Conference moira::parenting

    I started my daughter with riding lessons just before she turned
    6 years old last March.  She loves them and has done very well.
    She is even going over small jumps already.
    
    Unfortunately, we live further south so I don't know of a good
    instructor in the Littleton area.
    

    I started at age 4 with a lead rope hooked to it but learned the basics
    of reining, posting and balance.
    
    By 5 I worked with a full-sized horse in a ring doing much the smae
    stuff.  
    
    YMMV
    
    meg

    There are several places in Littleton that will offer riding lessons. 
    You need to check out your latest yellow pages because I can think of
    at least six places alone in Littleton.
    
    Bobbie Ranch located in Acton at Nagog Park is not a good idea for
    lessons, IMHO.  This place is more for the adults who are looking for a
    trail ride.  They are expensive too, $20/hour.
    
    fwiw,
    cj

re .3

Yes - Littleton seems to have horses everywhere!  But I would prefer to find 
an instructor through a recommendation rather than using the yellow pages.
There is one instructor in particular that I have met through other
channels who has a very cavalier attitude toward safety.

You mentioned Bobby's ranch.  I would like to add something good about
Bobby's ranch for anybody else with a little horse-lover.  They will give 
you a pony to ride for a free-will donation.  You have to sign a waiver and 
give them whatever sum of money you deem appropriate (most people give them 
$2 or  $3) and they hand you a pony all saddled up.  It is up to you to lead 
the horse around a small circular trail for as long as you like.  The last 
time I brought Michelle there we stayed for an hour and a half!  We
periodically took a break so that another child could have a turn.  but I don't
think it would be an exageration to say that Michelle was on that pony for
over an hour.

I know they only do this on weekends. And I think it is only in the Spring and
Fall. Call ahead to find out for sure.

- Carol

    I've been told Bobbie's ranch is an excellent place to go,
    although I have no personal experience there myself.
    
    re the $20 for an adult trail ride - this seems to be the
    average, I paid that twice this summer at two other locations
    to go on trail rides (have no idea what lessons cost)

    
    Yes, Bobbie's Ranch has its advantages.  My reasons for not wanting
    children to have lessons here as follows:
    
    1.	The horses are in their gear, saddle, blanket, etc. all day.  The 
    	start at 8:00 and go till 5:00.  When I went there a few summers
    	ago I couldn't believe how sweaty these horses were.  I couldn't
    	understand why they didn't take the saddles off and let them rest
    	for an hour if they weren't being rode.  There were plenty of 
    	horses that were just standing around and plenty of people to
    	help unsaddle them.  And then I started thinking about a horse
    	that was saddled up all day and their temperment.  I could only
    	imagine they would be less than happy.
    
    2.	The intructors/wranglers did not see people ride enough before
    	categorizing them into a beginning or advanced.  When asked if
    	you ride you tell them and before they split the group they
    	tell you to canter over to a post and back.  The total time is
    	less than a minute.  I had two people who said they could ride
    	well and ending up getting thrown and falling off when we 	
    	started to trott up some small hills.  This was very dissapointing
    	to the rest of the riders because we had to walk the horses
    	for the rest of our ride because they only had one wrangler
    	for a group of eight people.
    
    Just some observations over the last four years.  I go here at least
    three times a year and have not noticed any changes.  I am an
    experienced rider however.  I would not think it would be safe to bring
    anyone, adult or child if they didn't know what they were doing.
    
    cj

    cj,
    
    Actually having worked around horses all of my childhood in memory,
    being in a saddle all day is not that bad, the stables around here do
    this most of the time.  It really doesn't make a horse more tempery,
    but having a saddle removed and thrown back on constantly will.  
    
    meg

	MEC - Marlboro Equestrian Center
	Located behind the old registry in marlboro Mass.

	Its only 20/25 minutes south from littleton.  They have
	an indoor ring, lots of horses/pony's (and levels).  They
	also have their own horse shows on site.

	There is also a barn in Berlin, Mass that offers many of the
	same types of services... Not sure of the name though..

