Amanda’s 11 point plan to prepare your child
It’s got to be magical and a fantastic, positive experience for a child’s first ride. If I could bottle their smiles when they take their first steps I would!
Most of the children who visit either haven’t ever ridden a pony or donkey or have ridden once or twice at a fete/beach/centre parcs.
Now for some children they would be fine just hopping straight on pony but HERE I do things a little differently to give each child every opportunity to enjoy a really positive riding experience.
Often children can be a bit hesitant, particularly pre schoolers – they’re at a new place with a new person and a 200kg animal infront of them that they don’t know how to interact with safely.
So my job is to keep them safe, the pony/unicorn happy and put the child/children at their ease and only talk about riding when I feel they’re ready.
I have to admit that I use stealth tactics – I gradually ‘up’ the proximity/interaction with the pony hopefully without the children realising!
- We start off with a brief safety chat – we get the key points over to the children in a way that they understand. We also explain WHY we have our safety rules for context.
- 2. We’ll then walk towards the pony/unicorn and I introduce them.
- 3. I’ll also explain where is a good place to stand when they’re around the pony/unicorn.
- 4. I’ll then invite the children over to stroke the pony/unicorn. Nothing here is compulsory – I’ll invite children to join in but it’s up to them if they do.
- 5. I’ll then invite the children to choose a brush and brush the pony/unicorn – I’ll ask anyone who hasn’t stroked or brushed if they’d like to help me hold the rope (sneaky!)
My goal is to get children interacting with the pony – in almost every case where a child hasn’t interacted I know I’m going to struggle to get them to ride.
- 6. I’ll then demonstrate how we decorate the pony with ribbons and clips and then offer the children to have a go. Ah the fun choosing their favourite colour clip and ribbon!
- 7. If the brushing hasn’t enticed them then the stickers usually does the trick! Not many young children can resist stickers (another sneaky trick!)
- 8. If there’s time and/or I feel the children need a little more time around the pony I’ll invite them to help me take the pony on a very short walk
By this point most of the children have interacted in some way with the pony so I have the best chance of getting them on!
- 9. I’ll still only get the saddle out IF I feel that the child/children are ready to get on – very occasionally I’ll put the saddle on and we’ll start the ride with the child walking – often after a short time they’re happy to get on.
- 10. And getting a child ON the pony is only part of it – when the pony moves it can really worry some children – so if they’re not breathing when they get on (!) I’ll ask them about their pets/brothers and sisters/anything to get their mind off those first few very wobbly steps. Then they usually relax and enjoy the rest of their ride!
11. If a child really isn’t too sure about getting on, if possible I’ll get them to help me lead another child – often seeing someone else ride is all it takes to overcome their fear.
And if they don’t get on after all that I give up!
It’s VERY rare for a child to visit and NOT ride BUT I can’t work magic and so if a child has decided they’re not riding or after ALL my efforts STILL just hasn’t got enough confidence to get on/have a ride THAT’S OK with me.