| You’ve just bought your dream home. It sets | | | | most of that time and was tiny. I don’t know |
| right on the outer edge of suburbia and there is | | | | the exact age of the horse but he had some |
| room to keep a horse, either on your own | | | | years on him. He was the best baby sitter you |
| property or at a boarding stable near by. All of | | | | ever saw. On him, Traci learned how to ride, |
| your new neighbors own horses so naturally your | | | | compete, and she grew up into a pretty good |
| child wants a horse. Here are some things to | | | | cowgirl. It was a long ways to the ground but |
| consider in buying a horse for a child. I’m | | | | children are fearless. His height never seemed to |
| going to list them backwards in importance | | | | be an issue with her at all. |
| because I find most people put their emphasis on | | | | Getting on a horse is a problem when you’re |
| the wrong things. | | | | short, but I have yet to see a child who |
| First let me clarify that in this usage a Kid’s | | | | couldn’t figure out some way to mount their |
| horse is a noun in the same way a Cutting horse, | | | | horse. The main thing is to have a horse that will |
| Heading horse, Heeling horse and any other type | | | | stand still while they shinny up a front leg, climb |
| horse would be depending on what job or | | | | up on a fence, swing from a tree limb, use a |
| discipline they are being used for. Being a Kid’s | | | | pickup truck bed, or this was my favorite for an |
| horse is definitely a job. The other point to note is | | | | old white horse we had, jump off the barn roof |
| that the age of the rider has little to do with the | | | | onto his back. These were all techniques I used |
| animal being a Kid’s horse. Many an adult is | | | | when I was young. There were others but I |
| out there searching for a Kid’s horse even as | | | | don’t want to cause my Mother heart failure |
| you read this. Most of them don’t even know | | | | if she reads this. |
| that is what they are looking for. But, they are, | | | | Yes, it can hurt when you fall off a tall horse. It |
| now back to the things that are most important | | | | can also hurt when you fall off a pony. I noticed, |
| or less important in buying a Kid’s horse. | | | | when I was learning, that the landing area you |
| The size of the animal is probably the least | | | | chose had much more to do with the amount of |
| important factor in buying a Kid’s horse. | | | | hurt accompanying the fall than the height of the |
| Everyone wants to get their child a pony. The | | | | horse did. There is an old saying that if |
| pony is so cute and he’s close to the ground. | | | | you’ve never hit the ground, you’re not |
| The kid’s can get on him easier. It won’t | | | | a cowboy. This is an unfortunate truth. It’s |
| hurt as bad when they fall. Your little ones | | | | the same in most sports; until you’ve really |
| won’t be as scared. These are just some of | | | | been tested you don’t know how good you |
| the justifications I’ve heard over the years | | | | really are. You really can’t judge how well you |
| and they all sound very sensible. The problem is, | | | | ride until you’ve found out at what point |
| they don’t take into consideration the | | | | you’re coming out of the saddle. Parents, |
| temperament of the pony. | | | | it’s part of the experience, protect your |
| Before I go on I’d like to address a few of | | | | children as best you can with good horses and |
| these concerns. When a friend of mine’s | | | | helmets but expect to have to wipe away a few |
| daughter was five up until she was around ten or | | | | tears (depending on the age and toughness of the |
| eleven, Traci rode a big rangy sorrel horse that | | | | child at the time) and then help them get back in |
| must have been seventeen hands or taller to run | | | | the saddle. |
| barrels on. Traci didn’t weigh fifty pounds | | | | |