the Price of Horseback Riding Lessons

My daughter has always loved horses, so I asked some horse owners in our rural area if they would provide lessons. A neighbor who has a daughter who is close in age to my own daughter eventually offered to do it for $20. The lessons began in 2004 when my daughter was 8 and continue to this day. The price has not gone up. For the first few years, the lessons were private, but for the past year one other child has been included in the lessons. So although the price has not changed, my child receives less attention than she did previously.

Lessons normally last for 1-1/4 hours, but can last for several hours when they take trail rides through the woods. Among the topics covered during lessons are safety, horsemanship, horse health and anatomy, grooming, and feeding. The first time my daughter had a lesson, I tried to pay by check, but was told that cash was preferred, so that is how we have paid since then.

Lessons are scheduled for Saturday mornings, but we remain flexible. During the summer and school breaks, lessons are sometimes scheduled during the week instead, especially if we were not able to ride on Saturday for some reason. Riding in the rain or in extreme heat or cold is not pleasant. Sometimes lessons are canceled due to inclement weather or schedule conflicts. Being that we are neighbors, last minute cancellations have not been a problem and the instructor has not charged us if we canceled for any reason.

We had to sign a release form stating that we knew of the inherent dangers in horseback riding and promising not to sue in case of any injuries. This seems to be standard procedure for horseback riding wherever you go. If push comes to shove, though, I am told you can still proceed against the instructor. Hopefully we will never have to find out about this in any greater detail.

My daughter has thoroughly enjoyed her lessons and has become quite an accomplished rider. She has always been timid when trying new things and it took her a very long time to feel comfortable on the horse doing anything more than walking. When she eventually tried trotting she loved it, but when the time came to canter, again it took lots of time and patience on the part of the instructor. She even suggested that perhaps my daughter should try another instructor or take part in a group lesson, but eventually my daughter made up her mind to canter and now she loves it.

Lessons normally last 1-1/4 hours and speed by quickly. On beautiful days, the instructor sometimes invites my daughter to stay longer and they have ridden all over the area on horseback together. They have also been in parades and gone to see dressage events. The instructor does not charge extra for the longer trail rides and does not charge at all for parade participation. Sometimes she asks for payment when taking my daughter to special events.

Safety has always been a primary concern of these lessons. The instructor herself was thrown off a horse and broke her back, spending months in recovery, so while she stresses that falling is part of riding, many injuries can be prevented.

As mentioned previously, the instructor has been very patient; she also has a positive, upbeat attitude and provides lots of encouragement and positive reinforcement. There have been some months over the years when she was not able to conduct lessons and we tried other instructors. This was not successful, as their riding methods differed and their personalities did not click with my daughter. They also charged $35 per hour. So we waited for our neighbor to return to giving lessons. It is an excellent value and we could not be happier. The only thing that annoys us sometimes is that the instructor is quite involved in her religion and sometimes tries to do a bit of indoctrination.

When seeking horseback riding lessons, check with others for recommendations. Visit the facility to meet the instructor and the horses. Notice if the animals and facilities are clean and well-cared for. Ask the instructor what methods they use -- English and Western saddles are a big factor, too. Some use only one or the other and riding techniques differ accordingly.

Be sure that safety is emphasized. While accidents do happen, tragedy can often be prevented. Be sure that helmets are always used. One of the instructors that we tried when our regular instructor was not available shrugged off the use of helmets. Needless to say, we did not return to her. Her personality also did not suit my daughter and if you don't like your teacher, learning to ride will not be the enjoyable activity that it should be.

Horses are large animals and can be dangerous. It may be wise to wait until your child is at least 8 years old to begin lessons. If the instructor does not provide helmets, you should purchase one that fits properly. It is best not to get a used helmet because you never know if it has been previously damaged. You will also need boots or shoes with a smooth sole and a low heel. The heel helps the foot stay in the stirrup and the smooth surface allows the foot to slide out of the stirrup more easily when dismounting or (rarely) falling.

All other equipment should be provided by the instructor. All you need to do is show up and enjoy your experience!