How to Horse Ride With a Child
Children enjoy horseback riding just as much as anyone else. However, if the child is not an experienced rider you must be very careful. Horses that are properly trained for riding can still become spooked due to a loud noise or unexpected movement. Be sure to follow all safety precautions when horseback riding with a child.
- Choose a horse that is experienced with both riding and children. Children should be placed on horses that are calm and predictable because sometimes children are not. You do not want to place a child on a horse with little riding experience or one that is easily spooked to help eliminate the chance of something going wrong.
- Make sure that the child who is horseback riding wears a helmet at all times. Choose a helmet that fits the child’s head properly so that their head is protected in the event of a fall. Call ahead of time to see if the riding stables that you are visiting offer child-sized helmets. If not, you can purchase one from your local sporting goods or western wear store.
- Be sure that your child is wearing cowboy boots at all times during a horseback riding session. Cowboy boots have protection for their toes that are not provided by other types of shoes. Cowboy boots also provide the child with better control when giving the horse riding signals with their feet.
- Dress the child in long pants such as jeans to protect their legs from chaffing. Chaffing can sometimes occur if the skin of the legs is exposed and allowed to rub on the surface of the horses' saddle or stir ups.
- Talk to the child about the dangers of horseback riding. Let them know that the horse is a very powerful animal that could easily cause injury if they are not careful. Children need to know to respect the power of the animal they will be riding.