The First Lesson- What You’ll Need

My youngest, Mandy, on the late mare “Puzzle”. Don’t worry if it doesn’t look like a match to you- sometimes ponies are the naughtiest & require more experience! This mare taught many beginners & was a much loved school horse.

Let’s talk about what you really need for lesson #1. Believe it or not it’s a short list. Since you don’t really know yet if your little darling will be into this for the long haul, I strongly suggest not putting a lot of money into the sport quite yet.

My non negotiables

• Boots with a heel.
  • You can usually get away with something you either already have or pick up at the store for cheap as long as there is a heel. This keeps the foot from going all the way through the stirrup which could lead to the rider being dragged in the event of a fall. Note that children’s stirrups typically have rubber bands on the outside of the stirrup that break away to prevent the aforementioned nightmare. Eventually you will want to get “real” paddock boots & possibly half chaps. More about that later. 🙂
• Helmet.
  • Some barns have helmets that your child can borrow. I strongly suggest that you invest in something ASTM certified that doesn’t break the bank. I think my kids’ first helmets were $50 and it was well worth the money. If a helmet takes a hard fall then it needs to be replaced as safety features are compromised and all helmets eventually break down from wear and tear. Ask the stable you booked the lesson at for a tack store they trust if you don’t already have one. The store should be able to guide you as to what will be in your budget that fits correctly & is appropriate to your stable.
    • My disclaimer: No one should ever get on a horse without a helmet whether they have been riding for a day or a lifetime. Ever. Done. Nope. Don’t. If you ride, you will eventually fall. Probably a lot. Getting off my soapbox now but probably not for long.
  • Rubber band to tie hair back. I see lots of kids letting go of the reins with one hand to brush hair out of their little faces and it just looks neater!
• Jeans or thicker leggings are fine if you don’t have breeches but make sure they aren’t too baggy. Loose leg openings tend to ride up & can be uncomfortable to say the least!
• Any comfortable top that is also not too loose or baggy– your child’s trainer will want to see his/her posture. Showing up neat & tidy is also a way to show the trainer respect. Polo or sun shirts are great.
  • If it’s chilly make sure your little rider has a jacket or a vest with a zip down the front. They will heat up and you can’t pull most sweatshirts off without removing the helmet. Getting off and on again takes valuable time from the lesson and is just a pain in your trainer’s neck as your child will need help.
• Water. Because riding is hard. No, horses do not do all the work! 🙂

What about you? No worries, I’m here for you!

• A decent shoe because horses are heavy & don’t always watch out for your foot. Even if you have no plans of getting near a horse, it may just happen- how lucky are you?! Plus even the cleanest barns are still super dirty, it’s part of the package!
• Long pants because flies love horses & your bare legs. You’re welcome. 🙂
• A hat because you may be in the sun & we like to set good examples for our kids.
• Sunblock is a good idea for you & your little muffin.
• Your checkbook. Get used to that!

Some Don’ts

• Don’t bring your dog.
• Don’t bring an umbrella, even if it’s really hot or sprinkling!
• Don’t teach your kid or interrupt from the sidelines, even though lots of parents do. Let the trainer do their job & you will all get more out of each lesson. Most importantly, your child needs to focus on their trainer who should have their eyes watching everything that is going on in and out of the arena. Things happen faster than you can imagine and your child’s trainer will help keep everyone as safe as possible. At the end of the day, if you are just there to support and not judge, your kid may still like you, although that may change as the wind, and their hormones, start to change. 🙂

Some Dos

• Smile at your child– he/she is probably pretty nervous so be a confidence builder!
• Encourage perseverance. It’s ridiculously hard to get the hang of this sport so be positive!
• Ask your child questions– If you have never ridden, here’s your child’s chance to teach you something!

Not so bad, right? Remember that you want this to be a great experience for you too so stay in your budget & don’t go too overboard. Look around when you are at the barn to see what is typically worn to help you when you’re out shopping. Not only will you find out what works best as far as clothing & gear go but most barns have a style & culture & while your child will be able to express him/herself in what they wear, it’s nice to keep to your barn’s aesthetic.