In a newsgroup who readers seem to agree that anything you can do to make
your child safer is worth it, I hesitate to post anything about horses.
Despite helmets, boots, and bomb-proof horses there are safer endeavors...

"enigma" wrote in message
. ..
Boo (6 in August) wants to start horse riding lessons this
summer. so... what questions do i need to ask the
instructor/stable?
i tried to get him into theraputic riding last year, but the
wait list is miles long & starts over every 3 months.

From this question I'm wondering if you are looking for regular riding
lessons or a special theaputic program? My answers only refers to a regular
program

My daughter has been riding since the summer she turned six. She begged and
begged to ride, which I thought was odd since she was afraid of dogs, but
okay. I found that most barns have minimum age limits, and for most barns
in my area, that age limit was 8 years old. So when I found one that would
accept a 5 year old I knew at least they must have experience with little
kids, and they did. So, look for barns that have toddler, pre-schooler get
to know riding lessons. They have the bomb-proof horses and the patient
teachers that understand both the horses and the extreme beginner child.
Then go to the barn and watch. If you don't feel comfortable at the barn,
look for another barn. You are going to be spending lots of time here, with
beautiful animals that on their best days can be still be spooked by
something weird and uncharacteristically act up. Make sure you trust the
safety precautions the barn has in place. Take this time to talk to the
parents hanging around, and watch the instructors. Here you can get some
idea of what instructors might be good for your child. Some kids respond
better to being pushed. Some respond better to teacher that let them go at
their own pace. Some respond better to teachers who coddle, at least at the
beginning. Find the teacher that works best for Boo. Then book a lesson
with that instructor, and let the instructor pick the proper horse. At this
age it is by far best to have private lessons, where the instructor is fully
focused on your child. Note that some barns that do not advertise
theraputic riding may have instructors that have experience in theraputic
riding. When you find a barn you like you can ask if they have someone
experience in this.

You can book lessons that teach horse care, or riding only lessons. I'm not
sure where Boo's interest lie, but you can go either way. I found camps,
with daily lessons and one assigned horse that gets used to the little ones
is the best place to learn horse care. Learning it once a week doesn't hold
their interest as well, and horses seem to remember little ones they saw
yesterday, but maybe not last week. Some camps include group horse care,
but private lessons for beginner (1 instructor per horse). These type of
day camps might work for your son. At this point my daughter is a junior
counselor at these types of camps. They last half a day and include riding
(she does not teach riding...they need more experience) horse facts, horse
handling and care, and do horse art.