Question re Lessons for young children

Z

zip

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 November 2007
Messages
93
Location
leicestershire
Visit site
Hi, my daughter has just started riding lessons (she is five). I was shocked that they got her trotting on her first lesson last week. I would have thought they would do the basics like teaching how to stop, urn right, left etc. Bit of around the world/ half sissors etc etc. (do instructors still do that at the end of the lessons?)

Anyway, I gave them the beneifit of the doubt as its a very good school in leicestershire that has been recommended. Back yesterday mng and she spent most of her lesson trying to do the rising trot. She can hardly hold the reins properly....

Is this what I should expect? I learnt to ride over twenty years ago!!!! Or should I try another school?

Thanks for reading...
Nina
 
Have a word with the instructor and explain you'd like things to move a little slower so she can gain confidence and learn the very basics properly before she moves onto trot. If they aren't willing to do this then go elsewhere and make sure they know why you're going.
 
Wow quick response, thanks. Yes maybe I should speak to her. More inclined to try another school at the moment. Its put me off, but people rave about this school. Anyone got any recommendations for other schools in leicestershire?
 
I'd say leave the riding school to it.
The trouble with 5yr olds is that they are not ready to 'learn' for long - and you can't do straight teaching with them. You have to sneak it into 'fun' things (preferably on mini-hacks round the duck pond where they want to steer to see the ducklings etc).
And if you teach children what trotting is like in the first lesson (and tell them not to giggle) then they love it and don't get a fright should the pony jog a bit unexpectedly later on.
Your riding school sounds fine - try not to be a pushy (Pony Club :p) mum.
S :D
 
Ha ha yes I will try not to be a pushy mom!!! I don't think I will speak to the intructor, I was just gng on what I was taught.

Yes Kaylum it was a group lesson so of course there are other children a little bit more advanced. Some were cantering, I thought the intructor wasnt teaching them to keep their hands down (some looked like they were conducting an orchestra!!) I don't know, Im no expert but back to basics i say. Altho I am also inclined to agree with Shils and that they would get a bit bored plodding around. Its just the way i was taught, hands down, no kicking, etc etc
 
i have exactally the same at the riding school my 7 yr old goes to, shes even had a go at cantering, yet still struggles to steer properly- i assumed ( like it was when i learnt to ride) that she would learn the basics ie turning, stopping, moving off, general control etc in walk before moving on to the next pace! i find it very hard to not be a "horsey mum" at the gate!!! i just keep telling myself these are qualified instructors who have taught lots of children to ride and wont do anything to deliberatly harm either pony or child!
 
I think it might be (as someone suggested) to keep the lesson interesting - I would guess it could be a bit hard going for a five year old otherwise. If there are others in the lesson doing a lot more as well, might she have felt a bit 'left out' if they were cantering around etc and she was just sitting there?

If it has a good local reputation, I would give it a few goes before you decide you don't like it. At our place, the instructor seems to tailor it to the particular child, from what I've seen - more confident the child, the more she 'moves on' with them. Maybe they thought she was doing fine and could move on a little?
 
I find it hard to watch my kids being taught to ride, they are 5 and 6. I often want to but in and say put your hands down, sit up etc. etc. But know I have to leave them to it so I don't say anything. I panic that they are pushing things to fast as they still seem so small to be on the bigger ponies it freaks me out. Often the more bulshy (sp) ponies pull the reins out there hands and I can just see the confidence dropping. But at the end of the day I have to leave the instructor to it. Also watching them start to jump is heartstopping!!! Personally I don';t think they have enough balance yet or confidence, their two point position is positively shocking!! They are all way to forward and would be straight over the shoulder should the pony stop. However saying this they are only ground poles that the ponies jump. However my youngest did fall off jumping a ground pole last week, which was such a shame as she did a little jump cantered off went back to trot, but then pony did sudden duck to the side and off she came. At which point I wanted to run to her but knew it would just make it worse, the instructor knew what she was doing and had her back up and riding again.
 
From everyone elses posts it seems that its the norm then, I guess its hard to get a group lesson when every child is at the same level. Im gng t0 try another school next week. OMG jumping ?? Don't think I could watch when she gets to that level Eeek
 
I teach young beginners all the time (not quite that young these days, as the yard I'm on it makes a good deal of difference to our insurance if we don't take them at 5), and yes I will take a wobbly beginner for a giggly trot very early on - as somebody else said you don't want their first trot to happen by accident and if you make trot such a big event that it takes weeks to build up to it, it's more likely to become a frightening thing.

