re: Does anyone have kids that ride horses?

If your daughter is "horse crazy" just go with it- just make sure you find a good trainer and coach. Many out there recruit new riders in order to sell a horse and will sell almost anything to anybody. I have ridden all my life - mostly in Eventing (show-jumping, cross-country and Dressage combo) - I even rode professionally for a few years. My Dad trained cutting horses - so basically I have pretty much seen it all.
As for the injuries, they will happen, bc like a previous poster mentioned, there are inherant risks to sitting on the back of a 1000 pound animal and jumping over things. I have seen some pretty bad injuries, but they are actually few and far between. It all goes back to training - both for the rider and the horse. A good trainer will, after awhile figure out if your child really has the head and heart for riding. The way a person reacts to a horse is something that can't be taught - it's visceral. People that don't need to be around horses and insist on doing so cause a lot of problems and injuries to themselves and other riders.
All three of my kids rode from the time they could walk - now that they are teenagers, they aren't so into it. Which leads me to my last bit of advice: Don't buy a horse right away. I have seen countless families stuck with horses after their kids lost interesting in riding. Leasing a horse is your best option.
Oh and be ready to shell out the money - horses and riding and showing are expensive - but if your kids love it, it's worth every penny.

6 is the earliest I would start with lessons. Some places have age restrictions...meaning they won't take them unless a certain age.

A little older would be better though...8ish. when they can understand and "get" it a little more.

but I don't know nothing about kids...so take it as you will. lol

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but I don't know nothing about kids..

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That means you know something

Ok good deal. I think they do shows there too for the lessons kids.

Don't worry too much. Especially if she took a fall and is ready to go again. Trust me, you bounce back much easier when young. The older I get, the more each fall hurts me. Last fall I had my horse slipped and we both went down. Holy crap. The fall itself wasn't bad but the aftermath was the worst I've had in all my years. And I had two more days of riding in a clinic after. My back was super messed up. Horse was fine. He had better drugs than me. Some of the nice dads helped me load my trailer when I left since bending and picking things up was working well for me

In middle school and high school I would take injured thoroughbred race horses and train them to be jumping horses, then sell them.

Most of the little girls that rode at the farm were spoiled rotten.

I had a few injuries but nothing that I couldn't get back up from, its pretty safe.

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Up there? Its tops brother.

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Not trying to argue, but I do have friends with some expensive hobbies like racing sailboats, racing cars etc. Even have a few buddies that play polo, but that's horses, so basically the same thing. No doubt it's expensive as hell. Good thing I don't have kids yet.

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Youd probably be better off buying a horse off the track

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I absolutely disagree - the off the track horse has to be trained to jump and that gets expensive. Also, you never know how that racehorse is going to react to jumping - temperament, talent etc.
Keep in mind that racehorse has only been trained to run and run fast.
I have had some great Eventers that came straight from the track; but I had the resources to train them properly. I also have a place to keep them when they don't work out - which happens.
Don't get me started on the slaughter business that thrives off people buying horses they shouldn't.

GF has a Harry Potter scar on her forehead from being kicked by a horse when she was 12. Screwed up her shoulder last year from hanging on to the reins as she went down. Bruised ribs, near miss from a fence post. That's just the ones I know about. She doesn't jump any more (AFAIK )

When she was a kid, she would ride her horse down St Charles Avenue. Just took up riding again as an adult, and it's what gives her the most joy in life.

Guy I graduated with and shoesmy horses use to work there taking care of the horses. pretty good guy.

Had a saddle stolen at Farr park years ago. Horse tied to the trailer saddle with bit. Went and paid entry fees and came back and everything was gone. they even put the halter on him when they stole my headstall