Horseback riding basics
Here’s what you need to know before taking your kids horseback riding:
- Riding can be pricey. A family of four can expect to spend $100-$200 for a trail ride.
- Reservations are recommended, if not required.
- Stables often have age and weight restrictions. Be sure to ask before you go.
- Children do best when they know what to expect so plan to talk to them before you go. Nervous riders might want to see the horses from a distance at first and not necessarily ride the first time they visit the stable, says Caroline Namrow, who has taken her kids riding.
- Trail rides are usually geared toward beginners. The first 10 minutes is often spent covering the basics such as how to get on the saddle, hold the reigns properly, and position legs and feet as well as how to stop and turn.
- Most stables and riding facilities provide helmets, which may or may not be required.
- Appropriate clothing is a must. Long pants are recommended for comfort and all stables require closed-toe shoes or boots with a heel (for grip on stirrups).
- Athletic ability is not required. Getting on the horse and riding for an hour requires some physical ability, but you don’t have to be athletic. Don’t be surprised if you are a bit sore the next day. “But it’s not like going to a gym and working out,” says ranch owner Amanda Manown. Anyone can do it.”
By Laura Barnhardt Cech
