Teaching your own kids to ride

I'm looking for advice from people who have taught their own children to ride. I have 2 kids, a 6 year old girl and a boy who just turned 5. They both love ponies and are taking lessons, but it's obviously very hard on the wallet, and I'm a single mom so it's an issue. I used to work in the horse industry, and I've taught dozens of people how to ride, and it occurred to me that it would be cheaper to half-board a pony and teach my kids myself. But I'm not sure they would take instruction from Mom as easily as from a stranger :)

If anyone's been through this, I'd like to hear your experiences!

I leaned quite a bit from my aunt but that's my aunt. But it may work better with you than a stranger. But if you kids do take lessons and have the same instructor every time they will get to know and trust them.

I've known a handful of mothers who start their children on horses, but at some point find that they need to get some one else to teach. Their kids stop listening and it becomes a saftey issue.

Have to agree.

I did teach my daughter up to a certain time; but at some point I did have to send her to someone else because it became a battle of wills.

At the age of your children, where you're mostly teaching position and safety and trying to keep in fun, I think it's a good idea. Also, you could do 15 - 30 minutes several times a week rather than one lesson per week which is much more productive. At some point you'll likely have to send them back to an outside instructor; but there's no reason not to give it a try.

Thank you all for your input! Maura, it's true that age is a big factor, and also that it would be better to break it up into shorter lessons. I think next spring I'll look for a pony to share and see how it goes :)