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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 555
 
Location: Texas | Looking to see people thoughts that have used this for their kids. Pro's and con's. I have seen them and undecided if I really think it's the best thing for my daughter. I have a saddle that fits her but she cannot keep her feet in the stirrups, even at the shortest length. She's almost their but not yet. Would you get one of these to help stay in the saddle while she rides? I'm just worried that she may not be able to get out or away from horse if something happens. thank you in advance. |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
   
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | I haev one for my 3 year old son because he loves to ride, and trot. But he just turned 3 and doesn't have the best balance so this helps keep him in the saddle and so he doesn't tip off the side. They are big velcro strips that go around their legs, and stuck to felt (the seat) . |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| Well, the little bitty boy on the cover of BHN was using one. Both of the kids at the top of the page on the very left and the very right have them on. These kids won the youth and teen divisions at NBHA Youth World. To be honest, I don't think a magic seat will help your daughter keep her feet in the stirrups. They do help a person balance a little better. KMC sunshine"s daughter used on when hse was little. I have a very snappy free runner and I use one on her. My other horses do not present as big a problem staying on. |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I am sure you will get a lot of negative feedback as they seem to be controversial. I had a friend who used one growing up and it did help keep her center and sit on her pockets. It was a remindeer for her to sit down if she heard the velcro noise. I think it depends on weight if a kid would break free from it or not. My friend who used one was probably 80 pounds and I think if her horse had went down, she would have gotten lose.
Have you tried putting blocks in the stirrups? I had those when I was younger. |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | Rather than stick them to the saddle, I took the fenders off of the saddle. I used leather dog collars for leathers on a 10" saddle until their legs were long enough to reach the stirrups on the regular fenders. I like kids to learn to keep their feet in the proper position from the beginning instead of having to retrain them after they get bigger and have developed a bad habit.
That's also why I buy good kids saddles instead of the cheapest thing that will get them by. If they learn correctly to begin with it saves a lot of headaches later on. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| Have you tried getting those attachable short stirrups, my awesome little hauling partner has them (she's 8, I think), and she can hustle with them without losing her stirrups. As soon as she's tall enough for the stirrups on her saddle, she'll be too big for the pony. haha |
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 Expert
Posts: 1898
| rachellyn80 - 2015-09-21 1:12 PM
Rather than stick them to the saddle, I took the fenders off of the saddle. I used leather dog collars for leathers on a 10" saddle until their legs were long enough to reach the stirrups on the regular fenders. I like kids to learn to keep their feet in the proper position from the beginning instead of having to retrain them after they get bigger and have developed a bad habit.
That's also why I buy good kids saddles instead of the cheapest thing that will get them by. If they learn correctly to begin with it saves a lot of headaches later on.
I second this! My daughter rode this way for a long time but we made English leathers instead. She just turned 4 and is just now fitting into her 10" fenders. I run with a gal who's little girls don't use stirrups at all yet. She says balance first then speed and I have to agree. I think if a small child is falling off when learning to ride, they need to learn to ride correct and not become dependent on a "devise" to keep them on. Teach her to use her core and her thighs instead.
I think the Magic Seat is fine for someone with a medical balance issue or for a rider who can ride but gets out of time on a really snappy horse but I don't think they should be employed for young riders who haven't found their seat yet. |
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 Professional Amateur
Posts: 6750
Location: Oklahoma | Both adults and kids use these things. I let the Child Gone Wild ride without stirrups for years, but when she started riding the big horses - I put the miracle seat on to help her feel more confident. She is a timid rider (although you wouldn't think that from the runs she has made in the past year), but it takes her a little bit to trust a horse and feel confident that she can ride the horse. You need to go with your gut and what you feel is best for your daughter. There are so many tools out there. You use what is right for you. |
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Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | cyount2009 - 2015-09-21 1:46 PM rachellyn80 - 2015-09-21 1:12 PM Rather than stick them to the saddle, I took the fenders off of the saddle. I used leather dog collars for leathers on a 10" saddle until their legs were long enough to reach the stirrups on the regular fenders. I like kids to learn to keep their feet in the proper position from the beginning instead of having to retrain them after they get bigger and have developed a bad habit.
That's also why I buy good kids saddles instead of the cheapest thing that will get them by. If they learn correctly to begin with it saves a lot of headaches later on. I second this! My daughter rode this way for a long time but we made English leathers instead. She just turned 4 and is just now fitting into her 10" fenders. I run with a gal who's little girls don't use stirrups at all yet. She says balance first then speed and I have to agree. I think if a small child is falling off when learning to ride, they need to learn to ride correct and not become dependent on a "devise" to keep them on. Teach her to use her core and her thighs instead. I think the Magic Seat is fine for someone with a medical balance issue or for a rider who can ride but gets out of time on a really snappy horse but I don't think they should be employed for young riders who haven't found their seat yet.
Savvy is 6 this year and stepping up to a big horse from her pony. She was having some trouble getting rocked back when he would leave a turn and losing her stirrups. ( I don't like for them to rely on rubber bands when practicing, but don't mind them in competition because things happen.) Anyway, I have had her practicing at home with no stirrups so that she gains some strength in her body as well as some confidence in her riding, instead of panicking when she blows a stirrup during a run. It didn't take her long to get comfortable and now she goes just as fast without stirrups as she does with them. We also required her to wear a helmet this year since her new horse is so much bigger. He's 15.2 and her pony is only 35", lol. She's ridden big horses all of her life, but never an actual barrel horse.
The point is, gadgets can cause an unnecessary handicap if they're used for the wrong reasons. The kids that I know that grew up with magic seats still don't ride very well. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I'm not a fan for kids under 100lbs, personally.
When my boyfriends niece rode my big guy we were about 1 hole away from having the stirrups short enough, we opted for light weight rubber bands that she would break if she came off.
On a separate note i run with a gal who was using a magic seat on her bob Marshall. Competent rider, but admittedly does not have the best balance and seat. Small gal, huge horse with lots of action when he runs. She bought a new treed saddle last month that fits her and the horse well - no more magic seat. Runs a nice pattern without flopping around. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
Location: Lost in the swamps | Both the kid I teach and I ride in one on a
horse that is difficult to ride.
The mares just roughrough. And we both weight about 90 #'s
Helps her confidence and help lil old me from getting tossed! I'm a believer in good balance. But I also know I'm tiny and on a high powered difficult to ride horse I'd rather be a little more secure than
get flung and loose time. And I don't care who's looking or laughing! Lol
Edited by imturnin3 2015-09-22 9:45 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 555
Location: Texas | Thank you. I think I'm just going to go with her learning her own balance and try and get stirrups up to fit her legs. She's almost there. I didn't want her dependant on anything except herself. I did see above the 2 champions used them but I agree as some people mentioned depends upon the horse and rider. I appreciate every one's advice. |
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