| Unfortunately, I have seen what can happen when | | | | Beginning riders have difficulty staying on to begin with, |
| inappropriate school horses are chosen for a riding | | | | and rough school horses will only complicate matters |
| lesson program. Horses that are unpredictable or | | | | further. When you ride the horse prior to purchase, pay |
| sensitive react negatively to children who don't know | | | | attention to the ease with which the animal changes |
| what they are doing, and disaster can ensue. | | | | gait as well as the movement of the gait itself. Bouncy, |
| When choosing school horses for your riding lesson | | | | jarring, and uncomfortable gaits will make a beginning |
| program, I recommend a five-point system for rating | | | | rider's life much more difficult. |
| each horse that you try out for purchase. This system | | | | Point 5: Price |
| will help you to objectively evaluate horses that will be | | | | Although this might be the least (or the most) of your |
| used for beginners. | | | | concern, price is important when it comes to choosing |
| Point 1: Temperament | | | | school horses for a riding lesson program. A cheap |
| This is arguably the most important point because it will | | | | horse that appears wonderful by all accounts should |
| determine how well the horse behaves around children. | | | | worry you because there might be something the |
| Horses used for beginner lessons should be: | | | | owner isn't telling you. |
| - Calm & Quiet | | | | On the other hand, an expensive horse that doesn't |
| - Slow to React | | | | seem worth the price might break the bank, and as |
| - Insensitive to Rein Pressure | | | | such be a poor investment. Although I hate this fact, |
| - Insensitive to Leg Pressure | | | | owning a barn is a business, and you have to look at |
| - Comfortable with Sudden Movements | | | | the return on your investments. If, after two lessons, a |
| The two qualities that might confuse you are | | | | school horse can no longer be ridden, the animal was |
| insensitivity to rein pressure and leg pressure. Reason | | | | not worth the price that you paid. |
| being, young riders are more likely to pull on school | | | | Questions to Ask the Owner |
| horses' mouths and bank their legs against their horses' | | | | When you're looking for several school horses, it helps |
| sides. If the horse is too sensitive, you'll have plenty of | | | | to have a list of questions prepared that you can ask |
| accidents. You want a horse who isn't fazed by | | | | the owner, and cover everything in one fell swoop. |
| accidental movements. | | | | After looking at a few horses you may begin to feel |
| Point 2: Ground Manners | | | | as though your brain has been fried, and you might |
| Similar to Point 1, school horses should be as close to | | | | miss factors that would not otherwise have escaped |
| perfect as possible when it comes to ground manners. | | | | your attention. Here are a few effective questions to |
| Lesson horses should be willing to be lead, should not | | | | ask: |
| bite or kick, and should stand quietly when tied. Children | | | | 1. How does the horse react to the heat? Especially if |
| tend to run even when they aren't supposed to and | | | | you live in one of the southern states, this will be |
| are disposed to sudden movements. I use the term | | | | important to school horses in your riding lesson |
| 'laid-back' when it comes to school horses because | | | | program. A horse that dehydrates easily will not be |
| they must be willing to deal with uncomfortable | | | | good for your students. |
| situations. | | | | 2. How does the horse behave with other horses? |
| Point 3: Health | | | | Many barn owners turn their school horses out |
| When purchasing school horses for your riding lesson | | | | together in a common pasture, and if the horse doesn't |
| program, be sure to obtain a copy of the horses' | | | | get along with his equine counterparts, you might have |
| medical records. Look for injuries, illnesses and anything | | | | a problem. |
| else that might compromise a school horse's ability to | | | | 3. What kind of feed is the horse used to? Although |
| perform. Chances are, a lesson horse will need to be | | | | this might seem like a minor matter, you have to be |
| ridden daily, sometimes twice per day, and should have | | | | able to feed the horse. Make sure that he can either |
| a hearty constitution. | | | | stomach the type of feed you have now, or that you |
| Even with the medical records, however, it is best to | | | | can purchase the type of feed that he currently gets. |
| have the horse vetted prior to sale. The veterinarian | | | | 4. How has the horse been shod? Shoes are |
| will take X-rays and run tests to determine probability | | | | important. Some school horses require shoes on all |
| of lameness or other problems. A horse with weak | | | | four feet (which I recommend), while others can go |
| navicular bones, for example, would not be a good bet | | | | barefoot on the back. Make sure that you can |
| for a school horse. | | | | adequately care for his feet using the farrier you have |
| Point 4: Gait | | | | now. |