Should my daughter start horse riding lessons?

soupdragon10

My DD started riding at a similar age to your daughter. She had an interest in horses and had some lessons over the years but it never became a passion.

Why not talk it over with your daughter and suggest say riding for a month to see how she gets on and then reassess? She will either really want to carry on or decide she'd rather do something else such as karate.

As for the danger element, yes there are inherent dangers, but most human activities carry an element of risk, as long as the stables have robust safety procedures and ponies are led sensibly she will likely just have a nice pony ride and maybe learn a little about care of the animals.

lorietta

The price does seem very low to me (I pay £25 for an hour lesson). Is the establishement a BHS approved one? The BHS are the regulatory body for riding schools, and while they can run without aproval, there are then no standards for welfare and safety for your daughter or the horses, so I would check this out first.

Secondly, at five years old, it's unlikely to be too dangerous. Most likely, the pony will be led, and she will only go at slow speeds at first, so there will be little danger of falling off and hurting herself. As she gets older, if she gets into it, it will become more dangerous, especially if she attempts sports like cross country (which is where some of these statistics come from, not from five year old girls being led round a sandschool).

Anyway, I do think riding could be great fun for her, and definately worth a try. I started when I was 8, and though I always wanted a pony, I knew that I couldn't have one. Many children ride regularly without a pony of her own. It also teaches confidence, and develops muscle strength and good posture.

Sweet_Pea_2

With regards to what your husband said - when my DD's started ballet when they were tiny my OH said that they were only going because I wanted them to go and not because they had asked to. Quite true, but 12 years later and they are still going and they love it. It's cost a fair bit over the years but well worth it I think, we found the money to pay for it, any OH has taken his turn in ferrying them there and back too, he is happy to wait for them and chat to the other "ballet dads"

They have also had - swimming lessons, tennis lessons, music lessons, kumon maths and english,french classes, rainbows, brownies, guides... the list is endless. This is in addtion to all the things I didnt have to pay for which were school related - cookery club, netball, football, bikeability. They have tried their hands at loads of stuff - the youngest wants me to sign her up for kayaking at the local reservoir in the summer holidays because she did it with guides and loved it. Some things they stick at and some things they don't, it costs money and you spend half your life running them around. BUT - they get to experience loads of things, they make friends, they have fun, they keep fit, there are loads of positives and I believe in giving them as many experiences as possible. I know of kids that have gone on to make careers out of their hobbies - such as tennis and swimming and dance coaches, or have a lifelong hobby such as guide leaders. In fact I think rainbows/guides/brownies is a fab thing for them to do - its very cheap compared to everything else, they do loads of different stuff, and they have loads of fun.

About the only thing mine haven't tried is horse riding. Also when they get older and you dont have to ferry them about any more you find yourself missing it.

jcr16

wow, that a really good price. locally here for a recommended stables yoru talking £16 per half an hour for a lesson.

i think if your dd will enjoy it , then a few lessons won't hurt.

Melonade

For £8 an hour then yes I'd take her for a lesson and see if she likes it

It was about £8 an hour when I started horse riding about 27 years ago lol!! I was about 8 years old and LOVED it... couldn't wait for saturday morning and chatted non stop ponies every day. It's a lovely hobby and for the price it's worth seeing if she enjoys it. If she doesn't then it was only £8. If she does then prepare for every xmas list to start with "Dear Father Christmas I would like a pony..." (not that it ever got me a pony, I ended up buying my own when I was 18 hehe)

jago25_98

In Argentina my teacher was planning to get his son on a horse at 6.

When I got back I enquired about lessons but they wouldn't let me do full gallop and wanted £30/hr. I'll take the £8 lessons any day!

[Deleted User]

Take her. My girls learnt to ride from 8 and both saved and saved, washed cars etc and eventually bought ponies, using their grandmothers early 21st birthday gift. It has been the most wonderful hobby and both got lifelong friends. Pony club came along too and they were so hot on manners etc. Brilliant reinforcement to us as parents. One studied equine studies and has eventually got herself a high powered job in the defence industry, I couldn`t see her fitting into any other degree course.

Horses always came before boys and it kept them safe through the traumatic teenage years

£8 an hour is cheap but perhaps they need to get what they can these days. When your daughter is older then she will be able to go and help at the stables at the weekend

We never looked back in spite of the tumbles and heart stopping moments when eventing

millyfrancrisp

Eliviajen - Can I ask the name of the stables you're going to? I'm like to find somewhere a bit cheaper if I can. We live in the northeast & I pay £17 for an hours lesson - my husband's just been made redundant so the horse riding lessons for my 7 year old will be the first to stop!

msb5262

Hello OP,
You say that your daughter is interested in horses, but I bet she's "interested" in lots of different things - dance, music, art, sport, other animals...I'm just wondering if your DD might not do better to start a hobby that's a bit more about spending time with other children? Riding can be great but it's an expensive one in the long run and your DD hasn't expressed a particular interest.
Five is very young - you'll look back at this time and realise how young it is!
Why not save the money for now, then you'll have a bit stashed away when she is suddenly desperate for lessons/sessions in whatever she's chosen?
You can also talk to her and to your OH a bit more in the meantime about what you want for her, and perhaps reach some kind of agreement between you. A bit of peace would be beneficial to your family!
HTH
MsB

lisa26_2

£8 an hour?! That would have been cheap when I started riding nearly 20 years ago!!! ALso, just because a place is recommended, doesn't mean it actually is good!! When I started riding the place i went was recommended, what i now know is that it was an appalling place that didn't look after the horses properly and didn't have qualified instructors. The only reason it was recommended was that it was slightly better than the only other 2 riding schools in our area!