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When she was about 8 years old, Tammie Delaney rode her horse around the Perry-Mansfield riding arena in Becky Thayer's English riding class. Now Delaney's children, Millie, 6, and Liam, 8, are enrolled in Thayer's riding class.

"She has such a love for riding," Delaney said. "She loves introducing kids to the sport. She creates an environment where, looking at the other instructors, you can see her love for horses and riding, rather than a strict regimen of riding. It's more free flow. She lets the kids go at their own pace."

When Thayer was 9, she wasn't taking lessons; she already was giving them. Her parents had given her a pony, and she would let the neighborhood children ride it, teaching them while she did, Thayer said. Now, at 55, she's still teaching children to ride horses. She just has a little more know-how.

Thayer is giving English riding lessons to children from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the Routt County Fairgrounds indoor arena. The lessons are sponsored by the Hayden Recreation Board.

"The goal is for the kids to learn good, safe horse handling and become lifelong horse enthusiasts," Thayer said.

She teaches this by helping her students develop skills and understanding and communication with a horse -- teaching the students to communicate clearly what they want the horse to do.

"Horses are very good readers," Thayer said. "I don't want to say they're telepathic, but they understand fear. If they don't get confused, they are happier and therefore safer."

English riding differs from the area's more popular Western-style riding in the type of saddle that is used and the exercises that are emphasized. The flatter, smaller English-style saddles, which lack the distinctive "horn" that Western saddles have, allow riders to move around more. Instead of roping or poll bending, English riders learn skills such as jumping obstacles -- something Thayer's students are practicing. About 15 youngsters are enrolled in the class, and more are welcome.

Outside of the organized lessons, the fairgrounds' indoor arena is open for open riding several days a week.

"(The building) is a huge benefit to our county," Delaney said. "It's amazing what a blessing we have with that riding facility."

-- To reach Nick Foster call 871-4204

or e-mail nfoster@steamboatpilot.com