If you think a 6 year year old trail riding is bad, (which I think is fine
if the child can ride and the horse is a babysitter), then you need to go to the
local motocross track. You will see 3 and 4 year olds on
motorcycles. Yes, real motorcycles (Cobra, KTM, Honda,
Yamaha...) with 50-90cc engines, (and no training wheels) that will go
15-30 miles per hour. And you will see their parents cheering them on to
go faster and jump higher. Some of them are already sponsored racers at
that age. So, even though I don't want my 3 & 4 year old on a
motorcycle, I say if they love it, and the parents think the child
is ready AND take FULL RESPONSIBILITY if/when the child
gets hurt (not the track owner/event planner) then ok.
My Dad grew up on a ranch, was riding with his dad
as a baby....and he had me riding at 4, a mean little Shetland pony that tried
every trick he knew to get me off. (and he succeeded a lot). At
10 I got my first full size horse and started goat tying, barrel racing,
etc. Later I switched to 3 Day Eventing. I've fallen off/bucked off a
million times, but have only been "hurt" twice in my lifetime with horses (I'm
42 now). Once when I was 16, my Arab gelding spooked at a broom while
I was leading him and trampled me (it was my fault, I wouldn't let go of the
lead and he was dragging me and stepped on me.) breaking my jaw, and ribs.
Then when I was 37 I asked my horse (QH/ Trakehner cross) to jump a cross
country jump bigger than what we were used to,(again, my fault) which he
tried, but we crashed. I got a concussion and broke some bones in my left
hand and wrist. (he was ok, thank goodness). So, all of my
injuries happened after I was older, doing things I should have known better
than. Also, I think as children, we bounce instead of
breaking.
