How young is too young for horseback riding lessons?

[landis1659]

My sister-in-law took her grandaughter for riding lessons because she loved horses so much. She was 5 when she started. Most of the kids in her group were about her age. She's been going for 3 years now and loves it. They particapate in the local parades now and everything. So it might now be too young if the instructor knows what there doing. This was something from the local Park District was offering.

 

[MaggieRae]

When I took riding lessons at a riding academy, you were allowed to begin at the age of 5 years old. I think I started at around 7... If you have kids that don't listen well, don't let them start at 5. It's too dangerous of a sport/hobby. I have that problem when I ride now if little kids are out and about. You tell them not to do things because they can get kicked or stepped on and hence hurt, but they ignore you. I'm lucky my horses are *kind of* tolerant to little ones. It's the big ones they like to be mean to.