Most reputable lesson barns require that children be around 6 or 7 years old before they start taking lessons because this is usually when they are physically and mentally ready to ride a quiet horse or pony. Even the calmest of horses and ponies can spook or bolt when startled. There’s really no such thing as a bombproof horse. Ponies may be cute, but they can also be naughty. A child should be coordinated enough to steer and stop a pony, and she has to be able to follow instructions from a trainer and quickly obey them before she’s put in any sort of dangerous situation. If your child is not old enough to catch, lead, tack up and ride a horse or pony by herself, you should probably wait until she’s older before you think about signing her up for lessons or buying her a mount. You’ll have plenty of time to ride together when she’s a bit older. Make the most of the time you do have and hold off on getting your child a horse until you know she’s ready. As a busy rider and parent, finding time to spend in the saddle is hard enough as it is with a young family. A tiny tot in jodhpurs competing in a leadline class at the local show may be adorable, but is a 4- or 5-year-old child ready for her own horse or riding lessons? Probably not.
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