Taking Boys on Field Trip, Question About Kids and Horses

There will be a trained person standing with them and you to help them do it right. No need to worry.

The horses aren't just going to chomp on the fingers while being fed. It's more precaution then anything. It's also easier for the horse to get to the food if the hand is flat.

My DD was going to a friends house for her friends birthday. She was so excited to finally get to ride a horse. We don't have any, even though we live in the country, and I did have a moments pause, but 3 year olds ride them out here. I was on a horse at 2.

Well wouldn't you know it, she fell off and broke her wrist. She got back up, even in pain and continued to ride. The mom did start to notice her favoring it and took a look and called me. They felt so bad, but it does happen....and she had the best time of her life.

Let them feed the horses! I had my finger bit by a horse when I was little because nobody had showed me how to feed it a carrot properly. I pinched the carrot between two fingers and the horse thought my finger was part of the carrot, and didn't want to let go. (I still have all of my fingers BTW) As long as you show the kids how to do it and you are there with them they will be fine.

The horse is going to eat your purse...okay, just kidding.

They will be fine. Just explain to them what to expect. Tell them it is going to tickle while the horse eats from their hand but the horse is only interested in the apple. Tell them relax and keep their hand open and flat. It will all be a wonderful experience for them.

Having owned horses for years & watching the kids of people when they come to the barn, I will say that you probably don't need to worry too much.

#1. Kids want to do it right. If they are told "hold your hand this way" they like to mimic that.
#2. People who own horses don't want fingers bitten! So they will make sure to tell the kids there "make sure to do it this way"
#3. If the mounted patrol had horses that were known for removing fingers, they likely wouldn't allow people to feed them.

All that said, when you feed with a "flat hand" know that as the horse comes to take the food (esp apples) your hand has a tendency to cup around the muzzle of the horse. This is fine, it's actually difficult to feed a horse with a perfectly "flat" hand, as the food tends to be pushed off the edge accidentally! =-)

What you want to avoid is holding out a carrot tip first, & let the horse munch his way down the carrot onto your finger tips. So break the carrot into 2 or 3 pieces, & lay them in the palm of your hand & offer the same as an apple.

Go & have fun & enjoy your experience! You'll love how soft their muzzles are, how big & sweet their eyes are, I'm sure your kids will thrill to be able to pet them.

T.

What is most important is for them to be supervised at all times. The adults should show them while standing together with them, and carefully help them do it. There's no better way to teach our children than to help them learn.

Dawn

Let them have a good time and feed the horses! Yes, have a flat hand and they will be fine!

I am sure the horses that they will be around will be friendly ones---so don't worry!!!!

Palms up, and practice beforehand. The horses will be tame and friendly, but the kids should be reminded not to scream, jump, or act frightened. That can freak out any animal. Let them know horse mouths and tongues are huge, but they're fun to feed. Have fun and take pictures!

If they keep their hands flat I think they'll be fine. Just hold them while they are doing it and hold their hand in your hand. That way they'll be holding it correctly. I took my kids in my child care center to a horse farm a couple of times and if I remember right that's the only instruction they gave us, flat hands palm up.

My daughter started feeding horses when she was about 2 and she did fine. Just help your kids hold their hands flat. Most kids jump back a little anyway when the horses head comes at them. Horses are really big to a little kid. But I have never seen a horse chew a kids fingers off lol. Your children will do just fine and they will have a ball!

Awww... horse lips are some of the absolute SOFTEST things!!
(the teeth, not so much)

Please take some so that they can feed them (and so you can, too). If they have no interest or whatever, you can change your mind later, but at least be prepared to let them try if they want to. If they hold their hands flat, they will be absolutely fine. Show them at home how to make their hand flat, before you go. When they are not all excited by the new experience, so they can actually pay attention.

Practice at home.... have you pretend to be the horse.... they hold out a piece of an apple the wrong way (with their fingertips), and you show how the horse might bite their fingers instead... (do it gently, and pretend to close your teeth over their fingers), then show them how to do it with an open palm, and you take the apple piece off their palm with your teeth...

When they are actually feeding the horses, you will be right there with them, just be sure they keep their hand flat.

Also, show them how that their eyes are so far up their head, and on the side, that it is difficult for them to see that the fingers aren't a nice, juicy carrot!