	

    I've talked to a very good friend of mine who used to be an instructor
    but no longer does it.  She's the chairperson for a state committee for
    the Massachusetts State 4-H Horse Camping program.  Here's the
    information that she gave me:
    
    1)  6 years old is the ideal age to start horseback riding lessons.
    2)  First thing you'll need to do is get her an ASTM regulation hard
    hat that fits your daughter properly (Cost is kind of steep, $60-$80,
    but it's worth it to protect your daughter's head).  She'll also need
    some good paddock boots.  these are the BARE MINIMUM your daughter will
    need.
    3)  She suggested three different riding stables that have excellent
    children's programs.  All are in LIttleton, MA.
    		Larkspur on 119
    		Prockter Hill
    		Pegasus
    
    Cost for lessons at these places are a little more expensive than
    previously mentioned ($30-$40 per lesson).  
    
    4)  She also suggested contacting the local 4-H club, the 4-H "Hack and
    Tack".  If you'd like the name of the leader, please send me mail.
    
    My friend also said that if you have any other questions, you're more
    than welcome to call her.  Please send me mail for her name and phone
    number.
    
    Holly
    

    I forgot to mention.. She said that when you get a hard hat, do NOT get
    a used one.  This has basically formed to someone else's head and will
    not fit your daughter properly.
    
    Holly
    

    Would a bicycle helmet be OK, or do you need one specifically for
    horseback riding?

    Personally, I'd get one specifically for horseback riding.  That way
    you know your child's head will be safe.  
    
    I know that bicycle helmets are a bit bigger than horseback riding
    hardhats.  I also believe that bicycle helmets are made of plastic
    while horseback riding helmets I believe have a light metal in them.
    I bit safer as far as I can see.
    
    Holly
    

    
    Bike helmets are made primarily of impact-absorbing foam.  Some of them
    have a thin, hard plastic shell.  Their intent is to minimize the
    damage to the old noggin' if you hit the pavement.
    
    I don't know, but I would EXPECT that a horseback helmet does that, as
    well as has SOME resistance to an  accidental 'kick' after you fall off??  
    I don't think you'd have that with a bike helmet, as they're designed
    to "cave in" to absorb any impact.
    

    My girls (6 + 8) took horseback riding lessons all summer and used
    their bike helmets.  According to their instructor the bike helmet
    would offer the same amount of protection.  The 8 year old did have one
    fall (the one week I wasn't there :*() and there were no ill effects. 
    I do plan on putting them back into lessons in the spring but their
    instructor is moving to Tennessee :*(  anyone have any recommendations
    for the Westboro, Ma area????
    
    Roberta

$60-$80 is pretty steep for a riding helmet.  I believe that you can get a
first-class helmet for something more in the $40-$50 range.  (I think that's
what we spent for Elspeth's Troxel helmet.)

	-Neil

    I would just make sure that the helmet is certified.  I believe it
    is by ANSI just like the bike helmets.  Some models are not.

    
    Oh yeah ... and if you USE the helmet (as in fall on it), the bike
    helmets are supposed to be replaced.  They're a one-time-only sort of
    deal, since there can be damage that you can't see, making it less
    effective next time around...

>    Oh yeah ... and if you USE the helmet (as in fall on it), the bike
>    helmets are supposed to be replaced.  They're a one-time-only sort of

Same with riding helmets (at least the modern ones).  With Troxel (and maybe
some of the other major brands), if you fall on it, you can send it back to the
manufacturer, and they'll check it out and replace it at no cost if necessary.

	-Neil

    If your looking for an instructor in the Gardner west area call:
    
         Marie Cumberledge
         Over the Anvil Stable
         North Orange, MA 
         Barn 508-575-1022 / Home 508-575-1073
    
    Marie teaches Beginner thru Advanced Hunt-Seat & 
                  Beg. to Intermediate Stock-Seat (Western).
    
    Marie has been involved with horses her whole life, she has a college
    degree in horsemanship and is a Massachusetts Licensed Instructor.
    She has taught numerous children and adults. She is a very patient
    and dedicated teacher.
    
    I currently ride with her.
    
    Joanne