If you wanted to see a group of young children all riding perfectly, you wouldn't be watching a beginner's lesson ;) Yes there will be hands all over the place, wobbly moments etc - but that's all part of the learning curve and that's what they are on lovely quiet ponies to learn about. Come back and see the same group in a few months, before thinking they're being taught 'wrongly'. And if you watch the beginner group for a few weeks you'll see them working stirrups and reins, perfecting rising trot, working on steering etc. And mine all go over poles etc before they learn to canter - if you can't keep your balance and rhythm as pony adjusts itself over poles, you're heading for a fall in canter. I do disagree with kids plopping off all the time in lessons because they're being pushed too far, and in my lessons that doesn't happen, my falls are very rare (considering I teach daily I have a splat once every few months) and are generally the more experience riders, or indeed myself! :D

People are paying far more for a lesson these days than when a lot of people who are now parents learnt, and riding clients and parents have become 'consumers' - you conduct an entire lesson in walk for a confident child who wants to try more, and watch parent winge that they haven't got their moneysworth. I have the best relationships with the parents who talk to me about what's going on in the lesson, their opinions etc - so why not try this with the instructor? Or watch the next couple of ability groups up if you can, to see if what they're doing works?
 
much-jittering said:
I teach young beginners all the time (not quite that young these days, as the yard I'm on it makes a good deal of difference to our insurance if we don't take them at 5), and yes I will take a wobbly beginner for a giggly trot very early on - as somebody else said you don't want their first trot to happen by accident and if you make trot such a big event that it takes weeks to build up to it, it's more likely to become a frightening thing.

If you wanted to see a group of young children all riding perfectly, you wouldn't be watching a beginner's lesson ;) Yes there will be hands all over the place, wobbly moments etc - but that's all part of the learning curve and that's what they are on lovely quiet ponies to learn about. Come back and see the same group in a few months, before thinking they're being taught 'wrongly'. And if you watch the beginner group for a few weeks you'll see them working stirrups and reins, perfecting rising trot, working on steering etc. And mine all go over poles etc before they learn to canter - if you can't keep your balance and rhythm as pony adjusts itself over poles, you're heading for a fall in canter. I do disagree with kids plopping off all the time in lessons because they're being pushed too far, and in my lessons that doesn't happen, my falls are very rare (considering I teach daily I have a splat once every few months) and are generally the more experience riders, or indeed myself! :D

People are paying far more for a lesson these days than when a lot of people who are now parents learnt, and riding clients and parents have become 'consumers' - you conduct an entire lesson in walk for a confident child who wants to try more, and watch parent winge that they haven't got their moneysworth. I have the best relationships with the parents who talk to me about what's going on in the lesson, their opinions etc - so why not try this with the instructor? Or watch the next couple of ability groups up if you can, to see if what they're doing works?
Click to expand...

Agree with this 100%, have a chat with the instructor as they see this all the time, could even try a private lesson just to get the very basics going so she can keep up a little more with the rest of the group.
 
Much jittering, thanks, I was hoping an instructor would reply. I was just concerned that she was already trying to master the rising trot before being taught how to stop etc. Is this the norm then? First lesson already trying to trot? Some of the other littlies are cantering on lead rein, the girl runs alongside and holds the riders leg to the saddle. ??

And yes you are right, it is a beginners class so you wouldnt see perfect riding. I would just expect the intructor to try and get the child to keep her hands down.

Maybe I should put her on the pony and go into the canteen for a coffee next time, then I can't watch!!
 
Shilasdair said:
I'd say leave the riding school to it.
The trouble with 5yr olds is that they are not ready to 'learn' for long - and you can't do straight teaching with them. You have to sneak it into 'fun' things (preferably on mini-hacks round the duck pond where they want to steer to see the ducklings etc).
And if you teach children what trotting is like in the first lesson (and tell them not to giggle) then they love it and don't get a fright should the pony jog a bit unexpectedly later on.
Your riding school sounds fine - try not to be a pushy (Pony Club :p) mum.
S :D
Click to expand...

I so agree with this - my daughter and i had lessons together and whikst i loved my instructor who took things very slowly and made us do the really boring stuff for ages my daughter got to bored she wanted to give up!
Our current instructor is brilliant and splits the lesson so she does the "serious stuff" but they always have a bit of fun too - ok so probably she shouldnt haqve been cantering before shed mastered steering properly etc but on the lunge it was no problem and now my daughter loves her lessons again
 
ps - i also now disapear when my daughter has her lessons - i just coudnt help butting in and giving my comments - hated myself so now i just keep away!
 
zip said:
Some of the other littlies are cantering on lead rein, the girl runs alongside and holds the riders leg to the saddle. ??
Click to expand...

That does sound a bit much. I used to teach lead rein classes and ours were never taught to canter until they were trotting confidently and independently. I'm not sure what holding the child onto the saddle achieves?

We used to do lots of pony assault courses to teach them steering and stopping, the kids loved it.
 
zip said:
Is this the norm then? First lesson already trying to trot? Some of the other littlies are cantering on lead rein, the girl runs alongside and holds the riders leg to the saddle. ??
Click to expand...

To be honest, if the rider is confident and having fun - yes. You send a rider off with a leader to have a feel of the trot for a very short burst, leader may well hold leg too. You tell rider not to get the giggles. Rider goes for a bounce, gets giggles, big grin, any trot demons are dealt with instantly. Make it an event and you're far more likely to have a rider petrified to try it. I had a girl for first ever lesson yesterday and she had 3 trots, one little bounce from one letter to the next to get the initial feel/giggle out the way, then 2 when she was rising in walk and then quietly snuck into trot. She's coming back next week having loved it. The first minute she was on the pony she said it was freaky when it walked. If she'd waited weeks before feeling trot, I think she's one who would have paniced.

