Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Is there a safe horse riding school that i could let a 4 year old attend.

There are a couple I know of, one near to Catalkoy Village - if you google it they have a website I think.
There is also one attached to European Hotel in Famagusta, it is based in Otuken.
They have ponies, which are more placid than horses.

There are probably others I don't know of.

Chris

numpty wrote:Is there a safe horse riding school that i could let a 4 year old attend.

Safe? - As in no danger of broken bones, spinal injuries, brain damage, death?

Not in any Country in the World.

Read this BBC report, particularly the bit about the young girl, Lucy Caley... horse riding

Keith Caley

a horse riding school in Alsancak , near the Riverside holiday complex.

Tried them , very good! can recommend.

0533 879 77 39(Alex)

I checked out the Catalkoy school a few years ago. English run and very high standards of stable maintenace and animals and tack in good condition(better than many I have seen in England) and some Shetlands for small children. I emphasise that was a few years ago when it was new but it is worth having a look.

Keith : Any activity carries a risk - I rode horses from childhood but the accident which left me lame was falling over in my own garden! But the advice given in your clip is good . The main thing particularly at such a young age is that the child should have a real affinity - like all the higher mammals horses and ponies sense fear and react badly.

Rambling Rose,

I don't disagree with anything that you, or the other posters have said.

I just wanted to point out that the activity can never be without risk, and that therefore the search for a 'safe' establishment (as I defined it) is fruitless.

I included the BBC link because I have no idea what degree of awareness the original poster has of these issues.

I wouldn't want a 'clueless' (no offence intended) poster sending their child off to any activity thinking that it was 100% 'safe', and then receiving a corpse, like the parents of Lucy Caley.

Keith Caley.

Point taken, Keith. But I assumed that the OP meant a responsible school that would take all reasonable precautions to avoid unnecessary risks , particularly for children and learners. In the UK there is a very wide divergence in safety standard at so called "riding schools" and the parents havent indicated whether they have any knowledge of horses In the UK I would recommend a child joining The Pony Club, but here I doubt there is any official control over such establishments , If the parents arent horse people themselves they will be very very dependant on the expertise of those running the establishment. Although there are stories of children learning to ride before they can walk, they are usually the offspring of people who own their own horses, 4 is surely alittle young?

Oh dear - just noticed the same names Keith. Is that a coincidence? If I said anything to hurt or offend I am truly sorry. I was carried away by my concern for the safety standard of the establishment chosen, having experienced some pretty grotty ones myself in the UK

Rambling Rose,

Don't worry, no offence caused or taken.

The young girl was undoubtedly a relative, there are a lot of us around Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire, although I never actually knew her - it just brings it home to you...

I think really that between everyone who has posted on here, we've covered it !

I just didn't want to assume any 'prior knowledge' on the parents' side, in case it was someone with no real knowledge of the risks. Very difficult when they don't give you much information.

It was the use of the word 'safe' that concerned me.