Post by horseguy on Sept 12, 2016 14:09:35 GMT
My farm website is still up for a while and I get inquires. I received an inquiry for lessons for a 3 year old girl and replied -
I have been teaching riding for 40 years. I have now retired. My website is still up for a while.
The most helpful advice I can give you is 3 years old is too young to begin riding lessons. Unlike other sports, riding involves another being with will. A child of 3 does not yet have the necessary development required to truly learn to ride with a horse, and we do want them to ride with not on the horse. Typically, the most benefit from lesson comes around 6 years old. Sometimes 5 year olds can benefit.
In the meantime the best thing you can do to prepare your daughter for riding is to take her to places like the Land of Little Horses www.landoflittlehorses.com in order to become familiar with equines. Do some pony rides and enjoy her early years. The best physical preparation is gymnastics and ballet, which teach body awareness and precision of movement.
Equines are not at all like canines or felines. They have their own psychology and impulses. Given the horse's size, it can be dangerous to introduce small children to them until they can appreciate the inherent dangers. For example, horses cannot always see their feet and will move them for their comfort. If your daughter's foot were to be where a horse put their foot, all the bones in her feet could be accidently broken. These kinds of accidents are too common in young kids and they happen so quickly that it's over before you know it.
Good luck,
I have been teaching riding for 40 years. I have now retired. My website is still up for a while.
The most helpful advice I can give you is 3 years old is too young to begin riding lessons. Unlike other sports, riding involves another being with will. A child of 3 does not yet have the necessary development required to truly learn to ride with a horse, and we do want them to ride with not on the horse. Typically, the most benefit from lesson comes around 6 years old. Sometimes 5 year olds can benefit.
In the meantime the best thing you can do to prepare your daughter for riding is to take her to places like the Land of Little Horses www.landoflittlehorses.com in order to become familiar with equines. Do some pony rides and enjoy her early years. The best physical preparation is gymnastics and ballet, which teach body awareness and precision of movement.
Equines are not at all like canines or felines. They have their own psychology and impulses. Given the horse's size, it can be dangerous to introduce small children to them until they can appreciate the inherent dangers. For example, horses cannot always see their feet and will move them for their comfort. If your daughter's foot were to be where a horse put their foot, all the bones in her feet could be accidently broken. These kinds of accidents are too common in young kids and they happen so quickly that it's over before you know it.
Good luck,
