track that leads to stable so isnt busy and only used by stable users.
She works independently in the lesson with no lead rein on- she has been introduced to holding crop. She can make the pony walk on and stop. She can turn the pony left and right. She can trot on the pony but the two ponies she is usually riding (the oldest, stoutest ones at the stables bless them) need the teacher to get them into trot because they won't do it at my DD'S say so.
The sessions are really for her wellbeing- they help her be mindful, develop empathy for others, get outside in nature etc - we arent expecting her to ever ride competitively but equally I'm wondering if she should be able to ride a bit more competently and independently by now? Interested in the views of others more knowledgeable than I.

But it also could be this. Ed as my link didn't attachHippotherapy

Thanks all for your contributions and sharing your thoughts.

@MellowPinkDeer yes she initially had one of 2 ponies, but one has been retired now, so she tends to have the same one every week with the the very rare exception.

Just to clarify too, she has had weekly private lessons for nearly a year and then she does a 4 hour pony morning or afternoon in a half term which is group groundwork, yard duties and group/private lesson and this half term we've also added in a group games 1 hour session which she enjoyed.

Sometimes things like the lead to the arena are a pony thing not a rider thing? Tbh I would expect some canter by now, but there is no right or wrong and as long as your daughter is enjoying it then I don’t see any issue

I’d be looking for a different riding school , even if it’s just for a taster lesson , no need to burn your boats where you are just test a few out over the next month or so .

Why would you be suggesting so much change for an autistic child?

It's very much a child by child thing. I've got one child atm that I think will be years learning to canter, he's still on the lead rein 6 weeks in. Issue is confidence, not ability. He's terrified and screams hysterically if the pony even does a fast walk. He still begs to ride though if his mum suggests giving up.

Others are off the lead and trotting in their second lesson.

I was that first child. Desperate to ride, and also terrified. I was never the bravest but I did end up show jumping and eventing. Started at six, loved every terrified minute, lead rein gymkana games at eleven, then jumping affiliated at fourteen.

Our eldest is autistic , they are all different , if she doesn’t want to try elsewhere that is a conversation that the OP can have with her . I’ve been around horses and riding schools since 1970 and they vary wildly in the quality of teaching .

Oh he'll do it, I've no doubt. Might take him a bit longer, but he'll do it. So will OPs daughter, I wouldn't put a time limit on it. Learning takes as long as it takes.

Have a chat to the teacher and ask them if your child is progressing.

Is your child tall, strong and determined? Or are they small, willowy and nervous? Do they have a strong core? It all depends.

We had someone come and view a pony for sale who said their child was 7 and had been riding from 6mths. I had advertised the pony as very forward. The child came and I was speechless tbh. She said she'd just been on a 4 day camp.. honest to go I don't know what she had been doing. she was very sweet but could barely sit up, couldn't hold the reins properly and could barely do rising trot...

I know kids who have been riding their whole lives on their own ponies who still ride like this at 7, then others who make progress in 6 months at a weekly lesson. The range is huge.