Your child wanted a pony for Christmas. All she knows about horses she has read in books. Using your better judgment, you did not buy her a pony. Instead, you promised her that she could start riding lessons as soon as the holidays were over. Now it's your job to sign her up for riding lessons. Where should you start?

Listed below are ten suggestions for locating and identifying an effective riding instructor who will safely and happily introduce your child to the wonderful world of horses and riding.

1. Ask around. Find out which of your child's friends and schoolmates ride. Talk with their parents about their experiences. Visit your local horse tack and feed stores and check out the ads on the community bulletin boards. Ask the employees in local tack and feed stores for their suggestions. They are often excellent sources of information about local equestrian programs and riding instructors. Most instructors now have websites where you can obtain additional information about their lesson programs.

2. Visit a potential instructor's ranch. Watch some lessons with children about the same age as yours. Get a feel for the atmosphere. Do the children appear happy? Are they smiling and having fun? How does the instructor communicate with the children? Does it sound to you like there is an excessive amount of yelling? Good riding instructors should never belittle or insult their students. They should be able to clearly and patiently explain what they want the child or the horse to do.

How does the ranch appear? Are the tacking-up and teaching areas clean, safe and free of clutter? Do the lessons take place in an enclosed arena with safe fencing and all the gates closed during the lesson? No unleashed dogs should be allowed in the teaching area. If the instructor gives group lessons, how large are the groups? What is the maximum number of students in a class?

3. Ask questions about the instructor's training and experience. How many years have they been teaching? What age students do they teach? How many students do they teach in an average week? Do they also train horses? Are they certified by any organizations? Have they had training in safety procedures? Are they certified in First Aid and CPR? What are their qualifications?

There are many organizations that test and certify riding instructors. A few of these are: the American Riding Instructors Association, the British Horse Society, the Certified Horsemanship Association, the American Association for Horsemanship Safety, and the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. Professional riding instructors should have completed a certification program under one of these, or a comparable organization.

If you have an uneasy feeling, talk it over with the instructor. You must be comfortable with them as a person as well as a riding instructor. Your child will be spending a lot of time under the watchful eye and guidance of this very important person.

4. Observe the lesson horses. What kind of horses does the instructor provide? Do the horses look happy or grumpy? If the horses appear unhappy in their jobs, you might not be satisfied with your child's learning experience. Do the horses appear to be of suitable temperament and training for the job they are being asked to perform? Does the horses' training appear to match the skill levels of the students? Do the horses appear to be healthy and well-cared for? Are they in good physical condition?

Observe the tack and equipment used in the lessons. Are the saddles and bridles in good repair and do they look safe and well-maintained? Is the equipment clean? Are stirrups properly adjusted for each child in the lesson?

5. Go to local horse shows (if your child wants to compete). Observe how potential instructors deal with their clients. Observe how the horses and children perform. Are the children enjoying themselves? Are there a lot of falls? A lot of out of control horses? A lot of tears? There are always "bad days," but these should not be common occurrences. If you do not see more smiles than tears, look for another instructor. Fun and learning should be more important than ribbons and winning. Do the instructor's students display good sportsmanship under pressure? The instructor should never lose his or her temper when working with children or horses.

6. How well does the instructor ride? Most likely, that is how your child will learn to ride. If the instructor does not currently ride, why not? Is a good rider available to school an unruly horse during a lesson, if necessary?

7. How involved are parents expected to be during a lesson? Is there a designated area for parents to observe lessons? Parents should not be allowed to be in the arena during a lesson, unless there is a particular reason and the instructor has specifically asked for assistance from that parent. Parents should not be shouting at their children, or talking to them across the fence, during a lesson. If that happens, a good instructor will politely ask the offending parent to stop distracting their child during the lesson. Will you be notified if your child falls during a lesson? Being a "good horse parent" is a balancing act between staying out of the way and letting the instructor teach, and staying in touch with what is actually going on during lessons.

8. How much experience does the instructor have teaching and riding in your child's desired riding style? If your child wants to learn to ride in a particular discipline or competitive event, be certain that the instructor you choose has experience with that style of riding. If they do not, a good instructor will professionally refer you to someone who might suit your child better.

9. Ask about insurance policies. Does the instructor have professional riding instructor liability insurance? Have they had any claims against them?

10. Take a trial lesson to test the instructor's interactions, your child's responses and your comfort level as a parent. Does the instructor use or suggest safety equipment (proper helmets, boots, etc.)? All children should always wear helmets when riding, regardless of discipline or style of riding.

Trust your gut feeling. Do you feel like the instructor has good judgment? Is your child mounted on a safe horse or pony? Watching the lesson, you should get the feeling that your child is enjoying the lesson and the instructor is enjoying teaching your child. Your child should report that the lesson was "fun" and they want to go back.

Does the lesson include basic horse handling skills, including leading a horse, grooming and tacking up? Eventually, basic horsemanship skills should be included as a part of a well-rounded lesson program. There is more to good horsemanship than just riding!

During the lesson, the instructor should never use sarcasm or speak disrespectfully to the children. The instructor should treat all students and horses with respect. The lesson should begin and end on time.

Look for an instructor who likes and enjoys both children and horses. Some instructors work better with kids and some work better with adults. Find an instructor who will inspire and encourage your child to do their best and learn to love horses and riding. Maybe next year you'll be buying that pony!