WHICH YOUTH RIDING TEAM IS RIGHT?
Riding teams are a fantastic way for children to meet other horse-crazy kids, and develop as riders and horsemen and -women. But there are so many different options, how do you choose the right one?
Whether you’re an experienced horse owner looking for a way to introduce your kid to new events or this will be your family’s first venture into the horse industry, there are several ways to get involved. But it all comes down to how much you want to commit to the sport and what you want your child to get out of it.
FOR YOUNG RIDERS
Youth riding teams are typically run out of a boarding or training barn and don’t require you to own anything but properly fitted riding attire. The coaches provide the horses, tack, facility, and anything else needed to ride, and students take riding lessons once a week to learn the basics of riding and handling horses.
“Most of our team members don’t own their own horses. We train out of an all-around training and lesson barn, so they use all of the facility’s horses, tack, and equipment when they ride,” says Bailey Dolimpio, a volunteer coach for the Central Florida Equestrian Team.
Children who join riding teams become immersed in the horse world quickly, and if they want
