Children in equestrian sports – the parents‘ guide

Many riders have been fascinated by horses and equestrian sports from an early age and have thus found their way into active participation in equestrian sports. Does your child only talk about horses and ponies and really want to sit on a horse?

For many parents – especially those who are not actively involved in equestrian sports themselves – the thought of putting their child on a living creature weighing several hundred kilos sets alarm bells ringing. Apart from a few (justified) concerns, equestrian sports have numerous positive aspects to offer your child. In our parents‘ guide, we explain why it’s worth giving riding a chance and what you need to know about the early stages of learning to ride.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of riding for my child?

Preventive measures reduce the risk of accidents

Every parent knows the daily worries about their child. Children love to climb up high, ride a scooter fast or jump off a wall – and parents want their children to get through life without any major injuries. Many parents are also initially sceptical about horse riding – the fear that their child could fall off a horse, be kicked or bitten is too great.

But is riding really that dangerous and what can children learn from these gentle giants?

It is a fact that horse riding is one of the top high-risk sports. Falls can sometimes result in serious injuries to the head, spine and extremities. The majority of injuries occur in the saddle, but the potential for accidents when handling a horse from the ground – when grooming, leading or feeding – should not be ignored. Here it is often kicking and biting injuries that are sustained.

As threatening as the dangers of equestrian sports may sound at first, experts and sports physicians are convinced that the risk of serious injuries in equestrian sports can be minimised enormously by taking targeted preventative measures:

• The basis for riding is safe handling of the horse from the ground. Children must be made aware that a pony is not a piece of sports equipment or a cuddly toy, but that it acts on instinct and is a flight animal. Safe leading, tying up, grooming and putting on equipment are just as much a part of equestrian training as time in the saddle.
• Introduce children to riding slowly. Lead rein lessons are a must at the beginning so that the child can initially concentrate on sitting independently and with balance, before moving on to the lunge and then the group lesson.

• Riding requires maximum motor skills in order to balance yourself in the saddle and at the same time pass on the right aids to the horse. If a lot of movement is also integrated into the child’s everyday life, they will automatically develop better motor skills in order to sit safely in the saddle and be able to roll safely in the event of a fall. In children’s gymnastics or vaulting, important muscle groups are also addressed and stretched to ensure mobility in the saddle. Well-trained muscles also protect against more serious injuries to the limbs.
• The following applies especially to younger children up to teenage years: children should never be left alone in situations involving horses! This applies to grooming as well as riding.
• When choosing a riding school or riding club, you should make sure that the ponies and horses are kept in a species-appropriate manner, that the horses‘ equipment is appropriate and fits and that a qualified trainer regularly retrains the animals. The riding instructor should have training and be sensitive, especially when dealing with children and horses.

• Wearing riding clothing is also relevant to safety. The following items in particular are essential – from the very first riding lesson and also when caring for the horse from the ground:
  • Riding hat (pay attention to the current safety standard!)
  • Boots with a heel suitable for riding and a non-slip sole without tread
  • Riding gloves
  • Jodhpurs or breeches with knee patches or full seat

You can find more information on initial equipment for your child in the next chapter of our guide.

What are the benefits of riding?

In addition to the risk of accidents, which is reduced with targeted prevention, horse riding is a great sport for the body and mind of children and young people, with the following benefits:

• lots of exercise and endurance training
• muscle training from head to toe
• improvement of posture and balance
• improvement of motor and coordination skills
• concentration
• taking on responsibility
• self-confidence
• consideration for the horse and other riders
• stress reduction
• self-efficacy
• new social contacts
• closeness to nature
• and much more

What opportunities are there for children to start riding?

The most important basis for learning to ride is everyday contact with the horse from the ground. Many riding clubs offer courses for children from the age of 4 where, in addition to teaching theoretical knowledge about horses and the basic rules of handling them, they can also gain their first practical experience of grooming or putting on riding equipment – naturally under the close and sensitive supervision of a qualified trainer.

Most children get their first taste of riding ponies at yards, where the ponies are led by members of the riding club. The lead rein lessons are an ideal introduction to give the child the necessary confidence in the saddle. This allows them to concentrate fully on the first playful exercises to develop a good riding position.

Some children also get into equestrian sport via vaulting, although gymnastic exercises on horseback should by no means be seen as the only way into equestrian sport. Vaulting as an independent discipline is a firmly established element of sports with horses as partners. An important advantage of vaulting is that the children learn through gymnastic exercises, among other things, to detach themselves optimally from the horse and to roll on the ground, which benefits the child in the event of a fall.

When can my child start learning to ride?

For insurance, concentration and health reasons (weight of riding hat), a minimum age of 4 years is often recommended to start lead rein or vaulting lessons on a pony. In most cases, lungeing lessons can then be started around the time the child starts school. Once the rider’s seat is solid and the first independent riding aids have been established, the child then switches to group lessons.

How much does a riding lesson cost?

Riding lessons may cost between £37 and £57, depending on the type of lesson (group, lunge, lead rein, private lessons). Please bear in mind that the income from riding lessons is often used to cover the cost of keeping the horses, maintaining the stables and paying the staff. However, high riding lesson prices do not always automatically mean that the horses are kept in a particularly species-appropriate manner or that the riding instructor is particularly qualified. Therefore, check carefully which yard you register your child with. A visit to the stables and a detailed discussion with the future riding instructor are therefore highly recommended.

