One of the most frequent questions instructors receive are inquiries from parents wondering the appropriate age for their child to receive Horse Riding Instruction.

There is no single answer to this common question, but rather there are a number of guidelines that parents should consider. Physical and emotional development coupled with the ability to follow directions are key attributes to examine when considering riding lessons for your child. Parents, knowing their children best, should proceed with guidance from skilled instructors.

The typical range for the average child to start riding is usually between six and eight. However, some children will be ready well in advance of their sixth birthday while others needing to wait until after eight.

A child's physical development should be one of the driving factors when considering riding lessons. As riding involves the entire body and requires extensive muscular control and coordination, parents should be attune to their child's individual development. Younger children may well struggle with the level of coordination and physical demands called for in riding.

Waiting until children are slightly older to start riding lessons often helps with overall success in the saddle. Working around horses also involves heavy equipment and an older child will quickly be more self-sufficient than a younger counterpart when tacking-up and caring for their mounts.

Emotional development is as important as physical development to the overall success as an equestrian. While many young children are passionate about horses and overly committed to their desire to ride, they may not be ready to handle the intense amount of direction, critique and scrutiny that will come with the process.

Young children may not have sufficiently developed communication skills, which will make learning this new activity even more difficult and will be testing for even the most resilient young rider - Horse riding can be a complex activity that requires precise instructions which can be difficult for younger riders. While individuals of all age are often challenged to follow the exacting directions offered by an instructor, the ability to receive and attempt to follow directions is imperative to succeeding safely in the saddle.

So along with physical and emotional development, parents should assess their child's ability to receive and follow directions.

Another aspect of determining the correct age to start children riding is their innate ability to assess risk. As mentioned before, horse riding has risks and a child must be able to anticipate and react to such dangers; in return for the fun and enjoyment of riding time. Regretfully this aspect can be one of the most difficult issues for parents to address when their child is arguing hard to start riding lessons.

Parents frequently find it difficult to decide on the right age to let their children begin riding. Your child may have spent a long time trying to convince you that they are ready to start riding, but it is your responsibility to carefully consider whether in your opinion they really have the mental and physical maturity to handle riding lessons and the ability to understand the risks involved in riding. By considering these points you will be well primed to determine your child's readiness to start riding.