Tiny Trotters (for ages 3 to 5 with parent/guardian)
Tiny Trotters is a weekly horsemanship class for children who are too young for a riding lesson and old enough to want one. It runs on minis and donkeys, mostly on the ground, and it is built by a certified teacher rather than borrowed from a lesson plan meant for older children.
It is not a pony ride, and it is not babysitting. Your child will learn to groom, to lead, to stand in the right place, and to notice what an animal is telling them. They will also learn to finish a job they started, which is the part that follows them out of the barn.
Ages - 3 to 5 years olds
When - once a week for 45 minutes
Group Size - 6 children maximum (with 1 instructor and 1 barn helper)
Enrollment - rolling enrollment, start any week; cancel anytime.
Cost - $295/month for once a week
Ellie
Liberty
George and the rest of the donkey herd
Penelope and Suzie
Frequently Asked Questions
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None at all. Most have never touched a horse, and the first session assumes exactly that.
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Half of them are. The first session is mostly standing near a very small pony until standing near a pony stops being a big deal.
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They move into our Green lessons, and Tiny Trotters will have got them ready without their noticing.
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A child this age borrows courage from you before finding their own, so you are in the arena for every session rather than watching from the rail. The 45 minutes you spend leading a pony together is time neither of you gets back any other way, and we have watched a lot of parents discover they stayed for themselves.
As your child becomes more capable you step back, first to the rail during the riding and then for the whole session. That stepping back is the program.
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Three tiers, earned by skill rather than birthday.
Foal - Within arm's reach.
Weanling - At the rail during the riding.
Yearling - At the rail all session, steering three cones at the walk unaided.
Each week earns a sticker on a Trotter Card; a full card earns a horseshoe charm your child keeps.
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Forty-five minutes a week of real horsemanship, scaled to what a 3, 4, or 5 year old can actually do. Mostly on the ground, finishing with a short lead line ride.
On the Ground - Grooming, leading, where to stand, and how to tell a pony you are there.
In the Saddle - Balance, steering, and a short lead line ride at the end of every session.
Horse Sense - Parts of the horse, what they eat, what they wear, and how they feel.
Growing Up at the Barn - Patience, courage, taking turns, and finishing a job you started.em description
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A full-sized horse is a wonderful thing and it is the wrong size for a 3 year old. A mini stands at child height, so they can reach to brush him, see his eye, and lead him without craning.
Donkeys are patient in a way that suits a child who is still deciding whether they are brave.
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Closed-toe shoes - boots if your child has them, sturdy trainers if not
Long pants - anything they can get dirty
Helmet - we provide one if you do not have one yet (do not buy before you come, let us fit your child first)
Parent/Guardian - one adult per child, in the arena, every session
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Email us at info@aubreymeadows.com with your child’s name and age.
Join our stable on Hopoti at hopoti.com/stable/AubreyMeadowsEquestrianCenter/join. All scheduling and payments are completed through Hopoti.