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Member
Posts: 18
| My husband and I just had our first child December 13th, 2013. A baby girl named Sarah Cade. I was thinking about going ahead and getting in the market for a pony (probably a miniature). I was wondering when your babies first began riding or being led around? Being the proud momma that I am, I have to share a picture of my baby girl with y'all (if I can figure out how to do it)! 
Edited by Gocowgirl7 2014-02-25 11:33 AM
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  Fact Checker
Posts: 16572
  
Location: Displaced Iowegian | She is a real "cutie".
Both of my boys started riding (being led by an adult on a VERY safe pony) about the age of two. They were both showing by themselves in "walk-trot" by four. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| So cute!!
I let them start riding by themselves being led around when they could balance themselves. You'll find out that they don't sit up there very well. They will start to slide to one side and if your not there to straighten them up they'll go all the way to the ground. I think both mine were about two when I would pony them around and let them be up there by themselves. It can be nerve racking because if the horse spooks they don't have the strength to hold themselves on. Be very careful and find a horse you can trust. |
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 Triple Extra-Ordinaire
Posts: 4244
Location: Okla | Mine was 3 when he got his first pony and was being led around on a big horse. By the time he was 5, he was trotting and loping barrels. |
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 Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | Don't really know when they started to let me ride alone, but I ran barrels in the rodeo for the first time when I was 4. We didn't have lead line back then, so I was entered. I rode a paint mare that was 15.2 or 15.3.. and she crow hopped with me and bucked me off. My dad got out there, picked me up, put me back on and I finished. (she crow hopped because dad said to use my whip between the first and second.. when i did, I hit her in the flank and she didn't like it..LOL) |
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 Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | My son will turn 3 in May and get his very first horse of his own (my retired all around horse) but he's been comendeering our horses for almost a year, and riding with us before that. He did his first jr rodeo at 26 months last July...
We've really been blessed with this horse. He's hubby's heading horse, who has turned out to be the most careful, gentle giant goober with my son. He's only 10 this year, so they will get to be partners for a long long time.
And his first horse show in September, riding my mare...
Here's the horse that will be all his :) She'll allow Daddy to have his horse back, LOL. I've had her for 17 years, and won everything under the sun on her. I can't wait for them to be partners.
He has a 35" pony too, but I doubt he rides the pony much. I'm just getting him broke, then gonna let my friend's boys ride the dog poop outta him for a few months or so, then we'll see what his attitude is like. I'm hoping he'll make a little goat tying pony, but for barrel races and ropings, and riding with us, I much prefer to keep him on the big horses.
I've been blessed to have the number of horses that I do that I can let my son ride and mess with. Most of them have been there and done that, but I'd have never guessed that they'd have been kid horses when they were younger. Heck, the best two I have for him are each blind in one eye. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1898
| Mine was a year and a half. We bought a mini for her in January of 2013. We LOVE him. At first we would walk right beside her, setting her back up when she would start to slide off. By March she was able to walk without someone adjusting her and by November, all she wants to do is "go faster"! (which is a nice trot). Now she wants to do it "all by herself" but she doesn't have the strength to use the reins, although she tries and we are working on how to make the horse stop, turn and back up.
If you are going to look for a pony/horse do it now. Good ones aren't easy to come by. We were lucky to find our Bill, I looked for almost a year before I found the right pony.
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Member
Posts: 18
| I love seeing everyone's pictures! I cannot wait till Cade gets old enough to ride!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1096
| Mine was super early. I have a really broke mare and I had a backpack type thing I wore with her in the back. She was maybe a year? Then I got this second seat that hooked to the front seat and she rode in that for a long time. I think she was on her own at about 3 on her pony?
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 Perky Gal
Location: On a paint horse... | Congrats!! My daughter was led through events and then rode in her first 'race' on her second birthday.  |
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 The Purple Princess
Posts: 2226
Location: Charlestown, IN | My daughter was riding by herself in our barn at 16 months! At 17 months she got a miniature. She is 3 and recently got a big girl pony. She can walk and trot by herself but it scares me to death. She showed in her first leadline class at 20 months. She's been doing Pee Wee barrels since she was 2 (26 months) with me leading her...
 
Edited by Racey Stacey 2014-02-25 2:19 PM
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 I Love the Oldies
Posts: 3767
Location: Central Washington | Leadline around 2, depending on which kid (I have 4), by themselves 4-5.
