How young is too young? my two year old wants to get at the horses! do we let him try being led obviously !?

Question

not on some huge race horse but one of the bomb proof ponies? our four nearly five year old is having great fun and sucess, and the little one loves to groom even when he has to be picked up, he is usually quite mischievious and noisy but around horses he's completely calm and well behaved

Answer 1

lol well when i was kid, at our local riding stables, we used to put babies on a 'bombproof' as soon as they could sit unaided, but its all changed now, now kids have to be at LEAST 4years old before they begin riding, (5 is more the norm!!) my 3year old has been desperate to ride a 'horsie' ever since she could say the word.. if i still had my lovely old man, i would be letting her ride him, (he has sadly died at the grand age of 35!!).. but since i am currently horseless, i will just have to wait till she is 4 to put her up!!! (its a long time to a small person!!) if you have a reliable one that you trust, then i see no reason why you can't put your son up in the saddle

x*x

Answer 2

i say its too young...they may not even REALLY want to ride...

Answer 3

Oh YES, most definately and what a lucky boy to have parents like you.

Answer 4

if you do try and let him be led, please please please make sure he wears a helmet (i've seen so many horrifying photos of tiny kids on ponies without, makes me shudder!) and he's held on. when they're tiny their balance is not as good as ours, especially as they will only be perched on top and won't have legs down the side of the pony to cling with! walk next to him until he's a bit older and able to balance properly and cling on with his legs.

by all means if you have a pony you think is good enough to let him try on, go in a school first with a nice soft landing just in case. remember there is no such thing as a bomb proof pony, even the most wisened can have a funny moment!

Answer 5

My daughter got her first pony at age 2 and was showing in the leadline classes long before that.  She was riding double with me (on my very dependable horse that I have had since day 1 and know what she's going to do before she does it!) since she was born.  

Right now at age 3 1/2  she has over 30 ribbons and about 5 trophies!  She competes in leadline pleasure classes, can ride barrels by herself (at a walk/trot), can trail ride in a group by herself, and can lope around on my big horse with me in the saddle with her (but she has the reins and most of the control - I'm just along for the "just in case")!

If it's a bigger horse - that's a long way to fall, so when they're little and can't hang on well it's a good idea to have an extra person walk near the horse to grab him off if anything were to start to go bad.  Otherwise, small ponies are great if you get an older very well broke and quiet one (mine is 20+ years old and has asthma...she's PERFECT!).

Of course a helmet is necessary - it's hard to find one that will fit the really small heads.  The troxel helmets DO NOT go small enough.  International makes riding helmets that go small enough for the little kids and they have the dial adjustment system, so they'll fit for quite a few years.

Have fun!

Answer 6

I had my son on a horse at 6weeks. Of course he was being held and the horse was being led, on a very trustworthy horse.

He is now almost 2, and he likes to ride with me while I am cooling down horses...he doesn't seem to want to ride much on his own and he doesn't get too excited about the horses...but it's probably because he is around them everyday.

If your son shows interest, definitely let him get involved. And pony rides are a great way to do it!

Answer 7

The size of the horse does not matter.  Only the gentleness.  No child can control a pony anyway nor could a two year old stay on if one bucked.

I would get a bomb proof horse and a buddy seat if you ride western.  (warning the buddy seat will not work if you saddle has a flexible cordura skirt.  It will slide all over the place!)  Then let him ride with you.  you can also let him ride in front of you on the saddle if the saddle is big enough.

My little girl started at 7 months in front of me in a snuggly (one of those padded harnesses that let you carry your baby around)  She had a helmet and we only went a short distance but she seemed to enjoy it.  She later graduated to an unpadded harness like one of those leash like things to keep you toddlers from running off.  The other end was tied around my waist.  Then she moved to the buddy seat at around 2 years old (still in the harness for another year or so) and then to her own saddle and horse in her fourth summer.  However at that time the horse was tied to my horse and lead everywhere that way.  In her fifth summer she was turned loose with the reins but by this time she had around 700 to 800 miles under her belt if you count all the riding she did.  Now she has well over 1000 miles and loves riding so much now that she has her own horse to ride all by herself (with me keeping a sharp eye on her each and every ride).  We make a family event out of it and go on rides up to 15 miles long.

Oh this is all on full sized fox trotters.  Few ponies are smooth enough for a kid to ride that far without saddle sores and that would could ruin their riding experience for life.

At 6 years old she sits in the saddle better than most adults.   That's my girl!

