As spring moves in and weather allows for outdoor activities again, most horseback riding stables see an uptick in children wanting to take lessons. The school year is drawing to an end and parents begin looking for summer programs and camps to entertain their kids, and the allure of horses takes over many elementary-aged children. One of the most common questions we receive from parents around this time is whether their children are ready to begin riding lessons or still need to be limited to a simple pony ride.
Age is, of course, the biggest determining factor of readiness. While most instructors of any sport and activity would prefer that their students know their left from their right, we are very practiced in calling out to “use your other left hand!” I recommend beginning riding lessons when a child is five to six years old. Formal education in kindergarten has either begun or is very much anticipated, so the idea of being a student and the roles and responsibilities of such have been introduced by teachers and parents. As horseback riding inherently requires the rider to give and receive directions, I usually ask parents if their child has entered the independent phase of “I can do it!” Once those words are spoken most children are ready to become the pilot rather than the passenger, and the time for lessons has come.
One of the most important and helpful things a parent can do once lessons begin is step back and become part of the audience. Of course moms and dads want to witness, and at times document, every moment that their new rider is experiencing, but oftentimes their presence can unintentionally become detrimental and intrusive. Most riding stables do not have specific viewing areas like bleachers or seats, which can leave parents standing in barn aisles dodging horses, riders, and staff, all the while distracting their rider and instructor from the task at hand. Find a spot just outside of the arena to watch and support your rider; that distance will grant them independence and the ability to focus. Many of the lessons children will learn in their first year of horseback riding occur out of the saddle and in the barn. Fingers become more nimble as they learn various types of buckling; arms, legs, and backs gain strength as they realize they can lift a pony’s leg; confidence grows as they become comfortable leading a thousand-pound animal.
Quality programs teach horsemanship hand-in-hand with saddle time and encourage riders to learn and yearn for a complete knowledge of the sport, not just how to sit in a saddle. The desire to experience and take responsibility for the horse, the equipment, and oneself can carry over to everyday life for young children as they begin learning compassion, accountability, and self-respect.
Visit our website at thestablesatfrederica.com or contact us at The Stables at Frederica by calling 912.434.4760, if you’re interested in horseback lessons for your child. We’d love to get them started in developing their equestrian experience.
By: Allie Zorn, Owner and Operator, The Stables at Frederica
