Best way to get young children riding?

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UKa

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Hi, those of you with children, what would you say is the best way to get them riding? Do you get them to sit on ponies on the lead rein at your yards or friends' or would you send them off to local pony riding school for lessons instead to get used to it? I would like both my boys (nearly 6 and nearly 4) to do a little more "riding" this summer but my TB mare is not really ideal as far too tall and not that reliable plus they will never be able to sit to her trot; although they have been sitting on her a few times. I can probably get to use a pony at the yard every now and then for the lead rein. Or would they have more fun going into a lesson with other children every now and then? What are you doing or have you done? I did not have horsey parents and never had the option of mum taking me around on her horse.
 
Its taken me years to get my boy into riding and only when i stopped trying to force him that he became interested and pottered around on my anglo but was in the same posistion as you with yours so ive just bought him a little sec A so he can do shows and go beach etc as the price of lessons and the bore of riding schools didnt appeal! So could you not buy or loan one? You can do more fun things with them then to keep them interested
 
Ask them what they think and if they seem like they'll enjoy it take them to a highly recommended local riding school for a few lessons first few privates and then groups maybe. They get to spend time with children their age and get to ride as well. After some lessons if they still seem interested maybe loan/buy a pony.
 
I took mine to a good local riding school to see how she liked it as I didn't have anything suitable for her to try, tho she'd been on a donkey before and loved it. She enjoyed it and in the meantime a friend's sec a stayed with us over the summer so she got to do a bit of hacking regularly over the summer on him...decided to start looking for something for her and found our fab sec a...she still has lessons in blocks interspersed with riding her own...the lessons are good becuase not only does she get good quality instruction instead of picking up my crap habits, she gets the company of other kids which she enjoys and gets new things to try out on ponio at home :)
 
Basically, baling twine and duck tape is the best way of getting them on a horse. And keeping them there.
 
tallyho! said:
Basically, baling twine and duck tape is the best way of getting them on a horse. And keeping them there.
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Hahaha, good one! :-)

Well, husband says I can get them a pony if I sell mine, heehee, so not an option at the moment. Even loaning still means paying for their stable/ grazing, vets etc etc...

Looks like a mix of both worlds, lessons and pottering around, has worked for some of you. Well, looks as if we may get to use a pony this weekend so I see what they think then.

On the other hand I could also just leave it be, let them get into football or something and keep my hobby to myself I suppose ..
 
I'm with you - trying desperately not to force my daughter to ride. We have a great pony that I got as a companion to my horse. Not backed yet and debating whether to bother as daughter shows very little interest, but he's such a gorgeous little chap and has beautiful paces. Might just have to slim down and ride him myself - he's on 13'!!:)
 
I made the mistake of buying my 4 year old a shettie x. She dumped her in stinging nettles within a week and she didnt want to ride anymore. A couple of years later I said I was selling the pony as she was wasted and my son then said he would like to try. He was 9 then and loves riding, we are just buying a horse for him to move onto from his pony (he is 16 now). My daughter realised that she was missing out when she was about 9 and now has three of her own and rides at least two a day. she is 14 now so long may it last!!!
I have traipsed all over the countryside and done all PC activities as requested and I think the broad spectrum has helped and the fun side of the pony club and the friends they have made has all helped.
 
You definitely cant push them. I sat my lo up On a pony at 3.5 yrs old, I at this stage i was on a long break from riding. we never looked back, I put zero pressure on her but since that day she has been riding and recently got a new pony. Would post vid but don't want to hijack thread. Actually looking at my lo riding gave me the kick I needed to get back in the saddle myself!
 