Have fun and enjoy the field trip!

I think you will be ruining the experience for them if you don't let them feed the horses. One of my first thoughts is, to try to teach them how to feed a horse before you go. Maybe you can check out Youtube and see if there are any videos like that. Heck they have everything else. Good luck and have fun!

i don't let kids feed my horses treats without me there to help them do the flat-hand thing correctly (most kids over-compensate and the treat rolls off and then you have a frustrated kid AND horse.)
my horses are very sweet and well-behaved, but yes, a little unsupervised finger could easily get in there and be mistaken for a baby carrot.
i take the child's hand in mine, supporting it from underneath, and make sure the fingers are cupped.
sometimes kids are startled by the tickly whiskers and drop the treat too.
i'd be very surprised if the stable manager allows treats to be fed without carefully supervising. but if that's not the case, and you're not comfortable doing it yourself, have your kids put the treats somewhere the horse can reach them and step back.
oh, and cut the apple into pieces. if your kid tries to feed the whole apple, the horse will need to push into his hand to bite a piece out, and that will probably be scary for little fellows.
khairete
S.

The horses they use for such programs should be the most calm ones that are used to being around kids and crowds. Just hold your hand flat out so that when the horse slurps up the carrot or apple, all he's getting is the food and not fingers. It might be a little slimey but should be fine. And at their ages, it's debatable if they'll even want to give it a go. My DD is still nervous about the size of horses when we see them up close (like if a park police officer is at an event). I would bring an apple each and see how the kids feel about it. If the horse doesn't eat it, give the kids a snack. Horses are funny. At the last up close event, the park police horse decided the hay wagon looked really yummy and started eating the bales the kids were sitting on. The kids were delighted.

It will be fine. These are horses that are used to kids. No worries.

I don't think they'd allow kids to feed them if they didn't feel comfortable with it being safe. I think its just a precaution to say keep your hand flat as it the horse could accidentally nip a finger. I don't think its a situation where the horse would do it on purpose.

I would see how it goes and how comfortable you feel about it though. Maybe only let the 5 year old do it unless you feel your 3 year old can handle it. Sounds like a fun field trip!!

Of course! It is a fun memory. Just help them keep their palm flat. The horses will come up and sniff, and then gently lick the food off their hand. There is no real trick to being around horses, except to be confident. If they are the slightest bit afraid, they should keep a distance from the horse. When touching the horse, use a flat hand going from front to back, and stay towards the front of the horse.

Horses are great animals. However, they are big! Don't be surprised if boys are afraid of them. Is this "field trip" part of a school outing? Or are you taking them out for day. I would hope that there will be people to help. Actually, it is better coming from an employee, since they tend to listen to others better than Mom. Have fun.

At 22 months we took my DS to visit my MIL and her horses. He was both excited and spooked. We offered him an opportunity to feed the horse. He decided that he would rather advance mommy's hand to the horses' mouth. That was the limit of his comfort zone.

The highlight of his day was probably holding the garden hose and filling the trough.

Good luck to you and yours,
F. B.

So I grew up around and showed horses since age 9. I would recomend telling them that hands do have to be open. It is not intentional that they grab a finger but it does happen.

Also NO running. I had some of the calmest horses I knew and a kid ran in front of my gelding ( nutted male) and he freaked. This horse really was the lazy kind too. Basically its common sense. Dont go where their legs can reach you from behind and if you do get as close as possible. It breaks the kicking leverage lol learned from experiance. However I doubt they will let you behind them if they know the horse kicks.

Kids honestly are very good around horses and it is best if you do not show fear. They can be some of the most gentle animals in the world. They can also be some of the meanest- fight or flight reflex kicks in from the wild side of them. I would just enjoy yourself and use common sense.

I do not think you have to worry Im sure someone will show them how when they get there. It is as simple though as holding your palm flat. More important remind the boys and yourself do not walk behind the horses rump.

Time to let your children start having all kinds of experiences so they are well rounded people. Yes, take the treats, yes show them how it's dne. Please bring enough that you can do it yourself and start having experiences that you have not risked before. Have fun, horses are beautiful creatures.

Really? What else won't they be allowed to do?
Horses have the softest muzzles...let them enjoy the experience. And they may not want to feed them. Horses are BIG. But if they do, definitely let them.