There is no greater pleasure than to watch a child develop skills and confidence while riding ponies. Children and ponies belong together like peaches and cream!
The secret is never to rush them. Go at the pace of the child and should they show signs of fear or confidence loss it is vital that you go back to some stage that they are happy with. Never force a child to work on something they are not happy about. Once the enjoyment turns to fear the enjoyment must be restored as soon as is humanly possible.
I feel the younger a child can get into the saddle the better, although this by no means makes for a better rider than one that starts later. Many instructors will not take them on till they are at least six. I can see the reason behind this as six is a better age when they can concentrate a little more, develop balance on the pony and take in the information more efficiently. However I have had riders much younger and they can certainly start to learn skills all be it slowly. They must be kept on the lead rein longer than normal. Riders very young e.g. three-five, will need a lot more physical support while they develop balance. As the instructor you will spend more time amusing them with simple lessons. Lots of walking and halting trotting will be introduced very slowly at such a young age. A game such as Simon says and exercises such as around the world will bring fun into the lesson.
For the lead rein and child riders it is important to avoid them falling off the pony at all cost. Riders do drop off; it is the unspoken rule of becoming a rider. However in the early stages it must be avoided as a fall to early can dent the confidence of the child greatly. Keep the child on a lead rein as long as you feel necessary and never rush to get them off. Use your most trustworthy schoolmaster for their early lessons.
If your pupil and the pony do Part Company try not to make a big deal out of it. Let the child have a cry and comfort them while they calm down. Make sure there is no serious injury! Get them back in the saddle as quick as possible and just keep them in walk till the end of the lesson. Make sure the child's parent is aware of the fall so they can observe as necessary throughout the evening at home.
These days strangely I do have the occasional parent that feels children should not fall off. The rider wants to show jump for Great Britain when older but does not want to fall off while getting to this stage. Sadly this attitude and fear of falling off rubs down from the parent into the mind of the child. The child before even learning to ride is afraid and paranoid about falling off. Expecting a rider to become accomplished in the saddle without falling of ever is unreasonable. This must be pointed out to the parent and they need to be aware that their negative attitude is affecting the child. However having said all this you will find that riders with such parents rarely if ever take up riding for long!
Before we begin the actual lessons it is important that the instructor is aware of the importance of the job they are doing. The child will automatically become very respectful of you, their instructor. They will often soak up a lot of your teachings like a sponge will soak up water. It is your chance to mould a kind and thoughtful rider that will always see the pony as a sentient being rather than a machine to treat harshly. One only has to look around to see the riders disrespectful of their mount and you can tell they have been taught by someone who cares little for the thoughts, feelings or comfort of the horse or pony.
Some riders are trained early on that if your pony does not do as you ask then you must hit it! My riders are always taught that if the pony does not respond they must be asking incorrectly. They are taught (as all children should be) that the whip is a schooling aid to be used lightly as communication. The stick should never be used as an instrument of punishment. I think it is wonderful when students of mine feel really bad even using the stick as an aid. There are several girls I have taught from a very young age. They are now fine young women who are probably the only people I would be prepared to leave alone with total care of my own precious horses and ponies. Teaching riders to love and respect their ponies is the most important lesson you can ever teach!
Once the child actually gets on board always remember that concentration will be intermittent. Keep things simple and basic; it often helps if you can liken actions on the pony to every day actions that they might see at home or in the car. An example of this would be use of the legs. I often refer to the use of legs as putting in petrol. If mum and dad did not put petrol in the car it would not go. I point out that the use of the legs is petrol and they must keep putting petrol in so that the pony will go! Simple but it sticks with them.
Exercises break the monotony for the child and lots of little games can be used to build confidence and teach lessons that would normally be a little boring for the child. Lead rein races can quickly build confidence. The children forget any worries while they are competing. An example is trotting the length of the arena and dismounting. The rider then has to pick out a grooming brush from a box name it and what to do with it remount and trot back. During this race not only have they had fun they have practiced mounting and dismounting and discussed a piece of the grooming kit as well as a good old trot!
Just use your imagination and remember what its like to be a child. Put yourself in the shoes of the rider and teach with empathy. Try to monitor the child and be aware when they are close to tears. Try and distract them into laughing. If they are well and truly full of tears and they are at a point of no return try and encourage them to have a little cry. Once it is over with they can then relax a little more.
Teaching the child rider is all about fun in a safe environment. Protect each child you teach as if it were your own. Never rush the child and see each one as individual. They are all different and therefore learn at different rates. What one child enjoys another may not. Pay attention to their feelings, worries and needs and treat them with respect. Above all teach the child rider to respect their pony at all times and they should carry this lesson on throughout their lives.
