How to Introduce Small Children to Horseback Riding

I am convinced that some children are just born with an innate love of horses, and are drawn to riding and working with the animals as soon as they realize the possibility exists. Many ambitious parents pick up on their young child's enthusiasm, and enroll her in lessons expecting that she will quickly be able to handle the horse on her own. In reality, I find that children below the age of 6 rarely have the physical ability or psychological determination needed to stick with their riding. The key for young riders and their caretakers is envisioning realistic expectations and celebrating their progress every step of the way.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A lunge line and lunge whip
• A child's SEI-approved safety helmet
• A neck strap or hand-hold you can attach to the pommel
• An open lunging ring or round pen
• A calm and reliable horse

Make Introductions

1. I would advise having the horse or pony ready and waiting in a secured grooming stall or cross-ties. As the student becomes comfortable, you may have her accompany you to collect the horse from his stall, but during first lessons the child hasn't built any confidence and trying to lead the giant animal without being stepped on mostly causes intimidation or panic. Most children (unless their guardians are also horse-people) do not really grasp how big a horse is in relation to themselves, having only seen them in pictures or on TV. It can be a frightening realization for a little person, and usually strikes very suddenly if the horse's feet get too close or he gets even remotely excitable. Talk to your student and point out all of the areas she will need to watch out for around the horse. Tell her specifically where she should stand and what she needs to do, and make sure you have advised the parents not to take any liberties in "helping" or initiating activities with the child during the lesson. Excited newcomers have good intentions, but they may trigger a response from the horse they do not expect. For safety reasons, you need to have this lesson under control down to the minute details.

2. Have the child's helmet secured at all times while she is around the horses, from lesson start to finish. Helmeted, she can introduce herself to her horse or pony, pet and brush with your supervision, and assist you in getting the horse ready to ride. Feeding treats and becoming comfortable around the horse is much more important than introducing the details of tacking-up at this point. If the horse is mouthy or the child nervous, have them drop treats into a bucket to offer to the horse. With reliable horses, you can also allow them to hand feed with a flat palm and fingers closed tight to keep from getting caught along with the treat. Be prepared for nuzzling and pocket-picking from the horse, which sometimes means a child will get head-butted and lose her balance. Reassure them that the horse doesn't do these things intentionally, and it happens to most everyone. No one suffers a serious injury from falling a few feet onto their rear.

3. Use the smallest saddle available and, if available, loop the stirrup leathers until they are high enough for the child's feet to reach the irons. They need to be secure, but not perfect. Just for practice, stirrups give the student a sense of balance and control over themselves. You'll want to keep a halter on underneath the horse's bridle so that you can retain control when you need it and attach the lunge line to the horse while the child also practices riding. If you're riding English, have a leather neck-strap or a rolled leather handle that attaches to the D-rings at the front of the saddle for the kid to hold onto if she feels nervous.

4. Assist the child in mounting up before entering the lunging ring (round pen) and show her how to hold her reins. Instruction for these small riders is always a very hands-on process, as you'll need to keep physical control of the horse while also being ready to stabilize a small child whose legs are not long enough to hug onto the horse's sides. In addition, kids of this age will rarely tune in to complex verbal instructions, as they are concentrated entirely on holding on and not falling. The physical experience of being on a horse can be confusing and certainly unfamiliar to them. It is much easier to walk alongside the rider and physically help her move her limbs and adjust her weight until she is used to adjusting her position so it "feels right". You will find you make much more progress with children if you are ready to look a bit ridiculous and "show" the student what you mean rather than trying to explain it to them. Verbal instructions should be very direct and brief when you give them.

5. 
   Ponies are not Always the Best Choice for Children

   Keep your lunge line clipped to the horse's halter at all times - you can tighten or loosen your hold as necessary. Remember that the aim of these first lessons is to familiarize the student with the horse's movements and let them learn how the horse reacts to their movements and noises. Staying balanced in the saddle, beginning to understand how to communicate with the horse and staying calm and cautious in the horse area are the most important lessons to convey to a child. Kids will usually want to go faster or try something more exciting, but learning to walk safely and effectively presents enough of a challenge for a beginner. Learning to properly steer, stop and start the horse's motion will take several lessons, and all can be practiced in the controlled space of the round pen. There are also important exercises kids can practice in the saddle to gain the strength and balance required to ride at higher levels. Only progress students when you feel sure they are ready.

Tips & Warnings

• While many people assume that a small child should be matched with a correspondingly small pony, I find that this is rarely a good idea. Because of their size, ponies are very dynamic and their turns are sharp and sometimes unpredictable. They also have a strange propensity (somewhat like miniature dogs, I suppose) towards being more naturally nervous, anxious, excitable or easily spooked. Mostly, I find that the best choice for smaller riders are gentle giants - calmer and usually older, less excitable horses that are used to following your commands in the lunge ring. This type of horse is usually aware of his rider's inexperience and will take care to compensate for her safety.
• Horseback riding is an inherently dangerous activity and the nature of the animals makes them unpredictable, even for the most seasoned professional. This activity is undertaken at the rider's own risk, and should only be attempted while wearing adequate safety gear and under the supervision of an experienced instructor.

[janearmour]

on 11/7/2008 What a great article. Thank you.

There is so little written to help non-horse parents understand the importance of a safe introduction to the wonderful world of horses and ponies.

I have just published a book called Horseonship which is about the emotional value of riding for children. It covers the core values that children and teenagers can get from positive interaction with horses. This book can be purchased through various tack shops or from www.buybooksontheweb or www.amazon.com

More details are on my web site www.janearmour.com

[grouch]

on 1/5/2008 Children riding horses can be scarry for both the horse and the child. With your step by step you have all your bases well covered.