Over-Mounted Youths
One of the biggest mistakes most beginning riders make is getting on a horse whose level of training does not match their riding ability. An untrained rider needs a well-trained horse to learn on, and vice versa. Beginning riders need to be mounted on calm, quiet, obedient school horses that are tolerant of flapping reins and bouncing butts. And only the most skilled, experienced riders should attempt to mount a green, barely broke three-year-old.
Consider leasing tack or buying good quality used tack for growing children. There are also youth-specific tack items such as adjustable child stirrups, which come as an attachment to a full-sized Western saddle. Most riding apparel and footwear comes in youth sizes. Most importantly, buy a good-fitting safety helmet, and never let your child ride without wearing it!
Parents should be careful not to set their child up to become fearful of horses by putting them on an animal that is too big for them and not suited to their ability. A child should ride a well-trained mount of proportional size until she is a very experienced rider. A 14.2-hand horse is a fine size for many eight- to ten-year-old kids. Unless a child is exceptionally tall or has ridden since she was two, a seventeen-hand horse is unnecessarily tall for a young rider. Let the child develop some confidence a little closer to the ground. This means that when she falls off, she will have less distance to fall. It also means that when she looks down, things don't look so far away. The child's legs should reach a good distance down the horse's sides.
The horse's age is important, too, because older horses generally have had more training. It takes several years to train a horse to become a safe, reliable mount. They're not born knowing what's expected of them. Some horses' temperaments make them unsuitable as mounts for anyone except the most advanced riders. A rule of thumb is that horses under five years old are too young and green for novice riders, whether youths or adults.
Many young riders are just awesome to watch ride — their youth often lends balance and flexibility combined with a general lack of fear that allows them to float with the horse. Once they take the natural ability and create a refined, skilled ability as a rider, the size of the horse doesn't matter.
Horse care and horseback riding have long been topics for 4-H groups. This is an excellent way for kids to learn about horse care. Many 4-H groups focus on a different horse activity, such as showing or trail riding. Contact your county extension agency to find out if there is a 4-H horse group in your area.
Collecting and showing model horses is an enjoyable and educational hobby for kids and adults alike. Those plastic Breyer horses you see in stores aren't merely toys. They are collectibles, and some of them hold high dollar value. Many people customize their models and compete for prizes in organized model horse shows. The hobby is educational and creative because all of the miniature tack and other appointments must be correct, just like in a real horse show.
Breyer, a well-known model horse manufacturer, hosts an annual Breyer-Fest at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, that attracts hordes of model horse collectors from around the world. The three-day event includes a model horse show, a trade fair, a swap meet, workshops on model horse collecting and showing, and exhibitions by some of the guest horses that inspired Breyer models. To learn more about model horse shows and collecting, visit
