Based on my daughter’s nonstop smiles once she was in the saddle this weekend for her birthday present from Gaba and Papa*, I’m starting to think horse craziness is hereditary.
“Mommy, can I do horse shows one day?” Madeline asked on our way home after riding.
“If you’re still interested in it when you’re older,” I said.
“I’ll always be interested in it.”
As a girl who’s never stopped loving horses, I believe her.
Poor Daddy. He’s in for quite a ride.
*Just to be clear: Madeline’s birthday present was one hour of horse fun for her and a friend, not the actual horse.
(And, yes, she will be required to wear a helmet when and if she starts training for those shows.)
As a former rider, when do you recommend kids start lessons? My daughter is 3.5, so I was thinking a one- or two-week “camp” this coming summer might be an idea.
(And was the birthday gift lessons or a whole horse?)
Eliz, the birthday gift was just a one-hour ride. We’re not ready to jump into the whole lesson thing yet, and she’s definitely not ready for her own horse. :)
I started riding lessons when I was 6. I think this was a great age. I rode every week and sometimes visited the stable other times as well. It’s a big commitment and kids are only little for so long. I feel like Madeline needs to be playing, dreaming about horses, etc. before she actually starts regularly riding them. Most stables in my area don’t start official lessons until around ages 4 or 5, and the one closest to us doesn’t offer lessons until kids are 6 or older.
However, I think a horse camp would be a great idea. This way you can see if your daughter really is committed to horses or just the idea of them. I don’t know if that makes sense, but I’ve noticed that virtually ever girl seems to go through a horse phase.
For me, horses were my true love. I tried lots of other activities and just kept on wanting to go back to riding. My parents said the first time I ever rode a pony I was mesmerized. I wouldn’t stop talking about horses and asked for my own horse every year for my birthday and for Christmas. I was 100 percent horse crazy!
One final note: I think horseback riding is a wonderful hobby for girls for many reasons. It gives them a chance to channel their desire to nurture and to take care of something, and caring for a horse teaches responsibility. Riding also demands discipline and focus. However, it’s a very expensive and time-consuming endeavor, especially if you end up owning a horse as I did after I’d been riding for several years. I’ve already started telling my daughter she may have to work at a stable to help pay for lessons. (Many stables offer this option for young girls.)
Hope this helps! Since I can’t ride at this juncture in my life, I really enjoy gabbing about horses. I hope to be back in the saddle again one of these days!
That look on her face in the second pic- I love how, with kids, it’s either pure joy or purely terrifying! Maybe both!
She looks SO happy! I love her face in the second photo!
I bet she had a blast! I love her haircut, btw!