Conference noted::equitation

    In my opinion, she's old enough - the kids who ride at the stable
    where I take lessons seem to go along pretty well posting to the
    trot.  Also, posting doesn't require that she stand full height
    each time, (although it is a good stretching and balancing 
    excercise to stand while at a walk at the beginning of a lesson).
    My teacher tells the kids to sit up straight, keep the legs 
    underneath, instead of forward/backward etc.  and not to come
    too far out of the saddle.  This requires some development
    of certain muscles in the legs, but the more your daughter
    practices, the easier it will become.  I would talk to 
    her instructor to get a better idea of what level she's at
    and whether she is ready to learn posting, but if she can
    sit to the trot, chances are her balance is pretty good!
    
    Gail

As I remember from when I was teaching, the biggest challenge to posting was
rythm. It helps if they count out 1-2, 1-2 as the pony trots to get the feel for
the rythm. Then just start going up and down on 1 and 2. They will want to stand
all the way up -- the sooner they understand they don't need to, the easier it
is.

It also helps to start out on a small horse. Pony trots can be so fast that they
can't keep up!  Large horse trots can be so slow that they can't stay up.

    The other helpful aid would be to allow them to use a martingale to
    hold on to (if they need that security).
    Hi Ania. Your daughter is 7! Wow - I remember when ... guess I'm
    getting old. I'm in the process of looking for a horse - things are a
    bit more expensive than back in the old days.
    	Cindy

    Do you really mean a martingale? To me, a martingale is a strap that
    runs from the girth to the noseband or a running martingale which goes
    from the girth to rings that slide over the reins. I don't think I'd want 
    a kid hanging on to either as it would give new meaning to the phrase
    "getting under foot"! ;-) 
    
    I think there are straps designed for "hanging on" that attach to the 
    d-rings on the front of a saddle. That would probably work pretty well.

    Helen K. Crabtree says in her book that, when she is first teaching a
    child to post, she ties a polo wrap loosely about the horse's neck
    for the rider to grip.  They can actually hold on to the reins and
    the wrap at the same time.
    
    We tried this the other night with a 5 year old who was being led
    around the farm.  We took the polo wrap and draped it around the
    horse's neck.  And it was so long that we tied it like a necktie.
    
    The horse looked just like Dilbert.  But the kid had a secure hold.
    
    And actually John, the running martingale that I use (designed for
    my littler Arabians) goes up from the girth, splits, and makes a
    loop around the neck.  There's a brass ring on each side of the neck
    for a rein to slip through.  It's probably slightly more restrictive
    than the other design.  I like it as a safety feature when out on a
    trail ride.  If my horse decides to pick up his head too high and get
    a little too smart, all I have to do is pick up my hands.  
    
    gwen
    
    

    The martingale I was talking about was the standing martingale (to the
    noseband). You could hold onto that without affecting the horses head.
    		Cindy

    >The martingale I was talking about was the standing martingale (to the
    >noseband). You could hold onto that without affecting the horses head.
    
    Oh, does it have a breast strap taht goes around the neck on it? The only 
    standing martingale I've ever used didn't. I thnk of the breast strap
    as something to hold the saddle from slipping back...but if the
    martingale had one it should work.  I was imagining the kid dangling
    under the horse's neck from the strap that goes to the noseband! ;-)

    The riding schools with which I am familiar used old stirrup leathers
    as neck straps for novice riders to hang on to when necessary. This
    saved the horses mouth from being jerked around by unbalanced riders.

    A 'hunting style' breastplate would probably work well for a rider
    needing straps to hold on to, and has no connection to either the reins
    or the noseband. Designed to keep the saddle in place on steep hills 
    and/or over large jumps. I use one all the time when trail riding, 
    they are practically standard equipment for endurance/long distance
    riders.
    
       

    Hello
    
    I was taught by being put on the lunge and holding on to the front of
    the saddle as the horse was trotting round, calling out 1-2 in rthym 
    (same as a previous note) and then when I felt comfortable began to
    rise and sit to the trot.  
    
    I think its a good idea to go on a lunge rein as you don't have the
    opportunity of holding the reins (or a breast strap) and `pulling yourself 
    up', it means you have to use your legs.. 
    
