10/23/2026
What Would the Trainer Say?
Episode 3: “My Child Is Two, and We Want a College Scholarship!” 😂🐴
Yes, this was an actual phone call!
“My child is two years old. I want her to become a competitive rider and earn a college scholarship. How quickly can she start competing, and what do we need to get started?”
I had to take a moment with that one!
First of all, I LOVE that you have dreams for your child. I love that you want to introduce her to horses, encourage her interests, and give her opportunities to grow.
But she’s TWO!
She is still learning which shoe goes on which foot, and we’re already planning her collegiate equestrian career?
Let’s take a breath.
Here’s what I would suggest.
At two, let her enjoy being around horses. Come to our Pony Pals class. Read horse books. Visit the farm. Learn to be gentle around animals. If she participates in pony activities, keep them age-appropriate, brief, and carefully supervised.
As she grows, we can introduce more structured horsemanship and riding when she is developmentally ready.
Then she can learn the basics. She can develop balance, coordination, confidence, and an understanding of how horses think and behave.
And somewhere along the way, we may discover that she absolutely loves riding!
Or perhaps she’ll prefer soccer, music, science, or something nobody in the family has even thought of yet.
That’s the beauty of childhood. We get to discover who our children are, not simply decide who we want them to become.
And about that college scholarship?
College equestrian opportunities do exist, but athletic scholarships are competitive, and the opportunities depend on the school and program. There are also academic scholarships and other forms of financial assistance. We have years before we need to sort through those options.
So, what would the trainer say?
“Let’s get her through preschool before we start planning her college recruitment!”
Seriously, though, the best thing you can give a young child is not a competition schedule or a scholarship plan.
It’s a safe introduction to horses, excellent instruction when she’s ready, and the freedom to develop her own interests.
At WildeWood Farm, we believe in building knowledgeable horsepeople, one step at a time.
We don’t rush horses, and we shouldn’t rush children either.
The right horse, for the right rider, at the right time.
And sometimes, the right time to start planning a college riding career is quite a few years down the road!
