When can DD ride a pony?

[LuckySalem]

DD is now 1 and I've always had the dream of leading her out.
She's never even sat a pony yet cos DP thinks that its TOO dangerous! lol.

I've thought that once she's walking I'd like to take her to the local trekking centre as I have a deal where i'll do a few hours a week in return for a day with a horse once a month.

Im a very experienced horse-rider and mum says she put me on a horse as soon as I could sit but as DP is sooo nervous I've never tried yet.

What do you think? Is DP being over the top or should I wait a little longer.

dd rode when she was walking. she walked at 9 months but i knew she was interested because i work with horses ( coach) alot of the time! and she was dragged along from being 6 weeks old... just gravitated towards ponies and i found her a lady i taught's old shetland and she rode him from 9 month. DS is now nearly 10 months and not ridden. he can crawl now but not walk independently. when he can walk i may look for a shetland of mini pony for him. Think you may have major insurance issues with your idea tho? most centers have an age above which they are insured for kids to ride and you would need to be qualified to at least BSHAI to take DD out under their policy? (which you may be!)

I used to put DD between my legs and wander round the yard from about 9 months. However she only began to "ride" from about 18 months - when she could sit up properly herself. She got a pony for her 2nd birthday and won her first show class at 3 so never too early to start them. However as Chloe says it may not be easy to do this at a professional stable with insurance issues.

Your DP is being over the top, but, if he is not horsey, then I suppose I understand his fears.

Could he meet the pony, see the area and such like to help ease his mind?

Dp is just a panicky person esp around horses as he is really not a horsery person AT ALL.

The trekking centre is run by my friend so insurance isn't such a big thing as she'd never be out of my site. I wouldn't actually start teaching her till she was around 5 anyway.

I'd let a small child have a little sit on but nothing for too long as it's very wide (even on a tiny pony) for young hip joints to be held open for any longer than 15 mins or so. I'd wait until 4 before doing much.

My dd1 had her first proper hack on her 2nd birthday. Before that, she was keen but not sufficiently balanced.

Thanks for these guys.
I think I will allow her to sit on a pony when she starts walking (as I would hope that would aid the balance) but stick to the plan of not doing too much with her before she's 4.

Thanks again

my DD started official lessons at the age of 4. For a riding school it was about the youngest they would take for insurance purposes.

That was a few years ago though, so things may be different.

If it is your own pony then I would be keen to get them going even younger. It was quite painful waiting from the age of 3 to have a lesson on her 4th birthday!!

I think i'll let her have a "go" on any ponies that we can get to (my friend owns a trekking centre so he'll be quite ok for her to have a go) but I'll stick with no lessons before 4 (I can teach her how to sit, hold the reins etc)

I'd rather she was a proper child before any "instructions and rules" were laid upon her. - --- Silly I know but hey! lol

Unless she drives me insane wanting it before then! lol

Lucky Salem I wouldn't tie yourself down with age rules. Just wait and see how she develops. We certainly didn't want to wait until 4 because from 3 to 4 she had great natural balance (unencumbered by fear etc) and could do lovely rising trot. Now she is nearly 6 and loves going to Pony Club and has just started jumping and riding off the lead.

I want my dd to start riding too, but we have to go to a stables and none of the ones I've tried will take her until 4 because of the insurance, I think thats standard, although she has riden donkeys! She's 4 in May though, so not long to wait now.