When a young person rides a horse, that horse can have an amazing calming effect on their mood. For anxiety, the horse is a mirror to whatever we are feeling while we sit on them or are around them, so they learn to control their emotions. This is what Susan Tullock has seen through her years of teaching kids to ride at Tullock Performance Horses.
The benefits are far reaching, and she has the insight to pair a horse with a child.
Some other benefits include increased fitness and health. Any sport brings physical health benefits, and riding a horse or pony is no different. This lessens the possibility of childhood obesity, and we all know the importance of getting children outdoors and involved as young as possible. Horseback riding is a great way for them to be outside in the fresh air, and it is healthy both mentally as well as physically.
Children learn life lessons and the value of perseverance, and when they are out in a new environment, they will make new friends. Riding can lead to social, life benefits and meeting new people can help develop life-long friends. It’s a way to make sure they have friends outside their school friend network.
Talk about a confidence booster! Learning to ride and care for an animal twice their size can empower children. It is a great confidence booster when a trainer encourages and compliments, highlighting areas where they are gaining new skills and rewarding them for choosing improvement. Riding is suitable for all ages, and especially for children with special needs. Interaction with horses can really help.
“When a student comes to me, I make sure I have the appropriate horse that it is quiet and used to inexperienced riders,” she explained. “We go slow. Some children want you to lead them around and some are okay with just figuring out how to control the horse from the beginning.”
It is important that any trainer stays positive and encouraging and realizes everybody progresses at their own speed. Allowing children to find their own path through usually works best.
At her facility, most lesson programs are going to be an hour every week which equates to about 40 minutes of riding time in her program.
“I want my students to be safe learn and have fun and enjoy learning how to have a relationship with the horse,” she smiled. “I am always pushing my students to do more than they did at their last lesson, which builds self-confidence and common sense as they learn to do things on their own.”
Students that begin riding at an early age and through 4H level can progress to showing on a national level, and even competing at a collegiate level. This is a lifelong hobby and can enrich lives far into adulthood.
Children can often switch between English and Western riding and learn to maneuver the different types of seats. A good rule of thumb for parents is to find what you have access to in your area. The most important thing is a quality horse with quality tack. and a quality instructor.
Susan’s program is more riding based, and she believes it’s important when the kids are old enough and strong enough, that they learn how to properly take care of their horses through picking of their hooves, proper grooming, how to clean their stalls and properly tack their horse.
“Usually, my students can trail ride before they would ever be ready to go in the show pen. Not all places that I teach have access to trails, and most people need to own or lease a horse to show,” she confirmed.
We are blessed to have a few local charities or non-profits in the Kansas City area that support rescue horses and/or equestrian therapy in our area. You can find them online.
Being around horses also teaches children about responsibility, kindness and compassion, and helps children understand that “someone else’s” needs have to be considered alongside and often before your own. This helps make the world a kinder place.
For information about Susan’s program and lessons, visit Tullockperformancehorses@gmail.com