26/07/2025
It can be really difficult for people to ride when their body is constantly changing. This applies greatly to children and teenagers, but it can also apply to those with chronic illnesses or ageing bodies.
Check in with your riding self. Ask for support and advice.
As I often say to my clients, as long as you're trying, that's all I ask. Don't worry if you've still not quite nailed it!
I don't really teach young people anymore, but at times in my life I have taught hundreds of them, at every stage from up downs to the competition ring.
The one constant about children and teenagers is that they change. A lot. Quickly. Height, shape, strength are all constantly moving targets, and that's before we even touch on hormones, social pressures etc which add real complications to how kids learn and develop.
So what does this have to do with riding?
A great deal, as it happens.
The teen years are when young people who are lucky enough to be riding often invest the most in their sport, before they set off to university and the realities of adult life. During this period their skills, experience and understanding grow exponentially and instructors and parents are often very invested in their success. And as we all know, investment in horses doesn't come cheap!
But all of this happens against this ever changing background of a growing athlete. Even if the rider, their coaches, and the parents understand this intellectually, it's often difficult to assess objectively when you see it every day.
Stirrups get "shorter" (teenagers riding like jockeys because they've grown six inches but their stirrups are the same length is a trope!).
Body positions that worked great for a small, weak rider on a slightly too big pony can be downright dangerous in someone taller and stronger.
Aids that were appropriate when they were applied by a small child on a large animal are less so when weight and strength ratios change.
Ponies and smaller horses, bought for a child, can get overwhelmed by a bigger, stronger rider and the rider themselves is not able to objectively monitor the changes from inside the machine, as it were. This can lead to the rider using stronger aids because the pony is getting "quick" or "resistant" which exacerbates the situation. An informed instructor needs to monitor and discuss this with the rider.
It's worth remembering strength isn't just about mass, it's about levers, so even a very skinny kid will be exerting a lot more pressure as they get taller. Add in the short stirrups and a stronger upper body, and even a very benign looking rider can suddenly produce a lot of force. Just because a growing child is still objectively light enough to ride a small pony, that doesn't mean it's safe or even productive.
Other changes in the body can produce differences in balance and riding style. This is particularly true for young women who develop early and may struggle with body image issues on top of the physical changes. It's very common for girls at this stage to develop an arched lower back or to suddenly struggle with their jumping position. Arm position can also be affected by breast developments, and leg position by changes in the shape of the pelvis and hips.
Psychological changes can also play into it. Many young people become more assertive as the develop, and more aware of what other people think of them. This can produce a much more forceful approach, not intentionally or even obviously, but still with a significant effect on the pony.
To make matters worse, not everyone develops at the same rate, so there will be riders in the peer group who stay small and light, while others turn into adults almost overnight. This can put a lot of pressure on kids and has to be sensitively managed by coaches.
On the darker end, it's easy to see why this can be a recipe for eating disorders. The desire to be able to stay on a beloved pony, an offhand comment, unwelcome competition results, financial and support discrepancies, hormones, body image. . . It can become a very toxic soup for young riders. This has been hugely magnified by social media, where total strangers weigh in constantly on what they see, often forgetting (to be charitable) that there are real people involved.
Parents and coaches can't stop any of this, obviously, but they can be sensitive to the pressures. Teenagers aren't known for their desire to have difficult conversations with adults, but even something as simple as a regular stirrup length check can be an opening to talk about changes. It can also be a jumping off point to talk about similar changes in young horses, as teenagers become more involved in training, rather than just riding.
It is more complicated to teach students who seem to be different every time they come, physically and mentally, but it's all part of the job. It can also mean having tough conversations about horse suitability and equipment fit, even peer group pressure. It can also be the time young people become fully aware of social differences, and adult concerns about money, scheduling etc. This isn't necessarily something that can or should be addressed in lessons, but instructors need to be aware of not contributing to the problem. Telling a kid with parents on a budget that they "need" to buy a "better" horse is, frankly, cruel. But that doesn't mean having a conversation about investment and expectations is out of line. Having a conversation about physical adjustments doesn't have to turn into a discussion about weight.
For many young people riding and being with horses is their "safe space" away from some of the pressures they feel elsewhere. Even if they don't fully understand it, the timelessness of this world can be a welcome pause from the breakneck pace of modern life and we need to encourage that. But don't underestimate how lovely it is to see young people you've taught through their teen years develop into great adults. I know I've only played a tiny part in the lives of most of the kids I've taught, but I'm proud of all of them and think of many of them often. I know people who taught me felt the same and some of them encouraged me to see the big picture as I, myself, moved into a teaching role.
Understanding developing riders is an investment, both in the person and the sport.
