How old was your child when they came off the lead rein?

[nappyaddict]

And how old were they when they started lessons?

[elephantpoo]

My DD (now 8) started "tot" group lessons at 5 for about 6 months, then had the same again of private lessons. These lessons were off the lead rein. She then rode a friends pony on the lead rein. In the summer she got her own pony and quickly reached the point of being off the lead rein.
Do you have a little one learning to ride?

[Donki]

To be honest it depends very much on both the pony and the child (Used to be riding instructor)

I know that's not helpful

[marialuisa]

DD started lessons age 8 and came off the lead rein after 6 weeks.

[onimolap]

My DCs have lessons only during the school holidays, so it's taken a while, in terms of the calendar.

IIRC, DS had had about 12 lessons (including some private lunges) before being off the lead rein in the school and about another 4 before hacking out loose. DD (3 yrs younger) has had a similar number of rides, but only one lunge, and is still on the lead rein. Her feet now extend below the saddle flaps (quite a limiting factor before!), and I don't think it'll be much longer for her.

[nappyaddict]

I am wondering whether it would be better to wait til later to start DS on lessons and then he will pick it up quicker (like marialuisa's DD picked it up in 6 weeks) or to start him younger but it take 12 months or more.

[MollieO]

Ds started in the month he turned 5. Off the lead rein after about 4 weeks and then had about 3 months of private lessons, mix of on and off lunge rein depending on what he was doing. Joined a class and recently has been having private lessons to enable him to go into a particular, more advanced, class. Still has some lunge lessons - eg to improve seat position when cantering without stirrups etc. He is 6.5 now and nearly at the stage of starting jumping. He averages a lesson every other week although he does seem to miss the odd month or so depending on what else is going on. Hugely confident even though he's had a few falls.

[onimolap]

Sorry, I missed out the age: he was 8 when he first came off the lead rein.

[nappyaddict]

Mollie Is the lunge rein when the instructor stands still and the horse goes around them in a large circlular area?

[MollieO]

Nappy yes it is.

[olderyetwider]

My competent 11 year old has a monthly lunge lesson as I am a sadist! (really because it's a chance to iron out faults and she's really committed). She started lessons at 4, and was totally off the lead rein by 5, on and off a bit in between, dependng on which pony sh was on, what they were doing, and a couple of confidence wobbles after falling off.

[marialuisa]

I was mean and wouldn't let DD start lessons younger as I knew we'd end up where are now...with a pony of her own! The instructor she had then said she found the 7+ kids came on quicker as a rule. I really think it's private lessons that make the difference, DD's first 5 lessons were in a group of 6 kids, the next (where she came off the lead rein was private). She's now been riding approximately 12 months and can jump well, been cross-country and to shows-but for the past 6 months she's either loaned or had her own pony so had lots of time in the saddle.

[MollieO]

Ds thinks that Father Christmas will be bringing him a pony this year! At ds's riding stables no one is allowed to join a class unti they are assessed as being good enough. Everyone - adults and children start off with private lessons.

As for age to start it depends on confidence imo. Ds has always been very confident around horses and the few falls he has had haven't put him off (including one rather nasty one). Contrast a couple of 9 yr olds who had falls and have stopped riding.

When ds falls off he always wants to get back on. I've never had to persuade him and I think that is important.

[Abbicob]

There are a few vidoes on youtube of Ellen Whittaker showjumping her little pony at Woodnook when she was 4 years old. She is bombing round the corners and flying the jumps.

As discussed by a few people above it all depends on how often they ride and how confident they are.

[nappyaddict]

Abbicob Where? I would like to show them to DS :)

[Santassnowyoldclothcatpuss]

Every child and pony is different. I think the smallies have less sense of danger, but obviously have less control over the ponies. DD had her own pony from age five or so, but it wasn't necessarily the right one to take her off lead rein. She was a bit restricted until pony no.2 came along.
I'd start them off young, and don't over horse them. My friend uses shetlands and welsh a's in her lessons, but I've seen other instructors put small kids on bigger ponies. This is okay, gives them confidence etc, but if a bigger pony decides to misbehave, a little one isn't going to have much control. Better to learn good balance and control on a smaller pony and safely get off lead rein.

[Abbicob]

I will try and find them fo ryou - at work now and You tube is banned!

[nappyaddict]

No problem.

[mummydoc]

my dd has been riding for 14 montsh , started with her own pony from day 1 but he is quirky and sharp. was off lead in summer at pony club camp, jumping mini x country courses etc, then for no know reason has decided wants to go back on lead rein. i really do not get the rush to get tehm off. i have in fact left our pony club this month for this reason. our winter lessons had 7 in the group , all off LR except my dd, the others had no control and the sessions was constantly stop start while the instructor spaced everyone out , or picked people up , or mopped up tears, my dd got really upset as the others kept barging into her. meanwhile the mothers sit on the side sniping " oh isn't little mummdoc off the lead yet ? " smirk smirk " my little lucinda is only 3 and she is off the lead " ffs - she maybe but doesn't mean she can ride does it ? we have joined a new PC and went on sunday - bloody marvellous , instructor insisited mums helped , ran along side etc, every child got something out of the session and my dd was able to concentrate on her riding instead of getting anxious over controlling pony or others barging into her. DON'T rush them.

[Butkin]

Totally agree that too many parents rush their children off the LR - usually because they are too lazy to run with them (especially at Pony Club or out hunting).

DD is a very experienced rider and came off the LR at home last Autumn (6.5) but was still on the LR at Pony Club until mini camp in June when she was riding off.

At shows she was doing LR classes last year but has been doing First Ridden classes all this year (now 7) and started doing cross country lessons in October (7.5).

I think 5 is too young - especially out hacking - as they may physically be up to it but mentally they are not prepared, especially if something happens like a bird flying up etc.

It was only at the end of the show season that DD could adapt her set canter show to the situation of the class.

DD hasn't been hunting off the LR yet. She could just about do it now but we're just being cautious, especially with regards jumping in company.

[Butkin]

I should also mention that as she isn't 8 until Febuary she can still ride LR show ponies and should pick up plenty of spare rides in 2011 as other kids have grown out of their class... Fingers crossed!

[mummydoc]

thankyou butkin ! feel i am alone voice in this. i have seen video of your dd riding your palamino pony which you sold and she looked super little rider - i know my dd is good for her experience and age but i still want to lead her if that is what she wants , that is how she gets happy and confident.

[arentfanny]

DD started riding in February this year at 4, started doing some of th lead rein by June and then decided she could ride and has refused to go ever since.

Mind you when she got to Z in the alphabet at school she decided that she had learnt everything and didn't need to go anymore.

[Pixel]

Ds has been riding 5 years and is 10 years old but is still on the lead-rein so do I get a medal for not rushing him?

Goodness knows what the pony club mummies would make of him. Mind you, the RDA ladies like him, they kindly sent him home with a Christmas pressie.

[nappyaddict]

arentfanny Aren't they funny! When is she 5?

[arentfanny]

January.