    I don't think she is too young, I was about her age..  It probably
    easier than sitting to a trot as it feels more natural..(my humble
    opinion anyway :-)
    
    Thanks
    
    Vikki 
                      

    >I was taught by being put on the lunge and holding on to the front of
    >the saddle as the horse was trotting round, [etc]
    
    Cheez, I must be getting old. I just assumed this was being done on a
    lunge line/rein. I hope so. Imagine a 6 - 7 YO kid on a pony that is
    bombing around the arena...shudder...
    
    Holding onto the pommel w/ one hand is a good technique for learning to 
    sit a trot as the student rider can help herself/himself get deeper into 
    the saddle. It's as good a security blanket as any in learning to rise.

    I must be getting older than you, John. :-)  When my friends and I were
    kids, we were younger than 6 - 7, riding ponies that were bombing around
    cornfields and through the woods without benefit of even a saddle, much
    less under control of a lunge line/instructor.  I was well into my
    teens before I actually took a lesson, and had figured out posting 
    (as well as how to stay on at all cost if one wished to avoid a long
     walk home) entirely on my own long before.  
    
    Not that I would advise anyone to send their unattended kids off on
    their own bareback on Shetlands! But it was back in the days when
    farmer-parents thought nothing of such things, and riding lessons
    were only for those kids with tons of money who were destined for
    the show ring.  We were destined more for shoveling the cow barn. :-)
                                     

    
    re .12  I'm with you.  We never had $ for lessons.  I would hop on
    anything w/ 4 legs and winnied and go tally-hoing accross any field I
    could find - I woulnd't even know the horse - just jump a fence and off
    we'd go. :-)
    
    but now, I think I'd kill my kid (if I had any) if they did that.  I
    was riding for about 14yrs before I took a lesson.
    
    Lou

I'm hoping to bring my horse home at the end of the summer. Louisa's note has
hit home with my biggest worry -- that while I'm at work, a neighbor's kid will
let him/herself into my pasture, hop on my horse, get killed or injured and I'll
get sued and lose everything.

There are plenty of sticker bushes where my pastures will be -- I've been
thinking of keeping them and just putting them all around the perimter of the
fence. Hopefully that plus electric will keep the cowkids out!

Anyone else have this worry?

Mary

    What I was trying to say in my aging befuddled way was that I assumed
    *lessons* for kids that age would begin on the lunge. Not only didn't
    we have money for lessons when I was a kid(No dinosaurs around but Dad 
    drove a Conestoga wagon to work), there weren't any teachers to *give* 
    lessons! If it hadn't been for books by Margaret Cabel Self that I 
    found in the library, I wouldna known a bridle from a halter! ;-)
    

    I was fortunate to grow up down the street from kids who had horses and
    ponies and were very much into shows and lessons.  They took me under
    their wing and got me into 4-H, I did some barn work for them in
    exchange for some lessons and on the weekends, I had some other friends
    with ponies that we would just take off from first light til dark.  
    
    My daughters (7 + 9) started taking lessons last summer and we have NOT
    been on the lunge line.  They started trotting with me jogging beside
    them.  When it was time to post, I again resumed my position jogging
    along side and they did just fine.
    
    Roberta

    Re: John's last...
    
    		You had Libraries!?  You had books!?  Wow.
    
    		We just had to look at those drawings on the cave wall and
    		try to figure it out for ourselves!
    
    		Man, I have GOT to get a life.
    
    gwen
    

    re: Mary's concerns about neighborhood kids:
    
    I've never actually had this problem, although my neighborhood is
    growing and more kids moving in.  I have made it a point to get to
    know the neighbors, and to invite them/thier kids over to see the
    horses.  In a very friendly way, explain to them that under NO
    circumstances are they to visit without coming to the house to
    ask permission first. Make sure the kids and parents both get the
    message loud and clear.  Tell them the dangers of horses (instilling a 
    little fear will help deter them). Post 'no tresspassing' signs, too.  
    And don't leave halters on the horses - you want them as hard to catch
    as possible.  Maybe put locks on your gates?  I've been lucky, our
    new neighbors are all very responsible and we have never had a problem
    with unwanted visitors - but then, they wouldnt' have a prayer anyway
    as both my horses are awfully stranger-shy. 
      

    Thanks you all very much for all the suggestions.  Having a polo wrap
    or an old stirrup leather around the horses neck is a great idea.
    She has not been on the lunge line during the lessons. The lessons are
    in an indoor ring and they are allowed  at a walk on their own but at
    a trot we take the horses on a lead line and jog next to them (great
    exercise :). We will start practicing count to the trot. Great idea.
    
    Thanks again, Ania