Over the last 35 years, it has been our experience that many children in the age range of 5-7 find the intensity of an hour-long riding lesson overwhelming. They’re keen to begin their adventure with horses but at that young age, they may lack the needed stamina and focus.
Our TINY TROTTERS program is specifically designed to give these younger riders the opportunity to enjoy the riding experience in a more holistic way as well as in a way that is targeted to their age group.
There are three facets to our program:
- Time spent on the horse
- Time spent working with the horse on the ground
- Games and other fun activities related to horsemanship
In the first phase, the children will be on the horse, learning to acquire the skills needed to stay in balance in the saddle while understanding how to guide the horse in walk and trot. (Don’t worry if your little one is nervous at first. While our experienced, helpful staff will always challenge the students to try all activities, they’ll also ensure that none of the children are pushed too far out of their comfort zone.)
The second phase of the program takes place off the horse. Depending on the season, the children will have the opportunity to change into warmer or cooler clothes so that they can enjoy their time in the barn more fully. They will learn how to groom, how to understand the basics of the horse’s language, and how to lead and prepare the horse for a lesson.
Finally, in the third phase, safety rules are reinforced through games and other fun activities that children always enjoy and remember. Playing games with yoga balls and other training aids in our indoor arena increases their understanding of the art of riding while developing their motor skills, coordination, and sense of accomplishment.
The horses Harrogate uses for this program have been with the School for a long time, some as long as 20 years. They are professionals and quite forgiving of the errors beginners can sometimes inadvertently make. It is our belief that it is just as easy to learn to do things correctly from the start and this two-hour program gives your child ample opportunity to have fun while learning the rules that keep children safe around horses.
Here’s some of what they’ll learn:
- How to groom
- How to prepare the horse for lesson (tacking up)
- How to lead safely
- How to get on safely
- Understand and and maintain correct basic position
- How to perform rising trot
- How to be responsible for their equine partner after the ride
- Basic parts of the horse
- Basic parts of the saddle and bridle
- Basic stable management skills (eg. knowing horse’s vital signs)
- and much more….
COST: $290.00 for 4 weeks
(This is a monthly program and your child’s spot will be available until you decide to cancel the program. Please allow 1 week’s notice for cancellation.)
Click below for the levels your child will progress through and the skills they will acquire: