Lesson Horses - What to look for?

[RageingArabian]

I’m looking to start giving local kids lessons. I’d just be starting out with kids not related to me, so of course it’d be cheaper. However, my two mares I don’t know would do well in a beginners lesson program. I use them for when I give lessons to related kids and they seem to do fine, but they’re more for advanced riders. Sometimes they are amazing for the lesson, and sometimes they’re like “screw this kid she doesn’t mean it”. Not only do I need a lesson horse, I need a family horse as well for everyone else to feel safe trail riding and such. Figure two birds one stone.

So what do you all look for in a lesson pony? How much do you look at conformation? Stubbornness? What behaviours/lack of training do you excuse? Etc.

I will be bringing myself and a kid I know has good balance to come test the pony, however I’m short enough I could probably just ride them all lol. Thanks for the tips!

[Mango20]

Conformation and age should be pretty low on your list of factors when what you need is a dead quiet beginner’s pony.

[Luseride]

One that is kind, does not argue overly much. Concede looks and age and do not expect push button. Price depends on location.

[Beck]

Functionally sound and of good temperament. Some of the best schoolies I have known have been a bit eyebrow-raising in the conformation department. The ideal schoolie temperament generally includes the ability to ‘take a joke’: to be less reactive and more ‘ask me again so I know you mean it’ so they are not reacting to every little slip and wobble. That sometimes is taken as stubbornness; it is more likely tolerance.

[Scribbler]

It’s pretty common for beginner riders to not be able to ride at all for quite some time, and therefore common for even the kindest lesson horse to be confused or deliberately ignore all that ineffective flapping around up there.

A good solution for beginners is lots of longe lessons. You can make horse go walk trot canter until the ridet has an independent seat and can use the aids a bit.

This avoids the bad group lesson scenario where one student spends 45 minutes on a balky pony and never gets to practice trot.

It also keeps the horse from developing too many bad habits from being jabbed in the face and the ridet from learning to thump on its ribs.

[clanter]

We bought Morgans, they seem to have a built in Child button. We used the same horses we showed and used in competitions for beginner kids. These horses would shift gears to the ability of the rider even side stepping to make sure their charge remained centered in the saddle

The horses seemed to enjoy the change of pace to be a school horse, of course the lavishing of carrots and peppermints by their little charges might have had some impute

[findeight]

Older (12 and up) QHs and other Stock type grade horses with miles of Trail and even Ranch experience seem to come with a placid outlook, tolerance, patience often misunderstood as lack of ambition, are very easy on themselves plus tend to be an ideal, non intimidating size for beginners.

Grade geldings at least 10 years old with little or no show experience but plenty of quiet miles generally won’t break the bank either. Try to find out where summer camps around you get their horses and watch for them to sell them after the season, obviously, you need to becareful and consult somebody with more eperience picking these out but they are out there.

Conformation isnt important if they have been working and are serviceably sound. EXCEPT for their feet. School horses need good feet. Nothing more involved then plain old shoes and a good trim or they’ll cost more to keep then you’ll ever make off them.

This kind of horse is often word of mouth rather then offered in a published ad. Ask around, found farriers know alot of people and often can send you in the right direction. Never know,somebody might not really trying to sell but would jump at letting a trusted horse go as a teacher.

[CHT]

1. Somewhat dull to aids.
2. Stands like a rock to be mounted
3. spooks in place
4. doesn’t care if you wave your arms, blow your nose, cry, scream, remove a loud jacket etc, when mounted 9or on the ground).
5. likes to be touched.
6. take a large ball. roll under horse and into legs. Should not kick or spook. Open an umbrella near by.
7. Post in the most awkward way. horse can slow/stop, but should not rush.

[RageingArabian]

Thank you all. I figured conformation wouldn’t be as big a deal as personality. My guys currently have very puppy dog, loving personalities but if you ask to get up and go they will get up and go. So even for family I needed a new horse. I shall begin my search!