4 Reasons to buy your child riding lessons before a horse

Young girl kissing a gray horse on the nose

Did your child ask for a horse for Christmas? I know I (Christy) did every year, much to my parents’ chagrin. I never could convince them that our backyard was big enough. Looking back, I’m glad they didn’t buy me a horse. If they had, I don’t think I would be the horsewoman I am today. I had to work for my passion. I volunteered at a Girl Scout camp, paid for my own riding lessons when I could, and eventually became a full-time horse wrangler in Texas. All of these experiences taught me how much work (and cash!) goes into caring for a horse, so now as an adult I am equipped to care for the horses Trent and I have.

If your child is begging for a horse, consider buying them riding lessons instead. Here are four reasons why riding lessons are a better option for your child than diving head-first into horse ownership:

Little girl in rainbow dress and pink cowboy boots climbing on a fence to pet six horses on the other side

1. Make sure your child’s passion is long-term.

Sure, your kid is horse-crazy now, but for a lot of children, it’s just a phase. Have your child take riding lessons for a while to see how dedicated they are before committing to a 1000-pound, accident prone, composting machine that eats 15-20 pounds of hay on the daily. Are they reluctant to spend time with their horse, or are they always chomping at the bit—pun intended—to saddle up and ride? A tell-tale sign that your kid is in it for life: they are excited to pick up manure and clean stalls. I know I was. I did it for free all the time growing up. A truly horse-crazy kid is thrilled to participate in anything involving horses, even the smelly stuff. A horse can be a 20- to 30-year commitment, so make sure your child is in it for the long haul before buying that pony.

Four-year-old girl wearing pigtail braids standing next to a black horse

2. Lessons will help your child become a more well-rounded rider.

Riding lessons will allow your child to ride multiple horses instead of just one. I have ridden hundreds of horses (I have a spreadsheet of all the horses I’ve ridden 🤓), and I honestly think that’s been one of the best things for my riding. Every horse is different. Some have a lot of energy and like to go, so you have to be softer with those horses. Some horses like to take it easy and need a rider with strong legs to get the horse moving. In my opinion, riders that can adapt to different horses are just better. If you buy your kid a horse, and that’s the only horse they ever ride, they’ll most likely only be able to ride THAT horse and struggle with anything else. Let your child get some experience on a few different horses before buying them their own. Having ridden multiple horses will also help them choose a horse when it does come time to buy, because they’ll know what they like and don’t like.

3. If you’re a horse newbie, lessons will help keep your child safe.

Safety is paramount when handling horses. If you’re new to the horse world, you should definitely take riding lessons before buying a horse, because an educated instructor will have a wealth of information and guidance to keep you and your child safe. Horses aren’t like dogs—although sometimes I wonder about Tuff 😆—and they can be afraid of their own shadow at times. A riding instructor will know their horses’ personalities, recognize changes in their body language, and help your child avoid problems before they start.

As a certified riding instructor through the CHA, I’ve had safety drilled into my brain. I’ve been taught to have my “head on a swivel,” always on the lookout for potential danger to keep my riders as safe as reasonably possible. I’ve heard so many horror stories from people who’ve had horses run away with them, knock them off under a low tree branch, kicked and bitten them, and the list goes on. While horses are wonderful animals, they are a lot like children and will test their boundaries. A riding instructor will recognize behaviors in their horses that are not ideal and address them before they turn into dangerous habits. Riding lessons from a qualified instructor will help your introduction to the horse world be a pleasant experience rather than another horror story.

Another bonus of developing a good relationship with a riding instructor: They can help you choose the right horse when you do decide to buy and steer you away from any sellers who may not be trustworthy.

4. Compared to horse ownership, riding lessons really aren’t that expensive.

From a practical standpoint, riding lessons are cheaper than owning your own horse. Your kid gets to enjoy all the fun aspects of horses without the added expenses of feed, farrier visits, annual vaccinations, dental care, routine de-worming, vet bills, boarding, etc. Trust me—it adds up! Many people balk at the price of lessons (ours are $60 an hour for private lessons and $45 an hour for groups), but compared to the overall cost of horse ownership, it’s really a steal.

Young girl removing a halter from a horse

Wrapping Up

To be clear, I’m not against horse ownership—we have seven with plans to buy more! But it’s imperative to be educated before jumping into such a big commitment. Eventually owning your own horse is a fabulous goal, but even after you reach that goal, you should still continue taking lessons. A rider’s education should never stop. I still take lessons when I can. Shoot, even Olympic riders take lessons!

The team at 180 Ranch would love to help you or your child develop your horsemanship skills. Email info@180ranchnwa.com for more information about riding lessons at 180 Ranch.

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