no matter how many people write and tell me that this is how they prefer to start their horses, I am still going to think it is a bad idea.
I agree with you completely and then I am going to confess that I just asked my grandson to do the first few rides on Yrsa. The difference here is that Gabriel is 17 and a better, more balanced rider than I am and he probably weighs more. He's certainly more agile and athletic than I am.l I don't have him train, although he did a great job with a Welsh pony I gave him several years ago. I just let him be the first person who sits on the ponies and the first person they move forward with. I used to start a few horses for other people when I was younger. I think the most importand thing is to assure that nothing bad/scarey happens. I really wouldn't want to pull someone back off. Tosca's first ride took place over about a week. First Gabe put weight in the left stirrup several times, then in the right stirrup several times. Because she was so stoic, he eventually gently slid onto the sadd.e We said good girl and put her up. The whole exercise was pretty silly because she just stood there each time, but the very first filly I ever started put me through the top rail of a wooden corral, a lesson I have never forgotten. Nancy
