Teaching children to ride. When to start?

Teaching children to ride: when to start?

Many parents who are persuaded by a child to allow him to ride doubt whether it is too early for him? And they ask questions: at what age can you sit on a horse? From what – to be seriously engaged?

It is possible to put a child on a horse in order to ride him in a rein, from 2.5 years old. Some parents, at their own peril and risk, do this before.

But serious classes can only begin at the age of 7-8, after the child is psychologically ready for training, will be able to realize and understand what the coach requires of him, I can’t be able to work through, he will be a little oriented in the structure of the body of a person and a horse ( understand where the lower back, shoulders, etc.).

But most importantly, the child should enjoy classes! If a child does not get excited at the sight of every horse or pony they meet in a city rental, then you can not read this article further 🙂

Classes with a child, in principle, take place according to the same system as with an adult.

They begin with lessons on the chombura and lunge, as well as with beginner riders of all ages. But the difference is that all exercises are performed in short reprises so that the child does not get tired and the lesson does not bother him. Classes are held in a playful way, and here each instructor comes up with his own ways. The main thing is that the lesson should not be just skating, but be beneficial and gradually move you towards the goal.

Before moving on to training on the cord, the child is trained on the cord. When practicing on a cord, it is better if the instructor works with an assistant, whose task is to control the horse. Standard exercises are performed to develop balance, stretch, first at a walk, then at a trot. The child learns the front trot, training. Gets the right fit. In the first lessons, it is desirable that the child ride without stirrups. As for the occasion, they begin to work with it only after the child will confidently ride and do exercises at the walk and trot, including without stirrups. If you give a rein in your hands from the first lessons, the rider learns to hold on to it, as well as rest against the stirrups. Thus, learning immediately begins with mistakes that are difficult to correct later. The rein should be given to the hand when the rider has developed a correct, balanced and independent position. The same goes for adult education.

Finally, I would like to address one more question. Let’s talk fables! So, horse riding will not lead to any negative consequences for an unformed child’s body: the legs will not become crooked, and everything will be in order with the urinary-genital system! There are no contraindications to classes, except for serious diseases associated with loss of consciousness, dizziness attacks, epilepsy, etc., as well as diseases in which exposure to the body of strong vibrations / shocks should be excluded.

Horseback riding strengthens the child’s muscular corset, contributes to the development of correct posture, and has a positive effect on his nervous system. So, take care of your health!

Valery Smirnova (personal page of the author in VK)