Mine don't go cantering till they have a balanced seat sitting trot without stirrups, and a good rising trot with their hands on their hips rather than using saddle or reins for balance. But then yes, first canters I will hold a leg.

Eta - do so becuase if rider instrinctively 'grips up' when the pace changes, they will make their position insecure and frighten themselves. Holding the leg means one side at least that's not going to happen, giving to a chance to teach to sit up and back into the canter etc. All my riders I've taught canter by holding their legs don't still need it or anything, I'm not hurtling round the arena holding onto my 14 year olds between their big jumps ;)
 
Last edited:
Every parents wants different things! With small children you need to keep it fun and I would rather they learned nothing and ended the lesson in a fit of giggles with a big smile then a bored child riding correctly. Walking around holding the reins correctly is fine when your 25 but not so much fun when you're five!

Also, please don't be a pushy parent! If I'm teaching the lesson I shall plan what we do and tell the child what we're doing (apparently it's fine to shout tips though the fence, I do hope these parents don't do the same when the child is at school!) and no I do not mind if your small child is still holding onto the saddle in their second ever lead rein lesson :D
 
Thanks so much for everyones posts, really very helpful especially much-jittering. Gng to leave her to it and walk away from the lesson!!!! I have just asked my daughter if she likes trotting and she says she loves it, so there!!!

Zip!
 
I too will allow tiny tots to have a jog trot if they are confident enough to do so BUT I WILL NOT teach a rising trot until the beginner can do a good sitting trot.

All the emphasis on teaching today seems to be in getting the rider to sit straight, jam their legs into the correct position but there seems to be nothing done to teach a deep secure seat.
Once a person has learned to trot rise they are reticent to learn how to do a sitting trot.
 
Foxhunter49 said:
I too will allow tiny tots to have a jog trot if they are confident enough to do so BUT I WILL NOT teach a rising trot until the beginner can do a good sitting trot.

All the emphasis on teaching today seems to be in getting the rider to sit straight, jam their legs into the correct position but there seems to be nothing done to teach a deep secure seat.
Once a person has learned to trot rise they are reticent to learn how to do a sitting trot.
Click to expand...

That's interesting, that would be how I would teach an adult, sitting trot, get the feel and then onto rising but with the tiny tots I prefer to get them rising as soon as possible.

How do you go about teaching a good sitting trot in a tiny tot? Do you allow then to hold the saddle/reins? Sorry, always eager to learn others techniques :D
 
Dizzle said:
That's interesting, that would be how I would teach an adult, sitting trot, get the feel and then onto rising but with the tiny tots I prefer to get them rising as soon as possible.

How do you go about teaching a good sitting trot in a tiny tot? Do you allow then to hold the saddle/reins? Sorry, always eager to learn others techniques :D
Click to expand...

Actually, it's really difficult to teach a good sitting or rising trot to a child on a small pony (Sheltie or Welshies) because of the speed and joltiness of the trot.
I actually found it easier to 'overhorse' them onto something way too large for them, but which I knew to have a kind nature and a smooth trot, and teach them on that.
S :D

(riding instructor too :D)
 
I took my 5 year old out of lessons at a riding school for that very reason - getting them to trot way too soon. She was in tears most lessons, really uncomfortable and not understand what she was supposed to do - and this was at a very reputable stables. I too was shocked at how they were just expected to go from nothing to trot in the first lesson.

Instead a friend who is a qualified AI now teaches her at home on her own pony. She's much happier and also gets to do all the fun things like round the world, scissors etc and is over the moon when she does trot. I realise we're very fortunate to have this option but I think if she went back to lessons at a riding school it would be when she's a bit older and able to say she doesn't understand what to do...
 
With children, it's very hard. Lots of parents would be unhappy if they paid XY for a lesson, and all that child did was stop, steer and walk. They're basics and the majority of children master them pretty quickly. Children are also easily distracted, and so the lessons have to be up paced and enjoyable.
 
if the instructors bores the kids whit less on just holding the reins at a walk, they will soon tell you that they do not want to go back, my kids were very critical of any riding lesson/instructor that they found dull, not that they have had a lot of lessons. Getting seat and balance, more important than holding the reins in any case. Drilling kids makes them overthink, they get very stiff and wooden, then are not nice natural riders with feel, timing and balance, so chill out, let them enjoy themselves.

Having said that, if the child is afraid like foxy girl posted, and all the child is comfortable with is walking, then walking it is. It is about confidence and fun.
 
Last edited:
I remember mine were taught very slowly, they were taught how to get the horse to walk and then to stop it! With and without stirrups. A big emphasis on balance. It really depends on the child and most of the little ones were led when they were trotted by one of the helpers. No one trotted off a lead rein unless they could do it(rising on a lead rein first). Also I remember an instructor saying a lot of the time the children have to understand what is being asked of them.

I think if their are children cantering in the same lesson that would be worrying for a complete beginner.

In fact most of the lessons my kids had were without stirrups. The instructors were balanced obsessed but it worked.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top