For parents
Welcome to the world of ponies and riding!
Welcomed by Espoo Stable and the Finnish Equestrian Federation
This text is based on the Finnish Equestrian Federation's Nouse ratsaille guide
Ratsasta.fi/nouseratsaille sekä Hevostaito-opasta (SRL 2013)
Joy from riding!
Welcome to a new hobby!
Riding is a special sport because it is enjoyed together with a living "hobby partner", the pony. We at Espoo Stable feel that the most important thing in what we do is an interest in this hobby partner – the desire to get to know and understand ponies and to work with them. With us, riding can be a fun pastime and refreshment for the mind, or more goal-oriented riding where skills needed for competition are practised.
You can come to our stable according to your own enthusiasm, possibilities and schedule – just for your own lesson or even every day to spend time here. We encourage children to come to the stable on other days besides their riding lesson, as riding is not learned by riding alone.
In addition to riding lessons, our stable offers pony clubs where practical horse skills and the theory of riding and horse care are taught. The club is led by a riding instructor.
Good balance, athleticism and the courage to learn new things are also beneficial in riding. Most of our riders ride once a week. We recommend that riders pursue other physical activities in addition to riding and remember healthy lifestyle habits – a healthy rider has more energy and learns more easily.
If your child starting riding has any special characteristics that affect the hobby, it is good to mention these in your Hopoti profile under "Notes for the stable or service provider". These include things such as long-term illnesses, physical limitations, factors affecting learning and strongest personality traits. Based on this information, our instructors can better take into account each rider's individual needs.
We invest in safety
Safety must be considered in everything when working with ponies. Even though a pony is small, cute and fluffy, its instincts and reactions are the same as those of larger horses. We believe it is important that your child receives guidance in supervised conditions at the start of the hobby, in a small group with expert instruction.
The stable rules and staff instructions must be followed throughout the stable area. A beginner rider may not notice all safety risks themselves, so the given instructions should be listened to carefully and reviewed regularly.
Riding can never be made completely safe. Falling off is likely to happen sooner or later. Usually the result is just a fright, but falling also carries a risk of injury. The risk of injury can be reduced by using appropriate equipment for the hobby.
Beginner course participants at Espoo Stable are covered by the Finnish Equestrian Federation's accident insurance for occasional riders. If your child continues riding after the beginner course, a Green Card membership must be obtained or they should join a riding club. Espoo Riders Association operates at Espoo Stable.
Riding equipment – you can get started without any purchases
You can get started with riding without major purchases. As the hobby continues, acquiring equipment is worthwhile as it improves safety and makes things such as the seat easier.
When dressing for the stable, practicality and safety are most important. Suitable stable shoes and clothing are water and dirt repellent. Clothing must not restrict movement, meaning it should be the right size and comfortable.
Weather conditions must be taken into account when dressing. In cold weather, dress warmly enough. Layering is convenient as layers can be removed or added according to the situation.
In stable clothing, avoid anything that can catch, tighten or get stuck, for example when falling. Leave dangling scarves, jewellery and hoods at home. Ponies may be startled by flapping or rustling clothing.
Hair is always kept tied up at the stable.
No special riding equipment needs to be purchased for the beginner course – the instructor will advise on equipment purchases, such as a safety vest.
The helmet is the most important piece of equipment. It is worn at all times when riding. We also recommend wearing it when handling ponies.
The helmet must be the right size – it must not wobble or pinch. Helmets are available to borrow from our stable.
The chin strap must be fastened and the helmet handled with care, as if the helmet receives an impact it must be replaced. The helmet's protective structure may have been damaged even if it looks intact on the outside. For this reason we do not recommend purchasing a second-hand helmet, as its condition cannot be verified with certainty.
Gloves are worn at all times when leading and riding. Gloves prevent chafing and provide a firm grip on the lead rope and reins. More suitable for stable use are rubber-grip gloves (such as garden gloves) and leather-reinforced riding gloves.
Flexible trousers are suitable as riding pants. When riding, make sure the trousers have no chafing seams, slippery or rustling fabric, or legs that ride up. Proper riding breeches have patches on the inner leg that increase grip in the saddle.
Boots with a wide but low heel are worn for riding (rubber boots or winter riding boots). The heel prevents the foot from sliding through the stirrup, which could cause dangerous situations.
If you are purchasing riding boots or footwear for your child, we recommend that they have a reinforced toe cap.
The role of parents of a riding child
Children need support for their hobby. Parents can show this by encouraging, cheering and showing interest. It is important to give the child time to talk about their hobby. In riding, parents can participate in their child's hobby by watching lessons and competitions organised at our stable during autumn and spring. If you would like to participate and assist your child with stable care activities, we organise orientation-style "Meet the Horse" lectures for parents as well as adult beginner courses.
A large part of progress in riding depends on the rider's own feelings: learning only happens through relaxation and confidence, and these come with experience and practice.
The stable atmosphere
Everyone who visits the stable influences its comfort and safety through their own actions. When people at the stable are friendly, polite and helpful, the stable becomes a pleasant place for both people and its actual residents – the horses. At our stable we greet everyone and help each other. Do not hesitate to ask for advice if you are unsure how to act in a situation. Tidiness also plays a part in comfort, so items are always returned to their proper places after use. Indifference to practices and tidiness can, at worst, lead to the horses' wellbeing suffering and safety being compromised.
We encourage children to watch other riding lessons. Watching and observing is educational and beneficial and helps develop one's own riding when you can see how others act and what kind of instructions the teacher gives in different situations.
Good judgement must be used when in the stable area: if a lesson is in progress on the arena, loud chatting and laughing are not appropriate at the arena's edge.
When riding and working with ponies, it is also worth noting that a pony senses a person's emotional state, and irritation or tension can affect the pony and its behaviour. For this reason it is good to try to settle your emotions before working with ponies.
Espoo Stable rules
- For safety reasons, dogs, prams, scooters and umbrellas are not brought to the side of the riding arena, as horses are prey animals and notice everything new and unfamiliar in their environment and may be startled by it
- Behaviour in the stable area must be appropriate and calm – we walk and speak in a friendly and calm manner
- The stable is the pony's home and the stall is the pony's own room. We only enter the stall with permission, greeting the pony in a friendly manner
- Ponies are given peace during feeding time, during which we do not move through the aisles
- When ponies are in their own stalls, we allow them to enjoy their peaceful rest. We therefore do not peek at or touch ponies when they are in their stalls
- Pony care is carried out according to the given instructions
- We keep our belongings tidy and return them to their proper places immediately. If something breaks or something about a pony concerns you, inform the instructor immediately. Caring for equipment after a lesson is an essential part of horsemanship and the safety of the sport – remember to always care for equipment after a lesson.
- The stable master feeds the ponies. Do not give the ponies anything to eat yourself, as ponies can become dangerously ill from unsuitable treats. Ponies very easily learn to beg and nip for more treats