Youth Riders Should Know...

Kids and horses make the perfect pair for valuable life lessons.

- Bob Avila, With Jennifer Paulson

If you’re a kid who gets to ride, consider yourself lucky. You experience the joy of caring for a horse and riding, all while being physically active, and you reap benefits that’ll help form who you are and set your path toward a successful adulthood, both inside and outside the arena.

I raised my son, BJ, in the horse industry, and I’ve coached numerous youth riders to reach their goals and see them succeed as amateur and open competitors. Here are seven insights all youth riders should consider to get the most out of the experience.

Find a Barn That Fits

Youth riders tend to stick together, and trainers who work with kids have a special skillset. Find a barn that’s fun and where you fit in. That means your goals align with the trainer’s expectations, your barn friends share interests, and you can help each other along with your horses. Then when you travel to shows and events together, it’s almost like having your own team. You can cheer for each other, lend hands to help when necessary, and build each other back up after tough times with your horses (or at home).

Seize Learning Opportunities

There are so many educational outlets to improve your horsemanship. Capitalize on every single one of them. From clinics, DVDs, and lessons to watching other horses warm up and compete, open eyes can take in a lot of information.