Appropriate Age to Begin Horseback Riding Lessons?

My daughter is 6 and learning to horse back ride, with my parents, this summer :)

I learned when I was 4 or 5 to ride on my own, on my grandpas farm.
My mom practically grew up on a saddle on a horse, her horse was named Pokey and she was riding from about 4 or 5 as well.

I started sitting (can't really call it riding) on Belgian draft horses when I was 5. My first real lessons in 6th grade ( on much SMALLER horses!), and was working as an exercise rider on thoroughbreds in 7th grade.

Most ponies are mean (seriously, I think there's a 'deranged' gene in ponies), but connemaras seem to lack the Shetland mean streak or deranged anger. Arabians are another great small horse (often just barely over pony size), but tend to be temperamental / flighty. Quarter horses have more common sense than nearly every other breed combined (they're often used for lesson horses just because of their calm nature and common sense).

Why the mini breed review? (there are scores of breeds, many are GREAT for younger children, like Morgan's, etc. that I'm not listing out to save space). Because what age to start also depends on WHO you're/they're going to be riding.

A good barn will have a lot of different options, and a good instructor will match your kids personality with their horse.

Just for example: I hadn't ridden since I was 6, and those had been the huge old draft horses on my friends plantation. An administrative 'goof' put me in the advanced camp, so I was doing 3' jumps my first morning out. Ironically, that suited my personality/riding style. I got moved to where I belonged, but quickly became known as the girl who liked neurotic horses. I like a challenge. Quiet, gentle, and willing horses drove me a little bonkers. Every stable I've ridden or worked at since, I've fallen into the same niche. I'm happiest with problem horses.

My best friend in horse land was my polar opposite personality wise. Put her on a willing horse with a quiet temperament and they both SHONE.

We competed against each other all the time. I got highest marks on my knucklehead horses and she got highest marks on her quiet ones. Switch us off, though? And we both did okay, but not our best.

Sometimes barns don't have the 'right ' horse for a child. It's better to wait, or find a different barn in that case.

But with the right mount, and horsey parents? Age 3-5. I had to wait until I was 11, but only because there weren't good options for me.

My daughter is starting lessons this summer. She is 10

There's an excellent barn near me that has a great "lead line" program for beginners from 4 to 7 years old. Children learn the basics of riding, including walk and trot (both sitting & posting) while the instructor still has control of the horse via a 12' lead rope. That support is gradually withdrawn as the child progresses in proficiency.

Additionally, I've seen middle aged adults fulfill a life-long dream there and start lessons. Perhaps the people that most made me smile, though, was an older couple. Their grandchildren rode and they wanted to be able to share the experience so they took lessons for a summer.

I guess what I'm trying to say is there is no single appropriate age. The most important components are a quality, experienced instructor who will take whatever time is needed to work with the child in the way that best suits the child AND the school horses themselves (AKA the 4-legged instructors).

I think it was Winston Churchill who said something like "no time is wasted that is spent in the saddle." So true!

Joseph sat on a horse and rode around on it starting at 3, but actual lessons, we didn't start until he was 5. That's (a) when he was able to listen, control himself and his whims, and follow instructions really well and (b) the youngest this barn allows. He's doing very well, but he also has an excellent teacher. She's no-nonsense, though.
We tried at a different barn first, and it wasn't the right fit for a few reasons that had nothing to do with my son's age and a type of horse. I called around and talked to a few barns, and found one that is 45 minutes away (when we have barns just 15 minutes away), but it is worth it to me because its perfect for us. The first day, we were to come 30 minutes early and fill out paperwork, and while I was doing that, she interviewed Joseph and talked to him a bit, gave him all the rules, walked around with him to see how he acted. She said different children have different personalities, and she would choose a horse accordingly. Then I just stayed behind and followed from a distance and she took him to the tack room to teach him all that, then got a lead and took him out to a field with a group of horses and took his horse, helped him hook the lead, and he had to lead the horse through that field and all the way up to the barn to brush him, get him saddled, all that. After the horse was ready, he led his own horse (she was there walking beside him) to the training course and taught him how to mount (with stairs since he's so little, which is cute), and they began their lessons.
Funny that Riley started on the same horse my son did: the Belgian draft horse. They have shorter legs and wider backs, extremely strong, bred to haul stuff in the mines. VERY good temperament, calm, he seemed to know my son was learning. He began the basics then: walk, stop, turn, etc. She started teaching him balance and control (even had him riding backwards and to the side on the 3rd lesson, to teach him control in the saddle, and verbal commands, which he got a kick out of). Now at 5 1/2, he rides a 2 year old quarter horse, and is doing good! The teacher really likes him, says he has an analytical mind and a wonderful way with animals, and you can see they enjoy themselves in the pen and field. She loves how he is bold but led by common sense. He didn't have trepidation or fear walking through all those big horses to pick his that first day, but he also wasn't careless and knew to respect their size. The teacher said that was very important and a little bit rare for his age. I stay back and out of the way, except that we come 20 minutes early and I help him with the tack and preparing his horse now, so that they can have more time to ride during the class. And of course, horses aren't toys, so we have to groom and take care of the horses afterwards too. Those are good lessons though, and I'm very happy to take part in it.

Well of course people who grow up with and around horses start from practically the time they can walk :)
For the rest of us I think it's more about maturity and comfort level around large animals.
Check with the stables in your area, they will have great advice and safety guidelines already in place. I know our Girl Scout program starts around around age 7/8.

The Stables will let you know.

I grew up riding... we had 2 horses. I was probably about 7.

My daughters started at 4-5. I think once their big enough to understand and you have a reliable place for them to learn...things should be okay.

It depends. I was raised around horses and so were my kids. We were on the back of a horse as soon as we could sit up by ourselves and led around so we had no fear but learned to be careful and respectful.
It also depends on the temperament of the child if they aren't used to being around such large animals.

I would contact people who provide lessons near you and ask them more about it.

Best wishes.

I started my daughter when she was four years old.

When I was 5 we lived in the same town as my mothers cousin who boarded horses. I was over there a lot and when I was between 5 and 6 I started lessons. A few years later we moved out of that state and I missed riding but we didn't know of anyone with horses. It wasn't until I was in highschool I found a place and started riding again - I have to say I was SO much more comfortable when I was younger than when I went back in highschool!!

I think at a lot of places the minimum age might be 8 years old, but you can call around and ask. I've seen a 6 year old compete in barrel racing though!

My DD was 6 or 7 when she started.

Do you have your own horses and stable or will you be taking your children to a riding school?