I am a 7th grader who LOVES horses?

Welcome to the world of equestrian! First off, don't learn how to ride at a camp. They tend to teach bad posture habits and while they may be fun you don't learn much. Besides, you want to be able to trot so you can have more fun. Your not too old to start riding. I know a 60 year old woman who just started!

Riding style is up to you- I ride english and there are three main disciplines in that category

1. Hunter

2. Jumpers

3. Dressage

They are all equally fun. Jumper's is for those who like to fly over fences. Hunter is basically how well you and your horse work together. It's also about your horse's manners and responsiveness.

Dressage is all about precision, posture and grace. This is a discipline that just doesn't come naturally to some horse and rider teams. Remember that once you've got some basic knowledge you may want to start taking 2 lessons a week.

Please go to a good, clean and reputable lesson barn and learn how to ride and care for horses properly. Don't buy your own horse until you know how to clip, bathe, ride(all gaits and jump), groom, basic first aid, and recognize signs of illness. Make sure you can load and unload horses from trailers too. Once you learn enough, I recommend working at your barn. It's a great way to learn about horse care, feeding, barn maintenance, and everything else that's involved with a life full of horses.

Your mom probably already knows this but equestrian is the most expensive sport. It's worse than hockey and figure skating. Especially if you buy your own horse. Just stick to lessons for about 2 years and make sure you get a lesson every week and then you can think about buying a horse

And by the way... you don't learn ''slower" with english. You can learn to trot all by yourself in two lessons. You should be jumping at a canter in about 8 months to one year and that's a HUGE accomplishment.

I would take private lessons until you can tell your horse to stop, go, back-up and do basic bending exercises(circles)

You also need to be able to steer and know when you are too close to another horse. Group lessons are for seasoned riders who can cope with situations that happen really fast. For instance, if your friends horse bucks her off and starts running around you need to be able to get off your horse and/or move out of the way. Be able to halt on a dime too because if you can't stop quickly you may run in to someone. Besides, when you first start riding you need all the attention to be on you. Not on other people. That's how you learn anyway!

Buy some books on english and western and see which one interests you. Try both if you like and then decide. Pick one though because it's hard to learn to ride in two different styles at the same time.

Good Luck! I hope everything works out!

You are definitely not too old to start riding. You may not progress as quickly as someone who started before you, but you should be fine. I started riding when I was about 13 and with a lot of patience and confidence I got to where I am today: jumping!

I personally would choose a few lessons before you go to camp just so you know the basics, because depending on the camp they may or may not teach in the most efficient way. I can see where your mom might be coming from though, because maybe you might not be ready to commit to lessons just quite yet.

Whether you ride english or Western style really depends a lot on you. If you are a lighter seated rider and if you plan to jump or show or anything like that you'll probably want to choose English. I'm not too educated on Western (though I have ridden both) but they barrel race and trail ride a lot more. They also don't post at the trot. Don't think I'm calling you uneducated, but if you don't then its moving up and down to the beat of the trot. The aids of both are also very different. There is more weight and generally less leg cues in western riding. Western is generally a more relaxed style. The tack is very different between the two also. I personally prefer English to Western.

I have taken both private and group lessons. You probably might get more out of a lesson with a private because the teacher is focused more on you than on the group as a whole. But in group lessons you can watch and learn from your fellow "lessoners" and see how to do something right or a different way. In others words you'd have an example right with you. You also might be more confident than being in the ring by yourself. I had a confidence issue and took group to start out with then switched to private once I got to know the horse I was riding and the teacher and got more comfortable.

Have fun riding and i hope you have a blast!

There are people about a million times your age just starting riding, you are never too old to start.

I personally think taking proper lessons first is a good idea. Don't get me wrong, riding camp will certainly teach you, but in lessons, you'll get the "right" training and will help you at a camp.

As for what style you want to do, it's completely up to you. I ride English (dressage) and enjoy myself quite a bit. However, you may like western more.

