Marla there is a difference between the risk a child chooses, but an infant can't choose not to get up 5-6ft up in the air.

Also cars can be controlled by humans and do not have free will, horses can.  It is apples and oranges.

Yes there are risks in life, but why push the envelope unnecessarily for your own pleasure and ego?  A thousand pound horse can do far more damage than a car accident can if a child is strapped in a seat properly.  There is more chance of them suffering brain damage riding a horse.  As someone stated, it is comparative to shaken baby syndrome.

It is everyones perogative to do what they will with their children.  But putting a toddler or infant up on a horse to me is taking a risk that is uncalled for.

This has turned into a debate over opinion, like someone else said, we just have to make the choices we think best for our own children.  I raise my son the way I was raised (with a few tweeks) and always pray for his well being. 

Horses have been a part of my life since I was born, I wouldn't raise my child any other way. 

Although, I do respect the thoughts of others that choose NOT to ride their young children, that isn't wrong either. 

To each his own, that's what makes the world go around!

Well said appy4me.

As fars as the chances being greater on a horse...not according to the CDC. From the years of 2001 to 2005, there were 2600 brain injuries from horseback riding ages 5-18. There were 4x as many on playgrounds, 7.5x as many from football, and 9x as many from riding a bike. The number one cause of brain injuries for adolescents 5-18? Motor vehicle accidents.

In my case it is definitely not pleasure and ego...it is a way of life. My parents were raised on horses, I was raised on horses, my kids have been raised on horses, and I hope that my grandkids will have the same privilege. And that is what it is...a privilege.

This is a decision that only you can make as a parent. Listen to what everyone has to say, realize that it is an opinion, and like my dad always said opinions are like ********, everybody has one. Be informed before you make the decision, know the consequences, take all things into consideration, and make the best decision that you can for you and your family.

Yup, just like a few others on here have said, "horses are part of their way of life." Just like ours, we run our own cattle ranch, and our son is in the corrals on foot moving calves, he knows to get up on the panels when the "girls" come in. He brushes and gets on the horses when we sort, he loves it. It's his way of life, kind of similiar to the Crocodile Guy when he took his child into the crocs pen that was so ridiculed over. (I'm sure this example will be a debate now too.)  That is their way of life, second nature. He got rocks litterally thrown at him for that. It comes down to again, part of your life, we are ranchers and I'm sure tons of other parents that run bigger ranches than ours have their kids up on the back of a horse from day one also.....

We who chose our lives see the non riding childrens peoples point of view, but see ours also without ridiculing it........

"As fars as the chances being greater on a horse...not according to the CDC. From the years of 2001 to 2005, there were 2600 brain injuries from horseback riding ages 5-18. There were 4x as many on playgrounds, 7.5x as many from football, and 9x as many from riding a bike. The number one cause of brain injuries for adolescents 5-18? Motor vehicle accidents."

Can't really use this as a comparison, though.  Only about 10% of kids will be on a horse between the ages of 5 and 18 whereas 100% will be in/around motor vehicles.  I think the point being made is that the risk is higher per individual exposure (ie ride) in horses as opposed to anything else. 

Statistics can tell you exactly what you want to see...but to truly use them you must level the playing field and notfromtexas is exactly right!

If you really want to "low-down" on risk call your local insurance agent...they have real numbers on just this type of thing.

I am done with this subject.  I guess the best thing to say is as adults we can choose our risk, children can't.  You want to put your child at risk intentionally go for it.  Lots of heads in the sand going on is my opinion.  5-6ft is a long way to fall for a child.  It is comparible to an adult falling 12ft.   Have a great day all.  My absolute last post on this.  

I wonder how the families done it before auto's, when horses was the only mode of transportation.

Back in those days, the family wagon was how it was handled in most regular families...and the horses were, by and large, more cold blooded, less refined, worked a lot more, respect and obedience were much more matter of fact (hey, both children and stock!), and the horses in many ways did not get fed nearly as well. They did not have the overfed, over-loved, under-worked freshness that many horses have today.  That is not to say children did not ride, but what they rode, and when they rode, was much different on many levels.  I had parents who were raised in this era, and relatives who did not have electricity or running water til the 70's, living in a remote area of Missouri. 

 I looked back and realized my post was not clear, it only dealt with the fact that if a child falls (and we want to pick em up to comfort them) and is seriously impacted etc, due to the need for C-spine immobilization, moving them is a bad idea.  I apologize, as the post was not about how to care for injured children....

 I rode in a family that horses and their uses were a way of life as well, ...before I was school age I was turned loose alone to ride, minus a helmet or supervision..... on a jenny about 10 hands tall who ignored my bad self and would not "go faster" etc.  I was, of course, less than 3 feet from the grass in the yard, where these mighty adventures took place. 