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | i think i was around 3 doing gymkana(sorry guys i dont think i spelt that right) no lead line......and i was rodeoing by 7 if not a bit before........
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I started riding at age two by myself just walking around on a big western pleasure mare (16.2). lol and I was showing pretty competitively at 3 1/2 in the peewees. I started on a faster horse at age 6.
My neices started riding at 3 years old by themselves a little. Started really taking the reins at about 5 1/2.
My newest neice is 2 1/2 and has started riding my barrel horse around with us in close range. But she can use the reins to a certain extent. |
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| See if I can get pics to work
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 902
Location: Qld Australia | 2
I had a whole reply typed and I don't know what happened to it!!
The first pics are of Leo's first pony Bluey the day we got him and at their first show when Leo was 2. Devistatingly we only had the pony for twelve months and lost him. We had two vets working on him and he was only 10 when he died.
The next grey pony is Jac, not a patch on the original at all. I searched high and low for this 2nd pony and had to settle. If we had had him first, he would have been great but he had big shoes to fill.
The big mare is 14.3 and a big step up for Leo, we got her at the end of last year. The first two rides he was terrified until she started moving and then he relaxed knowing that the feeling was the same. He would trot her all day if he could. I can't wait for thie Qld heat to go away so he can start riding consistently again.
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 I'm Here!!
Posts: 4583
Location: Is it Summer Yet? | My son started riding with someone when he was probably 6mths. "Met" his first horse the weekend he got out of the hospital. He's now 4 and rides by hiimself, probably started by himself when he was 3. Being led around when he was 2. Bomb proof horses are the key, what mine will do for that little boy, she's worth her weight in gold. She's not a mini just a regular quarter horse. |
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Expert
Posts: 1586
Location: west of East Texas | My oldest was about 3 before before I started riding again so she started then too. She was on her own from the start. My youngest was about 9 months old when I divorced and became a single mom. If I wanted to ride, I pretty much had to bring her also so she spent a lot of time in the saddle from that point on. By about 16 months she was begging to get on anything. She was 18 months when Spring rolled around and I started taking my oldest to playdays and horseshows. The youngest did fine at leadline then. She didn't slide but she did have to learn that she couldn't just walk off the horse. The next year (2 1/2) she could ride by herself around the house but I still did leadline with her because I just didn't want it take forever. At 3 1/2, we started arguing over leadline or not. My vote was not because I was tired. Her vote was yes because she could go a lot faster if I was running out in front. On her 4th birthday I retired from the leadline business and told her she was on her own and if she wanted to go faster she would have to make it happen. I skipped the pony because the horses were better trained and easier to ride. |
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Formerly Horse
Posts: 4552
Location: TEXAS | I have twins and they turned 2 in November. I have ridden around with them in front of me in the saddle a few times over the last 6 months. They really like it and always cry when their turn is over. Grandparents bought them a 3 year old pony mare who is green broke and pulls a cart. She is smart as a whip and willing to do anything! My mom has her sidepassing and can pull tarps over and under her all day long. She is young but I am convinced she is going to be a GEM!!! We are bringing her to our house in the spring and will start the lead lining:) |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7264
| These pictures are wonderful! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 836
Location: Southern Pennsylvania | I would start searching now for a pony (or horse). We started with a mini. Then, moved up to a quarter pony. It took us about two years to find each one. My brother is now 7 and can ride his horse (quarter pony) by himself. He could ride the mini in the round pen by himself at about 5. Before that we would lead the mini and have someone nearby to catch him if he started to slide. After he got older and got more strength we worried less (Plus he didn't have a long fall lol  ). Also, start making her wear a helmet as soon as possible. It is natural for him to use a helmet now.
This is him on my mare (last summer). I can't get photos of the mini or quarter pony to load.
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 365
| I was 3 when my mom got back into horses so I started then. My son is just a few days younger than your daughter born December 15th lol. I have a pony for him already, I will probably sit him on the pony and hold him on her while being led around when he can sit up on his own. I'll go from there, he probably won't be allowed to ride by himself till 3. My pony is only 39" tall so I feel safer about that. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | I know my mom carried us on the horses when we were super young.
I was riding around with others (or maybe by myself ... I don't remember! Haha) when I was two. I entered in my first playday when I was 3 or 4 and rode myself (no leadline).
Gave my 2 1/2 year-old neice a horsey ride last summer. She loved it!!!
