Introducing children to the world of horse riding is something they will always remember and thank you for. There is something about equestrian activities that children find completely fascinating, and if you plant this seed of interest early in their lives, they could later decide to make horses an important part of their lives as they grow older.
Horse riding is great for children and teenagers alike. This is an activity that gets them out of the house and in touch with nature. The benefits that children can derive from horse riding range from physical health to increased confidence and improved social skills. You and your children have everything to gain from equestrian activities, but you should know that riding also conveys a certain level of risk that can be mitigated with proper saddles. Children should never be exposed to bareback riding for the same reasons adults should never ride without saddles: Animals cannot be trusted to always be docile.
Safety should always be the most important aspect of horse riding, and this starts with saddles. Riding comfort is also important, but it is secondary to safety. Saddles are measured for both horses and riders, but in the case of children, the ideal saddles should be perfect for the rider while at the same time being large enough to fit horses of various sizes. If you are not personally into horse riding but want your children to get started, we will cover a few things you need to know with regard to saddle sizes and selection.
Horse Saddles for Children
In essence, saddles are meant to provide supportive seats for riders in order to make the equestrian experience safer and more comfortable. It is important to note that the comfort provided by saddles goes both ways; riders and horses will have an easier interaction with the right saddles.
Whenever possible, saddles for children should be purchased according to exact measurements; however, this can become costly as young riders grow up, so it makes financial sense to get saddles that are slightly larger for the purpose of not having to replace them so often. With this in mind, the purchase of saddles for children cannot really be made solely on the basis of how old the riders are. Bodyweight, leg length, waist size, and thigh circumference are measurements that should be taken into account.
The surface area of the seat is not the only measurement to consider when selecting saddles for children. Here are other saddle characteristics to have in mind:
- Seat Depth: Flatter saddles are better for children who move around when riding at slow trots. Seats should be deeper for galloping.
- Cantle Slope: A higher cantle is generally safer. Some children may feel more comfortable with a straight cantle, but only if they have already gained some riding experience.
- Cantle Dish: Similar to the cantle slope, you will want some depth in the front for greater safety.
- Equestrian Style: This refers to whether children are learning to ride English or Western style.
Once you settle on English or Western saddles, the next step of the saddle selection process will involve measuring your child. We will be discussing this in the next section, but there is an easier way to do this. If you are able to take your child to a county fair, a rodeo, or even a riding academy, you will have the benefit of being able to check out various saddles, and these are the situations in which you can get saddle dimensions without having to take measurements; in other words, you would be fitting your child for the right saddle.
Measuring Young Horse Riders for Saddles
The process of measuring children for horse saddles is pretty much the same as for adults. Here are the steps to follow:
- Have your child sit on a chair with his or her back straight. Try to position your child in a way the heels and shoulders line up straight.
- The tail bone should not touch the back of the chair.
- The measurement to take should be the distance between the spot where the thighs separate halfway before the knees and the back of the chair.
- Measure the length of the thighs when the knees are bent.
- Call or email customer service with questions on measuring for seat sizes. When calling in, know the child’s age, weight, and height.
You should now have two measurements: The size of the seat and the upper legs. These two figures can be compared against the saddles, which you can measure from the pommel to the cantle.
General Saddle Sizes by Ages
Assuming that your child is of an average height and weight for his or her age, you can use the following as a guide:
- The youngest riders up to the age of three can ride 8-inch saddles.
- Children between the ages of three and five can ride on saddle seats that measure 10 inches.
- After the age of six, children will be more comfortable with saddle seats of at least 12 inches.
- After the age of eight, saddles between 13 and 14 inches are recommended.
Other aspects of horse saddles that you should think about when shopping around include the stirrups, which should invariably be of the safety kind. Hand-holds or Night Latches can be purchased to give a young rider something to hold on to if they find themselves in a precarious situation such as a crow-hopping or bucking pony/horse. These straps easily attach to English or Western Saddles of all types and most are adjustable. Note: Be mindful of clothing that may be extremely loose on your child when riding as it could become entangled with parts of the saddle.
Teenage riders should think about 14-inch saddles only if they have a smaller body frame. Girls are more likely to find 14-inch saddles comfortable until they turn 16. Larger boys at the age of 14 may be ready to sit on 15-inch Western saddles, which are recommended for average adults.
All-purpose saddles for children tend to promote an easy and comfortable fit on horses and ponies, which is why most parents gravitate towards this kind of saddles. The last thing you want is your child riding on a horse that is being bothered by a saddle digging into its back. A thick pad is all that is usually needed in order to make an all-purpose saddle fit any horse breed.
English Vs. Western Saddles
Equestrian academies will always recommend that you stick with children’s saddles that correspond to the discipline they are learning, but they will also admit that Western saddles make it easier for children to learn, particularly in their younger years. The extra safety equipment that is typically found in children’s saddles tends to fit better on Western saddles; we are talking about safety stirrups and hand-holds/night latches.
All-purpose saddles for children are almost always Western, but this does not mean that English saddles should be overlooked; in fact, many riding instructors recommend English saddles even for their youngest students because they get to be closer to the horse. The lightweight nature of English riding saddles lets children feel equine movement, which means that they can get a better understanding of horse riding behaviors from an early age. If you want your children to bond with ponies as part of a healthy and positive emotional development, English saddles would be great because they promote a more intimate interaction between riders and animals.
If you plan on taking your children along on a long trail ride, Western all-purpose saddles are the way to go, and you will want them to provide adequate room for comfort without being too “sloppy” in the seat. Western saddles are also better for children who will be doing range work later in life. And finally, with regard to managing tack; it should be common practice for both children and adults to inspect all parts of the saddle and bridle before riding to ensure all pieces are connected, intact, and in the best condition with regards to safety, with emphasis on items that buckle or hook to attach parts such as girths/cinches and bridle/headstall reins.