Addition

One more thing I really suggest having him ride behind in a buddy seat or in front of you in the saddle but get the harness I mentioned.  Ours only Velcro-ed closed but I tested it over and over to see how much it would lift and would retest it periodically if the Velcro got dirty.  It was amazingly strong and by tying the other end around me I KNEW that if my girl fell I would have her.  I kept it short enough that she would not come all the way off the horse but just sort of swing to my leg.  I also made sure my horse was used to that and would not spook (she was a bomb proof bottle fed mare that was extremely calm).  I did everything I could to limit or eliminate the chance of my daughter getting hurt because I know that many children that get hurt stop riding for years or for life.

Answer 8

My nephew started riding with me when he was 1 1/2 years old.  He rode with me on a very safe, very well-trained mare and we would ride for about 2 hours at a time.  It was great!

My step-daughter was 4 when I met her dad.  She started riding shortly after we met and has been riding now for almost 10 years.

Leading your little one around on a pony is a great way to start.  Be sure to get him a good quality riding helmet.  It may be best to have your spouse walk with you as you lead the pony and hold onto your son's leg to steady him.

Be sure to teach your son's how to be safe around the horses and to never bother them when you are not around.  

Studies have shown that children who were raised riding and working with horses are more successful in life than children who weren't raised that way.

If you have any larger horses, you could get a buddy saddle and let your son ride on the back.  My friend did that with her daughter until she was old enough to handle a horse on her own (this year).  The buddy saddles are really cool, they have a back on them and a safety belt.  Be sure he rides with his helmet on and be sure you have a really good well-behaved horse.

Answer 9

i've beein riding since i was 2 and been in the showring since 3.

and competed county level ever since

horses are a major part of my life almost like breathing to me.

just remember pick an older pony no younger than 9!!!

it doesnt matter what to pony looks like don't fall into the trap of buying something thats meant to have won this or that or has "potential"

you want a been there and done it cheap and cheerful pony

my first pony was an 11hh shetlandX he was amazing!

Try checking out local pony clubs see if anybody intends on selling something there personal sales are far better as you know the history of the pony and have seen it in action.

Answer 10

Ya, just make sure he is being led and on a bombproof older horse or pony..the older the better becasue they know better than the younger horses. He also really has to wear a helmet. Good luck =]

Answer 11

My children started in front of me on my horses.  By two, they were led on my horses both bareback and saddled.  Your child sounds ready.  Just teach them how to hang on tight to either a hunk of mane or a saddle horn, and slide off if they lose their balance.  I rescued my hanging-at-the-side of the horse children many times after a spook or whatever unseated a child...they just kept hanging on.

Answer 12

Definetely get him a properly-fitting riding helmet, and if he is to be led on a horse (a half-comatose one, please) then one adult should lead and another adult MUST walk next to him, either with their hand on the child's back or else close to his back at all times.  The first time I rode I was 2 and I swear I still remember the whole thing - it was great.  As long as you keep him on a leadline with a couple adult helpers and have a properly-fitting riding helmet on his head, then sure, why not?

Answer 13

You could take him on a lead rein as long as he is able to sit up on his own.  Make sure he has a neck strap to grab onto when things get a bit wobbly.

Encourage him to do excersises on the back of a pony like round the world and simon says and lying back on the horses bottom, generally to encourage confidence.

Jst remember frustration might happen on your child's part because he is physically not strong or coordinated enough to acheive the desired results - galloping off into the sunset!

Answer 14

Totally fine! If he's being led on a bombproof horse and just walking at a nice slow pace he should be fine! Lots of people I know started riding at 2- if they like horses then why not let them ride when they are young? :)

Answer 15

Believe it or not i started riding when i was 2, aslong as he is being led and is on a bomb proof pony everything will be fine!

Just think start him young and he could be the next big horse enthusiast :D

Good Luck!!

Answer 16

Horses like children are unpredictable.  The combination can be deadly.  Supervision needs be to be given at all times.  Horses can spook easily & children get excited & may walk behind or even be pushed over & stepped on.  Our children have grown up around horses & have learned the respect & dangers associated with these beautiful creatures.  Big question is, Does Mom & Dad want a horse, the p**p cleaning, grooming & the expense that comes with them? What are you going to do if Jr decides he doesn't want it after time? Think long & hard.  Maybe until he gets a little older you can take him around horses to experience them up close & the care that needs to be given to them.  I bet he will change his mind.

Answer 17

Yes of course he can sit on a pony and be led and his left leg held by the person who is leading him. What a joy for him to be able to get a "reward" for helping with grooming. Just tell him that he has to be quiet and not to fidget on the pony, you could give him a lolly pop whilst "riding" and that should help to keep him quiet. Good luck - -

Answer 18

You can never be too young as long as there is an adult around to supervise.

My daughter was in the saddle and being led around before she could even walk.