Horse riding lessons

[alphasunrise]

My girl (now almost 15) wants to learn how to ride a horse, and she also wants to learn how to take care of horses. I have very little experience with horses, and I know some of y'all do, so what do I look for to find a place that will give good lessons? What should tell me to hop back in the car and look elsewhere?

Comments

[buymeaclue]

Is there a particular discipline/sport she'd like to pursue, or does she just want to be around horses

[buymeaclue]

[ETA: This email was for an adult beginner; obviously in your case you're looking for somebody used to working with teens. And I would say that a low-drama barn where the kids are kept happy and busy is going to be a priority. *g

[buymeaclue]

Lesson horses should certainly be healthy-looking. Bright eyes, good-looking and -feeling coats (probably shaggy this time of year), hooves that aren't cracking and chipped, basic interest in what's going on. Doesn't bother me at all to see a shadow of rib on a fit horse, but protruding hipbones or clearly visible ribs in an otherwise unhealthy-looking critter, obviously not a good idea. Similarly, super-fat isn't great. Dirt and mud doesn't faze me--hurrah for a horse getting turned out!--but obviously that should be knocked off before the horse is ridden. A patch of white hairs on an otherwise dark horse on the withers/back tends to be a sign of an ill-fitting saddle. One or two horses wouldn't bother me--you don't know where the horses came from, some are hard to fit, etc.--but everything in the barn would be an issue

[buymeaclue]

Other safety issues, they should make you sign a waiver, and should require that you wear an ATSM/SEI-certified helmet (often they'll have a few loaners you can use for the first lesson or two) and boots with a heel. Some great instructors, especially in dressage and the western disciplines, will opt not to wear a helmet themselves and won't require it of adult students. This doesn't mean they aren't great instructors, but I think it's a stupid practice and I like your brain too much to want to see it crunched. Wear the helmet

[alphasunrise]

Thanks so much! We're in southern Indiana now so a lot applies. I don't think she knows which sport or discipline is for her, but this will certainly help us find a good place.