I have taken both group and private lessons (and am still taking private lessons). Group lessons a a little slower paced because you have a few other people in your group (usually no more than 5 or 6). Private lessons, on the other hand, give you individual attention on how to improve your riding. You will get pretty "brutalized" by your trainer (in a good way), and you tend to get a little more out of it. I think group lessons are great for beginner riders, but you'll probably want private lessons as you get better.

Have fun and good luck!

No, you are never too old to start riding, don't worry. I talked to a women who started as a teen and she thought it was actually an advantage to start later because it was easier for her to understand what she was doing wrong and correct her mistakes. Also, it was easier to control the horse.

I think that you are right about taking lessons first so that you can gain some experience and have a great time at the camp. Also, camps are a greater commitment when it comes to time and money.

The decision to ride English or Western is yours. Maybe you should take a few lessons in both disciplines... a little bit of research.

I took group lessons most of my life. When I started out, it didn't make much difference to me, as I just wanted to be around horses and learn to ride. Group lessons have a more relaxed feel to them, as all the attention isn't focused on you alone. It's becomes very social when you ride as a group. You can learn by watching the others mistakes and successes. Overall, I loved riding in a group. On the other hand, once I switched to private, I started to make a lot of progress a lot faster. Everything that I had been struggling with disappeared. one option is to start private and then switch to group as you become more advanced and develop more confidence around horses. Private lessons will give you a solid understanding of the basics. Group lessons are cheaper, of course.

Good luck.

I hope you have an amazing time!

You are definitely not too old to start riding! I know people that have started riding when they are 40 years old!

I would say probably go to horse camp first. Most camps offer English and Western and all levels. So this way within like a week you can try English and Western and see which you like better. This will help you decide which way you want to ride if you start taking lessons.

So you went to a camp and you really liked riding? So try taking some lessons in whatever discipline (English or Western) you liked better. I would take your first couple of lessons as private lessons- this way for your beginning riding skills all the attention is on you and if you are excelling already in certain parts you can work on your weaknesses.

When I first started riding I took a couple private lessons and then in about a month (of once a week lessons) I switched to a group lesson. At this point group lessons are fine because you will probably be working on getting comfortable in the walk, trot and maybe canter.

Eventually after you figure out the specific discipline (such as Eventing, Dressage, Show Jumping or Reining, Barrel Racing etc.)that you want to ride in and you are well on your way in this discipline you may want to start back into private lessons. I found it really helpful to take private lessons so I could have my instructors focus on me individually and they could tailor there lesson plans to what me and my horse specifically needed to work on. This is especially important if you are leasing or own your own horse.

Hope I helped!

These are great questions, it's nice that you are trying to take the right steps :D

First off 7th grade is IN NO WAY TO OLD! There ar plenty of 40 and 50 year olds who take their first lessons :) So, don't even think about worring over your age :P

Camp or lessons is your decision, either is a good option. Most people go to a camp first, then they start weekly riding lessons. But, summer is a long way away, and if your mom agrees to lessons and you want to start know you could do that...then if you continue to enjoy riding you could take the camp too :)

Go for the English...not that Western is bad, but BELIEVE ME (and I am sure plenty of others will say this too) if you start English Western is a BREEZE!! If you start Western switching to English TENDS to be much more difficult.

Western is a little more lax than English, but you gain more skills (posting, jumping, dressage, etc.) which will help you to succeed in any other horse related sport later on. So, start with the English, then if you aren't satisfied try Western and see if you enjoy it more. Typically if you start English you stay English...but there are a lot of peopl who like the more relaxed enviroment of Western, or the adrenaline rush of speed sports ^^

Again, private or group is up to you. A lot of barns make the first lesson private to see your level, but group is almost always cheaper (though you get more out of a private lesson). I would do group lessons, because you will make new friends, and for some reason you sometimes learn better while watching other riders with you. You could always take like group lessons and then a private lesson every few weeks :D

I have done both private and group...and I find private good if you are having pericular problems, but a little nerve racking when all the attention is on you (usually in a negative way because you flaws are more easily seen lol). I don;t like BIG group lessons, because you don't seem to get ENOUGH attention (so make sure to ask how many are in a group lesson...4-6 isn't to bad, but once it goes past 8 is when it isn't worth it xP) I would atually sugesst SEMI private, this is two people in a lesson and it isn't to nerve racking, you get ENOUGH attention (but not to much), and it usually isn't but $5 or so more that group :)

Good Luck xDDDDDD

You are never too old to start riding! Well maybe if you are 80 and have bad arthritis...

