Learning to Ride a Horse
There are some things that just come natural to some. Some people are almost born knowing how to stay on a skateboard. Me personally, I fall flat just about every time that the board moves. That’s something that just wasn’t born in there. One thing that was born into my system was how to ride a horse. It seemed I knew how to ride a horse from birth but didn’t start riding alone till I was three. That was mainly in part to my beloved quarter horse Harlan who knew that I was a beginner. So, would you like for me to give you some tips on how to ride a horse?
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When learning how to ride a horse one of the best things I can tell you is to always keep your cool. If you lose control of yourself, I have no doubt that you will lose control of the horse. You know how people say that a dog can sense if you’re scared? Well so can a horse. Some will bank on that fear as an easy way out of work. Even if you think that the horse is some big animal and you have no idea how you’ll ever stay on you can not think that around the horse. You need to stay calm and relaxed. If you get a little scared take a few deep breaths so that you can slow your heartbeat and relax yourself. Odds are, if you think you’re in control, so will the horse.
Now that you have calmed your nerves and told yourself that you are boss, let’s talk about how to ride a horse. There are two styles of riding you can think about when you learn how to ride a horse, English and western. If you haven’t ridden much I suggest a western saddle mainly because of the fact that is holds you in place better and has a horn for you to hang onto if you feel the need. An English saddle is lighter in weight, has thinner stirrups and no horn to hang onto. Some people swear by them for a beginner to build up balance and all but I just feel safer in a western saddle. I figure that if a cowboy thinks that they’re the best to hold you in I’ll have to agree with them. You can work on balance once you learn how to ride a horse a little better.
With the saddle in place, you can hop on and go for a ride. When you first learn how to ride a horse you can’t just hop on, dig in your heels and think that the horse will just mosey off. To make a horse go forward you generally will just have to squeeze a bit with your thighs. Might need to move your butt forward towards the horn a little to let them know you’re serious but being a beginner you should already be on a well broke horse. A green horse and a green rider are never a good combination when you first learn how to ride a horse. Green by the way means that you’re just learning. Don’t go out looking for a horse that will blend in with the grass. But once you’re up in the saddle and walking, you can guide your horse in one of two ways. If you know that your horse neck reins, you simply lay the reins across the left side of the neck to go to the right and across the right side of the neck to go left. If you were told that the horse plow reins, take one rein in each hand and pull on the side that you want to go. If you want to go right, gently tug on the right rein and vise versa with the left.
These are a few simple things for those who are just learning how to ride a horse. For those with experience in horseback riding you might have your own ideas but these are the basics that I teach my kids. And so far I feel that they know how to ride a horse quite well for their ages and practice safety procedures without risk or injury.
Author: Clinton Lyons
Did you know that 90% of falls and horse related injuries result from an inexperienced rider? Don’t let this happen to you. Take a few minutes to learn the essential horseback riding and horsetraining methods practiced by experts for generations which are guaranteed to improve your horse riding skills.
Clinton Lyons has been raising foals and horses for over 35 years. He is a professional horse trainer and expert horseback riding instructor. Visit his website to learn more about horse training and horseback riding here: http://www.horsetrainingranch.com
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Starting Horse Riding Classes
The decision is made; you want to take horse riding classes. What a great choice of exercise and pleasure! However, just making the decision to learn to ride is not enough. You need to decide what sort of horse back riding lessons you would like best. Your primary decision at this point is whether you think you would prefer to ride Western or English. If you choose English, you may have to choose between jumping or dressage seat or both if you event.
Perhaps your location will help you determine which type of horse riding lessons you will take. Most people look in their community for an instructor so your choices may be limited. Regardless of your choice in riding styles, look for an instructor with a good reputation. Ask your friends for suggestions and, once you have located an instructor, ask for references. Also, spend some time visiting the stable where you plan to take your horse riding lessons. Observe the horses to see if they are well cared for and if the stables appear clean and in good order. If you are satisfied with the facilities, make an appointment and get ready for a life changing experience.
Before the big day of your first horse riding lesson, you need to purchase a riding helmet and appropriate riding attire. As a beginner, it is best to keep your purchases modest and not opt for show quality clothes and boots. Depending on the style of riding you have chosen, you will need a pair of jeans and western boots for Western riding or a pair of jodhpur boots and jodhpur breeches. Any comfortable shirt appropriate to the season will do.
Try to arrive early for your first lesson. It is common to sign some paperwork, including a release of liability, prior to your lesson. When a farm decides to offer horse riding lessons, they are much more vulnerable to law suits if accidents occur. Most farms have insurance to cover their exposure but, you, the rider, must help in making this a safe experience for everyone. Be honest about any prior riding experience. If you have only ridden once and it was twenty years ago, do not tell the instructor that you are experienced. The instructor must choose the horse that matches your level of experience and inflated reports of your ability can lead to your being mounted on a horse that is not suitable for beginners.
