Already have a barn in mind? Great! You’re ahead of the game. If you’re not there quite yet I want to offer some gentle suggestions on how to find the right place because if your kids are anything like mine, you’ll be spending lots of time there.

• Ask friends. Have a friend whose kids ride? Ask the where, how much & “how happy are you” type of questions. A knowledgeable friend will probably have some insights for you since they already know a lot about you & your child, your personalities, riding goals & where you live.

• Go to a local Tack Store or Saddlery. Underline, highlight, and star this one. They will know just about every lesson program in your area & who the happy customers are. Plus isn’t it always good to know where to shop?!

  • Yes, you will shop local– These wonderful folks often support your local shows and will know what is and is not acceptable at local barns. They will also save you money and will know what’s a fad and what’s classic and acceptable in the show ring.

• Google. It’s a beautiful thing & most barns have very informative websites but watch out for those review sites. Every barn, no matter how wonderful, will have some folks who left unhappy. It’s just life so trust your gut if you decide to go to…

• Watch a lesson. Most barns will be perfectly happy to have you come out & watch a lesson or two. Maybe 3 but don’t go overboard. Seriously, it gets weird. Call ahead and find out when lessons are and make sure they are okay with it.

• Ask the trainer or barn manager a question or two but remember that he/she is probably: 1. Trying to get to the next lesson on time &  2. Exhausted so be brief as you get the answers you need.

  • Btw, a few questions are great for the parents watching their kids ride or that lovely person you spoke to when you called for their lesson schedule.  Remember though, they are there to watch their kid ride so go easy!

• What to ask? Funny you should say that! If the website doesn’t have this information you can ask the aforementioned lovely person from your phone call the following:

  • Do they teach beginners? Not every barn does!

  • Do they have school horses?

    • If this answer is “No” swipe left & move on to the next barn. You can even ask if they know of another barn that does have school horses, most folks are happy to help. You do NOT need or want to buy or lease a horse at this point!

  • Do they have saddles my child can use? *Important, you do not need or want to buy a saddle at this point either! Not only is your child growing, but your saddle may not fit the fat pony your child rides one week and the slab sided thoroughbred they ride the next. Yup, saddles must fit the horse/pony and the rider!

  • Is my child responsible for tacking up & untacking? (That just means grooming & putting the saddle & bridle on & taking care of the horse after the lesson) Many barns will start your child out by doing all the dirty work for them & will eventually teach them how to do it on their own. (It’s more efficient and safer for everyone involved that way) It’s important to know from a “what time do we get there & when will we be leaving the barn afterwards” perspective.

    • **I personally made sure that my daughter started at a barn where she would learn to tack up her own horse or pony. It’s important for so many reasons from being a responsible horse person to just realizing that this is a living, breathing, feeling animal who we are lucky to be able to spend time around. More about my feelings on grooming later!

  • What type of lessons do they offer: Groups, semi privates &/or privates?

  • How much are their lessons? Groups are typically the least expensive &, believe it or not, I think they are the most beneficial to learning- monkey see, monkey do!

  • Do they provide helmets? We’ll talk about this in the next blog post but your child will need a helmet. Most saddleries will have inexpensive, “starter” helmets anywhere from $50-$75. To be on the safe side as far as fitting in, most barns appreciate that your child has a plain, black helmet.

  • What other programs do they offer? Some barns have summer camps & special programs that set them apart. Many go to horse shows & will encourage all students to do the same. Shows can be a big factor when you consider your budget! If your little muffin has horse shows in their sights you’ll want to start out at a barn where they go to both “schooling” & “rated” shows.

    • Schooling shows are less expensive for so many reasons & are a perfect option for a novice rider. Rated shows count for year end points & offer classes where you can qualify for year end championships & awards.

It’s an important decision so if you call quite a few barns, take notes and ultimately go with your gut.  What you need for that first lesson is coming up in the next post, The Fist Lesson-What You’ll Need. Anything to add? Let’s chat in the comments!

xo ~T

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.