Children And Horses

Thaworth · 10-08-07, 03:40 PM

Do you allow your children to ride your horse? One of my fondest memories as a kid was riding my parents horse. It is something I truly want to pass down to my kids.

QuarterHorses · 10-09-07, 10:32 PM

Yes, I allow my kid to ride horses. He can only ride certain horses and it is in a very controlled area. It is a big risk as a parent and I try to minimize that risk. Horses have there own ideas and can spook and throw my kid. My kid begs me to go out with the horses, so as a parent I want to encourage involvement with the horses.

cherokeemyluv · 10-10-07, 12:48 PM

I think it would depend on how my horse acted if I had one. Some horses are pretty much bomb-proof. They could babysit your kids if need be and are a much safer bet than the hot-headed stallion you also own for showing. But by taking appropriate precautions such as riding in an indoor ring, or even a ring not just the pasture, wearing safe clothing not shorts and open toed shoes, and a helmet most horses are reasonably safe to be ridden. You could also use a halter and leadline or lunge line instead of allowing your child control of the horse. If the really want reins attach some rope to the halter for them to hold. Like QH said, if you control the situation you are setting yourself up for a good ride and not a disaster.

Willow · 10-11-07, 06:23 AM

Over the years I have seen quite a bit of horses which act lots more cautios and careful, when kids are around them. As if they assume, that must be kind of foals or such sort of being

.
And another matter I have observed often: if children don't demand much, are less assertive than adults and the horse feels appreciation and closeness, horses are lots more willing to do certain things for the little rider, even if the kids don't have the strength yet it usually would take...am thinking of leg yielding or such.

SingleAgain · 10-11-07, 11:26 PM

Our horse is a very gentle animal; she seems very loving towards my daughter. As already mentioned, her demeanour calms when my child is around. My daughter has sat on her unsaddled back a few times so that she could hug her, but she has never yet been on her whilst moving.

**alexis** · 10-12-07, 02:11 PM

I think it would depend on my child's maturity level, the horse, and always having someone else around. I first rode when I was about 8 or so, and never alone until I was in mid teens.

SingleAgain · 10-12-07, 07:50 PM

I first rode at seven, and I was terrified. I had never seen a horse up close before that and I somehow slipped in the saddle. I was sliding sideways off the horse, and the handler leading it didn't notice till I screamed.

It took a long time after that for me to get over it. If anything I think younger would have been better, less traumatic.

QuarterHorses · 10-12-07, 11:57 PM

I don't know if I explained myself correctly. Parents have to accept that injury and death my happen. Of course injury and death can happen in your bathtub also. Last year a small girl was riding her horse in a parade and a horse behind her spooked and knocked her horse over killing her. It is something that a parent has to come to grips with that no matter what they do, their little one might get hurt or killed. I try to set up everything to reduce the risk, but...

SaddleSore · 10-13-07, 04:57 PM

You are right that there is risk in it, and that there is risk in everything we do. My child or I could get killed in a car accident, so I wear a selt belt and put her in a car seat to reduce the risk. She could drown in the bath, so I never leave her unattended. She could get burned on the stove, so I have a guard in place and never leave her alone when it is in use.

Nothing in our life is without risk. If we never did anything fun because of the risks, well life would be awfully boring. Do your best to keep your child safe, but let them share your love of horses.

hummingbird42256 · 11-05-07, 11:26 PM

My daughter loves horse .She rode one when she was very young and I have also loved horses.Guess it it an inherited thing.We lived in the city so not till we moved to the country when she was 6 could she own one. But we could not afford one till she was 11.We bought her a pony but by the time she was old enough to be broken my daughter was to big for her.She broke her anyway. There was a bond between her and the pony she was able to break it herself no problem. I think you should get one young and let them grow on each other.My daughter is now 16 and has broken her horse also.

ilovehorses · 11-14-07, 08:15 PM

I allow my child to ride the horses as well, I do however make sure that she is supervised at all times. She has always loved horses and she is impatiently waiting for my mare to give birth so that she can have a horse of her own.

gipsyking · 11-15-07, 08:18 PM

and she rides my horse very well since one year. Before she had a school-pony. This was a bit older and smaller and perfect for learning for a little girl. Now she rides our cob and this year she first visited competitions for children (jumping and dressage). It looks very nice.

waggy · 11-17-07, 06:44 AM

That sounds fun! I bet she looked very cute riding a pony. I haven't seen a competition for teen girls like you've mentioned. I would love to see one.

gipsyking · 11-17-07, 09:53 AM

I don`t know anything abaut the riding-competition-system in england. Here in germany there are kids-competitions everywhere.

lots of fotos are on my homepage

www.picasaweb.google.com/gipsyking6

greatings from cold, cold germany

ShortTail · 11-17-07, 12:00 PM

Are those your kids? They are lovely!

The horse is wonderful, he is so elegant and graceful to look at.

The photos are great, is that a festival in your place?

10-08-07, 03:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Thaworth Member Join Date: 09-08-07 Posts: 38	Children And Horses Do you allow your children to ride your horse? One of my fondest memories as a kid was riding my parents horse. It is something I truly want to pass down to my kids.