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Member
Posts: 18
| Lucky86 - 2014-02-26 9:21 AM
I was 3 when my mom got back into horses so I started then. My son is just a few days younger than your daughter born December 15th lol. I have a pony for him already, I will probably sit him on the pony and hold him on her while being led around when he can sit up on his own. I'll go from there, he probably won't be allowed to ride by himself till 3. My pony is only 39" tall so I feel safer about that.
That makes me feel better lol bc I have my eye on a pony that we may pick up this weekend that is 36" tall. It is a registered 3 yr old Shetland that was stunted because of malnourishment. The current owners only want $150 for her. They are not making any money off her. They just wanted to save her from a bad situation. They say she is a loving pony that has never bucked, bitten, or kicked their child. I think we might try her out for a week before buying.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
| My daughter will be 2 next month. We are looking at a mini for her birthday. I let her ride with me for the first time last weekend on my barrel horse. She loved it. We did some trotting and she couldnt stop giggling. |
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 The BHW Book Worm
Posts: 1768
| I started leading my son around at 18 months...but he doesn't like horses..well at least ridding he just wants to give them treats then is over it. He is now 3 1/2 and still doesn't want much to do with it. O well but I did just give birth to a baby girl last week so we shall see if I get lucky |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 612
| My son has been riding in front of his dad or I since he was 6 months old. I think that he started riding by himself but with one of us walking or riding next him by the time that he was 3. We were very lucky to have a rope/barrel horse that took care of my son from the start. He is 7 now and has moved up the NBHA Youth Class and has started roping live steers. (It makes me very nervous to watch him rope live steers.) The first picture is my son running (trotting) barrels when he was 4. The second picture is when he had just turned 4 and my husband took him riding into a 300 acre bean field. I was glad that I wasn't home and I didn't get the picture until they were back in the barn.
Edited by JAG18 2014-02-26 12:57 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 365
| Gocowgirl7 - 2014-02-26 9:35 AM
Lucky86 - 2014-02-26 9:21 AM
I was 3 when my mom got back into horses so I started then. My son is just a few days younger than your daughter born December 15th lol. I have a pony for him already, I will probably sit him on the pony and hold him on her while being led around when he can sit up on his own. I'll go from there, he probably won't be allowed to ride by himself till 3. My pony is only 39" tall so I feel safer about that.
That makes me feel better lol bc I have my eye on a pony that we may pick up this weekend that is 36" tall. It is a registered 3 yr old Shetland that was stunted because of malnourishment. The current owners only want $150 for her. They are not making any money off her. They just wanted to save her from a bad situation. They say she is a loving pony that has never bucked, bitten, or kicked their child. I think we might try her out for a week before buying.
Cute pony, I wouldn't actually have mine if she wasn't a family pony. But I'm glad I do I can start earlier, my horse is big and I don't fully trust him with such things. |
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 Paint Horse Lover
Posts: 1427
Location: oklahoma | My daughter started leadline when she was 17 months old on a mini pony and by the end of her 2 year old year she no longer wanted to be on the lead in but we had a very trust pony named Mouse who allowed her to learn how to ride by herself.
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I'll Be Your Huckleberry
Posts: 1488
Location: Arizona | My boys didn't start riding until they were 6 and always with a helmet and usually a protective vest. They have a reliable Shetland mare and do not ride full size horses. I'm a bit crazy with the safety when it comes to horses  |
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 She thinks a tractors sexy...
Posts: 3168
Location: Texas | Mine have ridden with me before they could walk. I started lead line with them when I felt like they could stay in the middle. Both about 2-3 years. I also ran with the lead line when they were ready, as they needed to know what a trot and lope felt like. This is my daughter at 3 (ignore the pic of me. That was an all day in August in Texas. I was hot!) on lead line. The horse in the first pic was an old retired heading horse. He was so awesome. Both kids learned to ride from him. They went from lead line on him to riding by themselves. My daughter on him after leadline. Pic of my son runnning him when he was 5.
The other two was this past January. She is my speed demon.
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 Water Weight Barbie
Posts: 6829
Location: Oz, Kansas | My daughter was 2 when she got her first pony. We didn't have a saddle so she learned to ride bareback. That brat would take her under every limb in our dry lot so hubby went out one day & trimmed them all up. She fell off a lot but she was only allowed to ride by herself in the drylot. At 4 she took over her dads horse & never looked back. That old man was worth his weight in gold and he was "gasp" Hancock bred.
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