Conference noted::equitation

    I'd say most children are ready to begin lessons at 5, though I've
    seen children in lead line classes at horse shows as young as 3.

    My daughter just turned 6 and has been taking weeekly riding lessons
    since the summer.  She's about 45" inches tall and is comfortable
    riding ponies approximately 14 hands.

    Her instructor is based in Hollis, NH, so that probably wouldn't
    be convenient for you.

When I was teaching, the farm I worked at didn't accept students before age 7. 
Our experience was that before that age, children don't have the concentration
needed to focus their attention for extended periods of time. When you are
riding, you must be paying attention to your pony and surroundings 100% of the
time. Furthermore, children are "pre-logical, magical thinkers" before that age
-- their thought processes change dramatically around age 7.  It's a lot of
responsibility to control and take care of an animal.  

Another consideration is natural athleticism. My experience with large kids is
that they can take longer to develop good coordination and the muscle tone
needed to control long limbs (not unlike a large horse).  I remember one student
-- an 8-9 year old boy -- who was large for his age and very uncoordinated.  I
ultimately advised his mother to postpone his lessons for a couple years.  She
dreamed of their going on hacks together and he was trying very hard to please
her, but it was just too frustrating for him.

Nowadays, I see classes of what appear to be very young children (money talks, I
guess). Personally, I find that *very* risky.  The most bombproof pony can get
startled and make a sudden move.

The only exception I personally would feel comfortable with for a very young
child (if it my student or my child) would be short (1/2 hour tops) private
lessons on a leadline or lungeline.

A 3-year old in a leadline class isn't the same thing as a child riding on his
or her own.  An adult is controlling the horse or pony and "spotting" the child
(remember "spotting" from gymnastics?), and the child is literally a passenger,
not riding.

    
    	As Mary says, any lessons with a young child should be in a
    	highly controlled situation. No need to scare them right in
    	the beginning! :) 
    
    	Our farm has 2 ancient ponies that have brought countless
    	little ones into the world of riding. These ponies stop dead	
    	in their tracks if the child bobbles just a little bit, in
    	my opinion they are completely trustworthy. We have kids starting
    	at 5 [rarely] and 6 [more common] all the time. Just because
    	they're lessoning doesn't necessarily mean they will be showing,
    	sometimes it's just a special treat, or something they will do
    	as an 'extraciriccular activity' for a few years. I think it
    	teaches them balance, to think ahead, and care for the horse,
    	among countless other things.
    
    	If you have a school in mind, plan to go watch a lesson first to
    	make sure you approve of the situation as well as the instructor.
    
    	my .02...
    
    	Sherry
                                                                       

Re .2

You raise some very good points.  I would have to agree that Michelle 
is less coordinated than her shorter friends.  And I agree that 6-yr-olds
have a completely different way of thinking than we do.  

However - one of Michelle's strengths is her determination.  When she sets 
her mind to something, she will work at it until she achieves her goal. And
in her 5 short years I have never seen her want something as much as she 
wants to ride a horse by herself.

I like the idea of a half hour private lesson.

I think I like the idea of a lesson on a lead-line.  Can you tell me a bit
more.  Will she be able to learn how to ride and control the horse herself?
Or will she just learn balance?

I guess what I would find ideal is a conservative instructor who would
begin lessons on a lead-line, and let me know when she felt my daughter
was mature enough and skilled enough to control the horse independently.
I also think I need an instructor who has experience working with and
enjoys working with young children because - as you noted - children really
do think differently than we do.  I want this to be as enjoyable as my
daughter expects.

Also - cost is a factor.  Is it reasonable to take lessons every other
week?  Or will the child forget everything they learned by the time the next
lesson rolls around?

On a leadline and then a lungeline, she will be able to learn balance and
position before trying to also learn control.  It helps break up the learning
into component parts, so you aren't trying to do too many things at once.  Even
at the Spanish Riding School they require students to start out on the lunge.

It would provide the foundation in a safe and structured way for ultimately
riding on her own.

I would recommend weekly lessons at least.  Not only body memory, but muscle
stretching, gets lost over time.

...most children, however determined they are, just don't have the attention span.
It's been my experience that these children do benefit from just being around the
barn.  They love to learn how to do as many different things as possible.  The
8 year old daughter of a friend loves to come to my barn and just BE there.  She
thinks its terrific to pick out a hoof, lead a horse into a stall, brush one of
her friends.  And these kinds of things can only help a child who plans to be
a rider.  

gwen

As the father of the 6 year old currently taking riding lessons, I concur
with the excellent advice in this string. In my haste to reply in .1, I
neglected to mention a few things...

    One of our primary concerns in selecting an instructor was, of course, 
    safety.  This instructor accepts young children only for short, private
    lessons. An approved equestian helmut and boots with a real heel are
    required. In addition to being an accomplished rider herself, the 
    instructor happens to be a working registered nurse.

    My daughter is taking private 1/2 hour lessons and she rarely rides
    much longer than 20 minutes. She spends the rest of the time (and then 
    some) grooming the pony after riding. In fact, I think grooming is her
    favorite part.

    Her first lessons were on a lead line and shortly later on lunge line.  
    She was on the lunge line when trotting for at least the first 4 to 5 
    months. When she did come off the lunge line (in a fenced ring), the
    instructor ran alongside spotting her. On a few short "trail" rides
    I got the job of spotting while the instructor lead the pony.

In addition to the safety issues, I believe one of the keys to younger
children enjoying riding lessons is flexibility. Many six year olds
are ready and can benefit from riding lessons IF they're not pushed
beyond their abilities or attention spans.

    
    
    Although I'm usually a read only of this conference, I felt this was
    a note in which I could add some input from expereince.
    
    My daughter has been taking riding lessons since she was approximately
    4 1/2 years old.  The barn which she started at had the great
    experience with children and in talking with them, they felt that 
    they wanted to start with a half hour lesson to see if she could 
    hold her attention for that long or longer.  I think the important
    point I'm trying to make is, it is important for the barn/instructor
    to have experience with young children, and to realize each is
    different and that they are willing to work with the individual child.
    
    Please do take your time and go to a couple of lessons being given
    at the barn your interested in. It's difficult sometimes to get a 
    good idea of the instructor, etc., by one lesson.  It has taken
    me 7 months of observing at different barns to finally find one
    that's agreeable for us.
    
    Some of the things I look for is:
    	
    	- Saftey in the Ring:  How many riders are in the ring?  Are
    they all in the lesson, or are some just riding? 
    
    	- How does the instructor interact with the children, is her/his
    voice well heard through the ring.
    
    	- Do they concentraite on the basics, like feet position, seat
    position, having the children look where they want to go..etc.
    
    Again, it's important that you check out a few lessons, and make
    sure those lessons are at the same level your daughter is...
    
    Just my 2 cents (-:
    
    Candy