How do I find a good riding school for my child?

When looking for a suitable riding centre for your child, child and animal welfare as well as well-trained riding instructors should be the focus of your decision in favour of a riding school. However, it is not always easy for non-riders to look behind the scenes at a yard. Before you register your child at a riding school, you should definitely visit the stables and arrange an appointment with the person in charge to get a comprehensive picture of the facility.

We have put together a catalogue of questions for you to help you keep an eye on all the important points:

Stable

• Does the facility make a neat and friendly impression?
• In the case of internal stables: does the aisle allow enough daylight and are the stables equipped with windows?
• What is the condition of the stables, paddocks and fields? Are they big enough? Are they mucked out/poo picked regularly? Is there a strong smell of faeces and urine? Are the drinkers and mangers clean? Are the turnout areas relatively dry even in wet weather? Are the buildings intact?

• Are there any potential sources of danger for humans or animals (power cables, protruding nails, show jump poles that have not been cleared away)? Is the riding arena fenced in?
• Is the riding school BHS approved? These riding schools have been checked by the British Horse Socitety and should provide parents with the confidence that they have chosen a riding school that will provide a welcoming, inclusive, safe, and professional environment.

Ponies/Horses

• What is the health condition of the horses? Pay particular attention to whether they look well-fed, whether they react in an open and friendly manner to people and the condition of their skin, coat and hooves.
• Do the horses have daily turnout?
• How are the horses exercised apart from riding lessons (groundwork, turnout)?

• Are the horses reschooled regularly?
• How often do the horses participate in lessons each day? Are they given sufficient rest breaks, e.g. a day off from lessons?
• Are there enough school horses to guarantee the lessons? A good mix of horses and ponies of different sizes is helpful in order to be able to offer a suitable horse for every age and body size. Especially when dealing with children, all school horses should have a good-natured, patient and strong-nerved character.
• Does each horse have its own suitable and intact equipment (saddle, bridle, bit, other accessories such as boots etc.) including its own grooming kit?

Riding lessons

• Is there a qualified riding instructor for the lessons?

What qualifications should I look out for?

To make sure that the riding lessons are based on expertise and experience, you can ask about the qualifications of the riding instructor in question. With a licence (e.g. from the British Horse Society), you can assume that important knowledge has been acquired both in theory and in practice for the design of instructive lessons. A further indication of the conscientious handling of teaching responsibilities is the regular further training that riding instructors attend.

• For younger children in particular, basic pedagogical knowledge is advisable in order to organise the lessons in an age-appropriate way.
• Does the riding instructor set a good example? Is the riding hat worn consistently when riding and caring for the horse?
• Is there a friendly tone towards parents, children and horses? Can the instructor keep a cool head even in difficult situations when dealing with the children? Do they patiently answer questions and explain the procedures to parents and children?
• Are there theory lessons for children to playfully impart knowledge about horse behaviour, equipment and husbandry?
• Are the lessons offered on horses/ponies that are suitable for the child’s size and level of knowledge?
• Children are involved in grooming, tacking up and light yard work before and after the riding lesson and, depending on their age, are supervised at all times.
• A playful and varied structure of the riding lessons is important for children.
• Each child should be picked up at their own level of ability and accompanied in the process.
• Is attention paid to fair treatment of the horse during lessons?
• Does every child receive constructive feedback during the riding lesson? Is this communicated in an age-appropriate manner? Criticism should be formulated in private and not in the group.
• What is the maximum number of children taking part in a lesson?

Other points

• Is the riding school easy to reach? Can older children possibly reach it on their own by public transport or by bike?
• Is there a good atmosphere among the staff at the yard?
• How is the yard organised? Is it easy to book and/or cancel riding lessons online?
• Are there other leisure activities such as holiday programmes? Can children take part in competitions with the riding school ponies if they are interested?

How can I help my child learn to ride?

The most common concern for parents of horse-loving children is probably safety. Be aware that the risk of accidents is significantly reduced by following the recommended preventative measures and also consider the many benefits for your child of riding and being around horses.

Also try not to project your fears and worries onto your child. Fear is never a good companion when dealing with horses and in the saddle.

Have you never had any contact with horses yourself? If your child spends a lot of time at the yard and you still have to accompany them, it could be helpful if you take a basic course on handling horses. In addition to the necessary knowledge about horse behaviour, everyday situations in the stable are trained in practical exercises, e.g. leading, tying and grooming horses. Safety aspects are also emphasised in such courses. Parents who still have reservations themselves can gain confidence in dealing with horses and reduce their fears in this way.

Listen to your child when they talk about their new hobby. Get regular feedback from your child and also from the riding instructor about how the lessons are going and whether he or she is (still) enjoying them. Also find out more about your child’s wishes or goals. Are they more interested in groundwork or do they want to try out a different discipline such as western riding? Or are they planning to take part in a competition at some point? Help them to achieve the goals they have set themselves without creating additional pressure. You can find more information about horse shows for children in our guide.

Make sure that the best conditions are created for learning to ride. In addition to carefully selecting a suitable riding school, the necessary equipment should also be available. Suitable children’s riding clothing tailored to equestrian sports not only make it easier for your child to learn to ride (e.g. full seat breeches for better grip in the saddle), but are also relevant to safety in many cases. You can find out what should definitely be on your shopping list for your horse-loving child’s first outfit in the next section of our guide.