My 8-year old daughter rode a friend’s horse a few times in the Griffith Park area of L.A. back in the 1990’s. We shortly moved to rural Oklahoma. As promised, within 6 months we had a little appaloosa and a smallish full-sized horse for the kids to ride. We had trail rides and play days on those great partners for my kids. It was a great experience that they remember fondly as adults.
Horses are fun and smart. Kids learn a lot about responsibility by being around them. (They are also dangerous.)
Great memory.
Two of my grandsons went to a private high school in Ojai,CA. Every incoming freshman is given a horse that they have to care for and learn to ride for the year.
Their day starts early in the morning, before classes, where they have to groom the horses and then go for a ride. It’s amazing how proficient these kids become. The whole idea is to have them learn responsibility and care for something besides themselves.