11
May
Many instructorsriding schools set an age limit that is somewhat arbitrary and dependent on their comfort level and on the horses they have in their school. All this can help you to start as equestrian much easier than for some younger folks.
However riding a horse can be dangerous even with the gentlest smallest horse in the stable.
What age should you start horseback riding. So what age should children start horseback riding. Formal English riding lesson programs typically start children at age 6 or 7. This is an age where children can follow instruction can control their own body movements well enough to be able to implement signals to a pony and when their legs have grown long enough to reach down the side of a horse.
According to a sports psychologist Jenny Killilea the right age for children to begin their horse riding lessons depends on what kind of personality the child has how adept the parents are in teaching and in overall riding and the purpose for their teaching their child to ride. Many instructorsriding schools set an age limit that is somewhat arbitrary and dependent on their comfort level and on the horses they have in their school. Its commonly around 9-years-old.
Other children start horseback riding at an age when they start begging and eventually convince their parents they can take care of a horse. A horse can be an excellent way to teach responsibility especially if the love for horsemanship is there. But do not rely on the child to be wholly responsible.
Horses require daily care and vet bills can be expensive. Until your child can. What I have noticed is that most horseback riding lesson programs require the students to be on average 6 or 7 years old to start taking riding lessons.
However more recently I have noticed programs for younger children as young as 3 years. When you turn 50 years old 60 years old 70 years old or older the chances are that you probably have good mental stability self control self-management and ability to listen attentively to your instructor. All this can help you to start as equestrian much easier than for some younger folks.
A 3-year-old can sit on a horse in movement but will rarely be able to ride independently. At this age neither their skeleton balance muscle coordination nor their attention spans are fully developed and these are all important elements of horseback riding. At this age shorter pony rides on a lead or lunge are usually the best option.
Do you have the right horse or pony. Youll want their first riding experience to be positive. That begins with finding a quiet well-mannered horse or pony.
He should be able to handle the mistakes of a beginner and be completely trustworthy. When started at a young age your child can develop a strong passion for an exciting sport. They will create lasting friendships with other children and their horses.
The equestrian establishment does not have official guidelines on when children can learn to ride. The Pony Club states that approximately the age of six is. In my experience horses who are 3 or 4 years old are at the prime age to start ridingtheyre old enough to mentally and physically handle the work but theyre usually not yet strong enough to resist horribly and they havent become too set in their ways to learn.
But it can be done when theyre younger or older if you do it progressively. The average age a horse fully matures both mentally and physically is 4-5 years. Although you can start a horse under saddle before 4 or 5 years of age its important to remember they are still developing at that age and therefore your training regimen must not be too severe for their developing bodies to handle.
If you wait to start your child in lessons until they are six or seven they will most likely have the physical ability and mental ability to follow instructions well enough to start off riding independently. Also when you are starting them a little older group lessons are an option. A lot of kids like the social aspect of riding so it appeals to them more if they can ride with other kids.
If you wait until they are. On average its safe to introduce a horse to a rider at the age of four. Thats not to say equipment and ground work shouldnt be done younger.
In fact its advisable to give your horse a solid foundation before even thinking about adding a rider. Your horses workload can increase at the age of five. And at six theyre even more capable of meeting harder demands.
As someone who has been in the horse world a long time Ive met new riders of all different ages. Some started riding in their late teens late twenties or even in their 50s 60s or 70s. While you may not hear about them as often there are new riders of all ages starting their equestrian journeys every day.
Every rider begins with the basics. This really depends on the health and fitness of the horse as well as the type of riding youre doing. The old faithful mare that my daughters learned to ride on was so old that even the Vet couldnt figure out how old she was and yet if you jus.
The age at which your child starts riding can vary depending on the childs size and maturity. Generally however most instructors require children to be at least seven years old before accepting them into a lesson program. Some horse riding exercises can also help you perform better once you start horseback riding.
Mount and dismount the right way. Horses are sensitive animals that can feel if you are nervous or not. Before you even greet your horse make sure to relax.
Mount your horse from the left side and make sure to do this with confidence. When it is time to dismount make sure your horse is calm and. Horse training and riding what age to start riding horses at Cherry Hills Horse Information Roundup - a collection of horse articles and tips on ground training mounted training English and Western riding arena exercises horse health care hoof care buying and selling horses horse grooming showing horses horse barns and horse facility design and management.
Not all children are ready for riding lessons at the same age. Horseback riding lessons benefit children in many ways. They build confidence strength coordination and focus.
However riding a horse can be dangerous even with the gentlest smallest horse in the stable.