I have been riding since I was like 4 years old, but I never took any real lessons until I was in college. One of the ladies in my college riding class was in her 50s and had just started riding, so trust me, 7th grade is not too late! You may be behind other kids your age, and that can be frustrating, but stick with it and don't get discouraged.

I like Western style better, it depends on what you want to do. Look at the events that both styles offer. I have heard English can be trickier to learn, its more disciplined and thus a little more physically difficult, but I've never ridden English so I don't really know for sure.

I think taking some lessons before you go to horse camp would be a good idea, you won't be so nervous when you get to camp. I think that private lessons are good very beginners, group lessons can be good later on. I think private lessons for your first time riding are better because you don't know what you are doing and the teacher can focus on you alone. Group lessons are fun for once you get the hang of things, but until then I think private is the way to go so you get all the attention.

Good luck and have fun! Riding is a lot of fun, but it can be challenging, just stick with it and you will love it!

First thing.... no way! I started riding when I was in 8th grade. I found that even though I started way later than others, I am excelling fast, because I am older and can understand more. Sure you may be a bit behind others, but who are you comparing yourself to, because there are a lot of other people who start riding at later dates and ages.

Now you said you love horses, and yes the chances are that you are going to love riding too. However, I suggest going on a short summer about 4 days - one week. you'll learn how much you want to be riding and such. Once your in lessons, you can always back out, but not a good idea since there was probably a lot of effort into getting you in them.

Western or English? A common question. I personally ride english, but it depends who you are. I still love the western ways and would do both if I was allowed. you could try both and see which one you like better. Ask yourself what you want to do... jumping? dressage? x-country? barrell racing? This will help get you to where you want to be.

Yes, private lessons may help more since you are the focus, but I prefer groups lessons. I like them better, because it helps me personally seeing other people ride. And you can take what the instructor is giving to others at the same time.Plus, it costs less, because lessons can be pricy.

You are never too old to start riding and I started riding in the seventh grade too!!!!

Camps are always good for a starting point to see if you actually like to ride, but beginning riding lessons is good too, that is where i started.

I started off in group lessons because you need to learn the basics. I rode in group lessons until i got my own horse and want to advance and work on my riding problems. The reason for this is all the time is spent on you and your horse and helping you become a better rider since you are getting all the attention. A private lesson for a beginner would be quite boring too, for you and the instructor because there isn't as much that you can do plus it costs quite a bit more, so I would start off in a group. Its also good cause you can learn by watching the others in the class.

English is always better to start off learning in because you develop a better seat as there is nothing holding you into the saddle except for your muscles. Whereas western is easier to stay in cause you have a seat formed around you.It is then much easier to go from riding english to western then the other way around. When i go down to the farm it is easy for me to jump into a western saddle and go, whereas when my cousins come and ride in an english saddle they have a much harder time. It also depends on what you are thinking you want to do ie. jumping, dressage, barrel racing, pole bending etc. so that is something you need to decide.

Of course you aren't too old to start riding!

I think taking a horse camp would be great. That is how I started. I went to this one horse camp where they taught us how to groom, tack up, ride, and take care of the horse, plus play fun games!

I think that you should ride English. I have ridden both and have nothing against western, but English is proven to be safer. It is the more balanced, and I think it is personally more fun! You get to jump, which is one of the most wonderful feelings. And you can foxhunt, which is a fast-paced sport over beautiful country! You can play games, learn dressage, and much more!

I HIGHLY recommend the United States Pony Club. This is an organization throughout the US (they have it in Britian and other countries depending on where you live) where they teach young people all about horses, and how to ride, and do things around horses safely. You get to learn awesome stuff and you get to compete against other kids your age! There are different levels, and when you get good enough, you get to take a "rating" (like a test kinda except fun) to get to the next level! Hope this all helped!