10-09-07, 10:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
QuarterHorses Member Join Date: 08-11-07 Posts: 63	Yes, I allow my kid to ride horses. He can only ride certain horses and it is in a very controlled area. It is a big risk as a parent and I try to minimize that risk. Horses have there own ideas and can spook and throw my kid. My kid begs me to go out with the horses, so as a parent I want to encourage involvement with the horses. __________________ Quarter Horses, nothing is better!

10-11-07, 06:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
Willow Member Join Date: 08-21-07 Posts: 34	Over the years I have seen quite a bit of horses which act lots more cautios and careful, when kids are around them. As if they assume, that must be kind of foals or such sort of being. And another matter I have observed often: if children don't demand much, are less assertive than adults and the horse feels appreciation and closeness, horses are lots more willing to do certain things for the little rider, even if the kids don't have the strength yet it usually would take...am thinking of leg yielding or such.

10-12-07, 11:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
QuarterHorses Member Join Date: 08-11-07 Posts: 63	I don't know if I explained myself correctly. Parents have to accept that injury and death my happen. Of course injury and death can happen in your bathtub also. Last year a small girl was riding her horse in a parade and a horse behind her spooked and knocked her horse over killing her. It is something that a parent has to come to grips with that no matter what they do, their little one might get hurt or killed. I try to set up everything to reduce the risk, but... __________________ Quarter Horses, nothing is better!

11-17-07, 09:53 AM	#14 (permalink)
gipsyking Member Join Date: 11-14-07 Location: Germany Posts: 12	Hallo Waggy! I don`t know anything abaut the riding-competition-system in england. Here in germany there are kids-competitions everywhere. lots of fotos are on my homepage www.picasaweb.google.com/gipsyking6 greatings from cold, cold germany

10-10-07, 12:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
cherokeemyluv Member Join Date: 09-08-07 Posts: 51	I think it would depend on how my horse acted if I had one. Some horses are pretty much bomb-proof. They could babysit your kids if need be and are a much safer bet than the hot-headed stallion you also own for showing. But by taking appropriate precautions such as riding in an indoor ring, or even a ring not just the pasture, wearing safe clothing not shorts and open toed shoes, and a helmet most horses are reasonably safe to be ridden. You could also use a halter and leadline or lunge line instead of allowing your child control of the horse. If the really want reins attach some rope to the halter for them to hold. Like QH said, if you control the situation you are setting yourself up for a good ride and not a disaster.

10-11-07, 11:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
SingleAgain Member Join Date: 10-11-07 Posts: 25	Our horse is a very gentle animal; she seems very loving towards my daughter. As already mentioned, her demeanour calms when my child is around. My daughter has sat on her unsaddled back a few times so that she could hug her, but she has never yet been on her whilst moving.

10-12-07, 02:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
alexis Super-Moderator Join Date: 08-10-07 Posts: 329	I think it would depend on my child's maturity level, the horse, and always having someone else around. I first rode when I was about 8 or so, and never alone until I was in mid teens.

10-12-07, 07:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
SingleAgain Member Join Date: 10-11-07 Posts: 25	I first rode at seven, and I was terrified. I had never seen a horse up close before that and I somehow slipped in the saddle. I was sliding sideways off the horse, and the handler leading it didn't notice till I screamed. It took a long time after that for me to get over it. If anything I think younger would have been better, less traumatic.

10-13-07, 04:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
SaddleSore Member Join Date: 10-12-07 Posts: 233	You are right that there is risk in it, and that there is risk in everything we do. My child or I could get killed in a car accident, so I wear a selt belt and put her in a car seat to reduce the risk. She could drown in the bath, so I never leave her unattended. She could get burned on the stove, so I have a guard in place and never leave her alone when it is in use. Nothing in our life is without risk. If we never did anything fun because of the risks, well life would be awfully boring. Do your best to keep your child safe, but let them share your love of horses.

11-05-07, 11:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
hummingbird42256 Member Join Date: 11-05-07 Posts: 26	My daughter loves horse .She rode one when she was very young and I have also loved horses.Guess it it an inherited thing.We lived in the city so not till we moved to the country when she was 6 could she own one. But we could not afford one till she was 11.We bought her a pony but by the time she was old enough to be broken my daughter was to big for her.She broke her anyway. There was a bond between her and the pony she was able to break it herself no problem. I think you should get one young and let them grow on each other.My daughter is now 16 and has broken her horse also.

11-14-07, 08:15 PM	#11 (permalink)
ilovehorses Member Join Date: 11-02-07 Posts: 77	I allow my child to ride the horses as well, I do however make sure that she is supervised at all times. She has always loved horses and she is impatiently waiting for my mare to give birth so that she can have a horse of her own.

11-17-07, 06:44 AM	#13 (permalink)
waggy Member Join Date: 11-03-07 Posts: 21	That sounds fun! I bet she looked very cute riding a pony. I haven't seen a competition for teen girls like you've mentioned. I would love to see one.

11-17-07, 12:00 PM	#15 (permalink)
ShortTail Member Join Date: 11-14-07 Posts: 29	Are those your kids? They are lovely! The horse is wonderful, he is so elegant and graceful to look at. The photos are great, is that a festival in your place?

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