Parties - Scouts & More

Calories Burned:

• Recreational Riding: Approximately 250-810 calories per hour.
• Competitive Riding: Up to 450-1,080 calories per hour.

Child Curriculum:

This curriculum is an excellent breakdown of how riding lessons can be tailored to different age groups and their developmental needs, including attention spans and physical abilities. Here's a quick overview of how attention spans typically align with the various age groups:

• Tiny Tots (3-6 years old): Attention spans are very short, ranging from 5-15 minutes. At this stage, lessons should be engaging and full of activities like games and toys to maintain their interest. Parental involvement helps with safety and keeping the child-focused.
• Childhood (7-8 years old): Attention spans lengthen to about 15-25 minutes, and children at this age are more capable of following instructions. Lessons should focus on building confidence and offering small, manageable challenges that keep them engaged.
• Middle Childhood (9-11 years old): Children can concentrate for about 30-40 minutes and are more capable of handling complex tasks. They begin to understand and apply what they’ve learned at this age, making it a great time to introduce more responsibility to the horses.
• Tweens (12-13 years old): Attention spans increase to about 40-50 minutes, and tweens develop the physical and emotional maturity needed for more advanced instruction. Lessons should adapt to their level of comfort and development.
• Pre-Teens (14-15 years old): At this stage, lessons offer physical activity and emotional support. These students can handle more complex lessons that require focus and sustained attention for 50-60 minutes.
• Teenagers (16-17 years old): Their attention spans are generally well-developed, allowing for lessons that can be more intensive and focused on individual goals. Consistency and experience become key as lessons are paced to match the rider's abilities and commitment.

Understanding the typical attention span for each age group allows lessons to be designed to keep riders engaged, challenged, and excited about their progress.

• Your child may feel nervous yet excited. Encourage them positively and be supportive. They will learn to mount, balance, steer, and communicate with their horse. Lessons typically begin with a lunge line to help them develop balance and control.

Age Recommendations for Starting Riding:

• Never Too Old: Horse riding is suitable for all ages and is a great low-impact cardio workout. Adults interested in starting should speak with an instructor to tailor a plan.
• Children: We recommend starting riding at around 5-6 years old. Younger children may not complete a 30-minute lesson due to shorter attention spans.