Youth

Don’t overcomplicate kids’ first lessons.

Whether your child is just getting involved with horses or he or she is an experienced showman, there’s always more to learn.

A child’s relationship with his or her first horse can make or break the rest of their equine careers. Finding a safe, enjoyable mount that’ll serve the needs of a young, inexperienced rider is a tall task, though. Just how broke does a kid’s horse need to be, what type of training should he have, and what degree of soundness issues can you manage?

In this new section, we’ll explore how horsemen and -women have introduced children to the horse world. In our first installment, National Finals Rodeo barrel racer Shali Lord discusses how she and her husband have developed a love for horses in their two children, Slade, 8, and Stealy, 3.

Facebook groups are a popular way to communicate with others who have a shared interest, which is why we created a few of our own. Check out our Facebook groups and join the conversation!

These are four common mistakes I've seen parents or coaches making with their kids' tack and gear that are doing a disservice to their kids' horsemanship.

These key horseback riding and handling guidelines will help keep you safe in the saddle and at the barn. Important for everyone, they're especially critical for novices and children.

Horseback riding can help youngsters become good drivers as they learn to pay attention to where their horse is going plus watch out for ‘traffic.’

Kids and horses make the perfect pair for valuable life lessons.

In today’s world, horses may be one of the best tools ever for fostering healthy, well-adjusted children.

What’s being done to bring more young people into the world of horses? Quite a lot, actually.

In a growing trend, unique horsemanship programs are benefiting kids that might otherwise never see a horse— and drawing new families into the horse world.