Good luck with this one - no right or wrong answer really.....
I have 4 kids - all 4 rode, 2 quite seriously, 1 to have fun, and one that when he did not think it fun at all - took to any sport as long as it did not involve anything with 4 legs!
Numbers 1 & 2 I stuck on anything I happened to have around, and sent them off for some lessons as well - the daughter stuck with it from 3 years to 17 years. At 11/ 12 she found her dream pony (though he was still a nightmare) but learnt masses - got into pony racing for a while, and became an accomplished rider. She hardly rides at all now,due to wanting to concentrate on A levels / University / work / travelling (aged 21, but she can still get on most fizzy TB's and take them competantly around a XC course, SJ or hunting) Number 2 child had a shetland for a few years aged 4-5. Gave up until he was 9 years - decided to take it up again, I bought him one unsuitable pony after another, including one that was a total nutcase - but he discovered hunting, then point-to-pointing and made that his living for a few years, and was quite good at it. Now milks cows - but still gets asked to ride out tricky horses and ride occasional work for racehorse trainers.
Number three - had some pretty dire ponies from 4-14 but loved his ponies and demonstrated a huge amount of resilience. He would also perch upon the racehorses from age 9, for their road work. For his 14th birthday I bought him a small TB - which he absolutely loved, because it was relatively straight forward and did not have horrible pony cunning tendancies i.e did not spend the whole ride wanting to dump him. He rides it / competes it when he feels like it, no pressure at all, and just enjoys the whole thing now. He did not do PC (but the two that did had so much fun, and made so many friendships, that (despite the pressures to acheive) I would always advocate.
Child number 4 - horrible pony - mother lacking enthusiasm because too many years spent dragging reluctant ponies around - so when he said enough was enough - I capitulated gratefully. Not sure what he is going to do for his Year 10 work experience though - as all of the others spent their time in the same racing yard - but we may look to the local football club! Not sure what the advice is here - but I suppose if they really want to ride, then they will, and if they don't they will not.
I came from a non horsey background and would do anything (within reason) to get on a horse / pony. My kids were bought up with horses / but as I was doing a bit of buying and selling at the time (especially when children 1 & 2 were young) they really had to take the rough with the smooth. My older children also did PC with a few contemporaries who also came from non-horsy families - and they were often the keenest and the bravest. It was interesting seeing children who had been found the perfect 1st and 2nd ponies struggling when it came to riding horses for the first time - whereas those kids who had previously experienced horrible ponies, taking to horses really well - but I do realise that I generalise here a bit. If I ever have grand-children, I will certainly be buying them a saint of a pony, and making sure that thier first experiences are wonderful! Apols for the essay - but an interesting subject!
 
maree t said:
A couple of years later I said I was selling the pony as she was wasted and my son then said he would like to try. He was 9 then and loves riding, we are just buying a horse for him to move onto from his pony (he is 16 now).
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sorry i have nothing helpful to add...i was sat on a pony aged 2 1/2 and never got off :D (so no...dont let them get into otherwise they will eventually want one each! try....snooker.... you win more money)

BUT i was just wondering..this post...^ im pretty sure in reading it wrong...your 16 year old son isnt still on the shetland is he :eek:
 
My 7yo son loved it at first (18mths ago), he had a potter on mine and now ex's ponies, and a few walks out on lead rein on a RS pony which we hired. Then he had his first lesson (on lunge) 1 to 1 which he loved, he was giggling loads :D Hired a couple of ponies and took him and his cousin out for an in hand walk just after. My sons mount got changed from the RS exmoor who he loved, to a wee sec A at the last minute, and whilst out walking she spooked and bucked. He sat it really well (instinct I think) but got upset afterwards, and has shown little interest since. Although saying that he did have a sit on Boyo on Sunday, but he was v nervous, and had completely lost his previously natural balance and seat :(

Perhaps some more RS lessons are in order for my wee man.
 
My little ladies are 6 and 4 - both have sat on my pony for a lead out. Elder daughter didn't enjoy it at all, younger one didn't want to get off :D. I'll see how they both go - I don't want them think they have to ride just because I do - they must really want to.

If either of them want to learn then I'll let them learn at a riding school with a view to either them have their own or they can ride mine :D
 
Don't let them - worked for me my parents finally got me a horse when I was 13 after years of telling me they weren't going to get me one. At 8 a friend and I found horses to ride and taught ourselves.
 
Don't let them - worked for me my parents finally got me a horse when I was 13 after years of telling me they weren't going to get me one. At 8 a friend and I found horses to ride and taught ourselves.
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^^^^^^ This!! FORBID them to ride then you will never hear the last of it!

Lucky Maccachic - I had to wait 30 years longer than you to get my first horse.
 
I have 6 (5 girls and a boy). Over the years I've had to bully, cajole and bribe them to ride, particularly in the early days, when I could often be seen dragging a crying child along the road on a long-suffering pony. ("I wanna go home; I don't want to tro-o-o-o-o-ot!)

We had good days and bad days, particularly since ponies were acquired on an 'free or cheap' basis. We don't have a school, so we do lots of on and off road hacking. The older girls were surprised to find hunting a bit like hacking with mum, and took to it much more easily than their friends from pony club with the 'perfect' schooling ponies. lol.

My son took a bit of convincing, right until aged 9, when he discovered riding out with his 7y old 'girlfriend', who he desperately wants to impress. He's very keen now!
 
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