Youth Rider

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.

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.

Horse-crazy moms long for horse-crazy kids—but it’s not always in the cards.

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.’

I’m not what you’d call a math whiz. But there’s one equation I do know well, and that’s green+green=black-’n-blue. In other words, pairing a novice rider with a green horse is just plain asking for trouble.

Sometimes cost and pedigree and professional training aren’t what make the difference. Sometimes it’s what’s inside that counts.

How to combine the 4-H lessons of head, heart, hands, and health with horsemanship.