What I see today is a great many people who truly believe their horse is much better broke than it really is, and the facts are that they are not nearly the rider they think they are.  When you put a baby onto one of these horses with one of these people, it does chill one's heart.  I have been a certified instructor for longer than I care to remember, and it is sad but true that the above scenario is the case more often than not.  The parents of children have the responsibility and the choice of how to handle their children's riding, all we can do is help when we can without being obnoxious and the rest is in God's hands.  I want all children to ride that wish to, and for them to enjoy it and become proficient, and happy.... and live to tell the tales of their childhood....

I apologize for sounding like I was trying to pick a fight, and going back reading my post and reading all the way through again, that's what it sounded like. When you look at all the numbers of horse ownership and number of children involved in horse activities versus total numbers of children and other accidents, they are still less likely to be injured from horses than the many other numerous ways that it can happen.

Am I going to have a 3 month old on a horse? No. Am I going to have a 3 year old on a horse? Under certain circumstances. Depends on the situation, depends on the horse, and depends on the kid. Am I going to turn them loose? Absolutely not.

For those of you that will consider putting a child on a horse....take into account your experience with horses before you do. What comes as a natural reaction for me, and anyone that has handled horses all of their life, will be a hesitated action for someone else less experienced. With my kids, they played in the barn instead of playing in the yard. It is where they wanted to be. As little ones, they knew to respect the size and strength and unpredictability of horses. My children were ready to ride at different ages. I could have said that I wouldn't have put them until they were 6, but then I would have been fooling myself. My son was riding at 5. My daughter didn't want a thing to do with it until she was 9. She wanted to be around the horses, but wanted no part of being on them. Difference in the children. And at whatever age you decide to put your children on horses...be as safe as you can doing it. And remember that no horse is completely bomb proof.

Our daughter is 27, and has been riding for 27 years, and nine months. At the age of three she had her first pony, which was exchanged for successfully larger animals as she aged. Every night we pray that her guardian angel watches over her, and to date we have been blessed.

My wife has been riding for over fifty years, and is a competent equestrian. She had never had a serious injury. A couple of months ago, in preparation for a long awaited CA Sierra Mtn. riding vacation, while riding in our indoor arena, she was thrown from her horse. She hit the wall, and then the ground. For more than a month she was non-ambulatory, it was six weeks before she could sleep in a bed.

Last night she called from her make up tour in CA. It was the first day of her ride, and during the early afternoon, some deer spooked several of the mounts. A young man in his thirties was thrown, and tomorrow he should be traveling home with his broken left elbow.

We can't predict where and when accidents will happen. You can however, be assured that if you spend time around horses, you will be injured. It's not an if, it's a when and the only question is how badly.

If your love for these animals means you're willing to accept these risks, and you will take responsibility for those incapable of making an informed decision, then it's up to a higher power in which your fate is determined.

As has been eloquently stated, you can't hide from life. Life is about doing the things we enjoy. We work hard in a free society, and the fruits of our labours are what drive us. If riding is the goal, enjoy it as much as you can, you deserve it.

Gard

Very nicely put. 

 I was riding before I could walk, my parents didn't force it, they couldn't stop it! 

My 9 year old has asked me for years, "mom, why do you love horses so much?"  To that I reply everytime, "that's just how God made me."  Guess the same is true for many of us, it's just in our mold. 

I respect everyone's opinion, and pray that everyone has safe, and happy trails! (or rails)

I also hope your wife is doing better, you just never know.

I've been riding since the age of 3...I'm 50 now, and last year, just before my 49th birthday, I was thrown and broke my hip.  Had been riding this QH mare for over 6 months, past all kinds of spooks, figured her to be well on her way, and BOOM!  Layin in the road trying for 911 on the cell.

My concern with kids is that they have a good first riding experience, no matter what the age.  Safety is foremost...and the tools for safety have come a long way since my early years (non-existent).  Helmets are a must for kids.  Safety vests are also a must.  A good, experienced and PATIENT instructor with well-broke mounts in controlled (arena) conditions is what my grandkids will experience.

Like much in life, there are no guarantees of complete safety.  I like the risk, still, of riding green horses and those that are headed for the kill truck if somebody doesn't do something to turn them around.  My choice, and I know the risks.  I also do everything I possibly can to gain the safety edge I need.

No thrill in the world, in my book, of being the first to throw a leg over a newly-started 3 year old QH. 

As a kid, where horses are concerned, I had no fear.  I did some really stupid stuff, but I learned.  Usually out of sight of my parents or any other adults.