About Horse Saddles for Kids

Children who want to take up horse sports have several options when it comes to saddles. Although many children do ride in adult-sized saddles, they tend to feel insecure and their feet may not reach the stirrups. Often a child-sized saddle (also called a pony saddle) is in order.

  1. Identification

    • Horse saddles for kids are smaller versions of regular adult-sized saddles, either in English or Western style. These have smaller stirrups, skirts and seats so that the child fits securely. They can be purchased with or without girths, in case you have to fit a small saddle on the back of a large horse. They can be ready made or custom made, taking into account the measurements or your horse and your child.

    History

    • Before special small saddles were made for children, kids had to either ride bareback or tried to adjust to sliding around in an adult's saddle. Native Americans used to tie small children to their saddles. An ancient Mongolian horse racing had eight year-olds as jockeys and they were also tied to small saddles. Mongolians began making child-sized saddles in the days before Genghis Khan. Child-sized saddles were common for children of royalty in Europe. It is unknown what culture made the first horse saddle for kids. Child-sized Western saddles weren't seen until the 1800's.

    Considerations

    • Horse saddles for kids, because they are smaller and lighter than adult saddles, usually cost lest than adult saddles. But this is not always the case, depending on how small your pony is and how fancy of a saddle you want. Any saddle will still cost hundreds of dollars. Keep in mind that your child will soon outgrow the saddle.

    Theories/Speculation

    • Toddlers who want to ride either need their own saddle or a "child seat" can be purchased that similar to car seats. This child seat fastens to the back of an adult saddle. Adult saddles can be modified to fit a child, with the use of removing the stirrup leathers and adding on child-size stirrups and adding a backrest that attaches to the saddle seat.

    Warning

    • No matter what saddle your child rides in, they need to either ride in a contained area like a pasture or arena or under direct supervision. Children need to wear a hard hat to prevent injuries and to wear heeled boots or shoes to keep the foot from slipping through the stirrup. If the child should fall from the horse or pony and the foot is caught in the stirrup, the child could be dragged.