There is much more to horse riding lessons than simply mounting and riding. All students should learn to groom their horse. Before placing the saddle and bridle on your horse, you should complete two very important steps. First, inspect the tack for any signs of loose stitching or cracked leather. Be sure to point out any problems to your instructor. Secondly, you should always groom your horse. Dirt and debris should be removed by thoroughly currying and brushing his coat. Inspect the hooves as you clean them out. This process removes any stones and muck that could lead to injury. There is an old adage, "no hoof, no horse" and it is just as true today. Before you can take your horse riding lesson, you must have a sound and healthy horse. Likewise, after you complete your lesson, you should again clean the feet and groom the coat to remove any sweat or dirt which may have accumulated during your ride. Be sure to clean and oil your tack as needed to keep it supple and in good condition.
Horse riding lessons are a great way to spend your recreational time. You will make many friends at the stable and develop a life long sport. At minimum, be sure to continue your lessons until you have gained the basics of riding at the three gaits, that is walk, trot and canter both in the ring or manege and outside, if you plan to ride in uncontrolled environments. Horse riding lessons are great for all ages so be sure to consider making it a family sport.
Author: Sean Prenderville
Please read on. Click. http://horseriding-for-all.blogspot.com
Sean Prenderville is a retired Accountant and Horse Riding Instructor.
Since my retirement I have devoted all of my spare time to horses and horse riding. I have over forty years experience of riding and teaching. For more information please visit http://www.horseriding-for-all.blogspot.com
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Horse Training Tips: How To Get Your Horse Turning. March 6, 2009 – 10:43 am. “How To Get Your Horse Turning”. Yesterday I talked about Chuck Nesmith and his expertise in teaching stops and spins.
Horse Training An Exciting Career
Since the first event alone, it is only right that seeks wise horse trainer is in the free will. regularly when the owners decided to prepare for their home is the equivalent of a hurry to stop the horse from kicking.
Are you Ready to Buy your First Horse?
You’ve spent the last three years taking horseback riding lessons. You know how to tack up, muck out, and have read just about every book out there on the care and feeding of horses. No one can doubt that you’ve put your time in. .
Horse boarding and training Atlanta Ga
Join a great group of people for horse riding lessons, horse boarding, horse camps. High Country Stables has been providing horse lessons, camps, boarding.
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Summer Horse Riding Camps for Girls and Boys
Is your child or teen horse crazy? Many children and teens are fascinated with horses and horseback riding. Attending a horseback riding camp will give them a basic knowledge of horses and riding as well as an interesting summer camp destination.
While the focus of horseback riding camps is, obviously, riding horses, these camps also teach other important factors of horse ownership and care. During their camp time, campers will learn about the different types of tack used to ride or drive a horse. Camp attendees will also learn how to clean and care for tack. Also offered at horse riding camps are sessions on proper horse care. During these sessions, campers will be taught how to feed, water and groom a horse. Some camps ever offer classes in equine anatomy, perfect for children who think they may want to become a veterinarian.
When choosing a horseback riding camp, you must first decide which style of riding your child wants to learn. The main riding styles are western and English. Western riding is generally associated with cowboys, ranches, and rodeos. Popular western riding activities include trail riding and barrel racing. Western saddles were designed with the comfort and security of the rider in mind, so it has a higher seat back (cantle) and front (pommel) so riders feel secure while on the horse. English riding, on the other hand, generally focuses on jumping, racing and horsemanship. This style of riding requires the horse and rider both to have more freedom of movement, so these saddles don’t provide as much support and security as does a Western style saddle. If your child is a first time rider, they might want to consider a Western riding camp.
Horseback riding camps generally offer lessons for experienced riders as well as those who have never been on a horse before. Experienced riders will generally be placed in a class they will find challenging while beginning riders will begin by learning the basics of how to properly mount and sit on a horse. Riders with little riding experience are paired with an older, gentler animal while those with more experience ride the younger more spirited animals.
In addition to riding lessons, some horseback riding camps also offer classes in driving miniature horses. In these classes students learn to control the horse as they ride in a small cart pulled by the animal. Another popular horseback activity is vaulting. Simply put, vaulting is gymnastics on horseback. For this sport, horses with large, flat backs are lunged, or driven, in a circle while students perform gymnastic tricks on their backs. Although this sport may sound dangerous and difficult, students generally find it is easier than it sounds.
For horse lovers, horseback riding camp can be a great way to spend at least part of the summer. In the course of these camps, campers can learn the basics of riding or improve their riding skills. They will also learn important horse care issues such as horse health and anatomy. These riding camps can be a great source of fun and experience with horses.
Author: Samantha Kay
Still looking for the perfect summer camp? Try visiting http://www.aboutcamps.com - a website that specializes in providing camp advice, tips and resources including information on horseback riding camp.
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Summer Horse Camps
Youngsters may have just seen horses in books, TV, or visiting friends who have horses. They may have a fascination of riding a horse but may not get an opportunity. Not only youngsters, but even women and men have a fascination for riding a horse. People who are Rhodes scholars and mentally challenged do enjoy the thrill of horses and the art of horsemanship. As summer is approaching you may be thinking of sending him to a summer camp but it may be difficult for you select the best one for your child, as there are many camps offering this program. You might be worried as, will the child be safe, what type of horses they will keep in the camp. Which horse would be right for your kid? So here are the answers to all your questions? A summer horse camp is a summer camp with a focus on horses and riding. The camp may run from one day to eight weeks depending upon the program. Some camps do offer longer sessions. Some of them are also coeducational. A horsemanship camp is an excellent way of teaching your kid as to care for other living creature. These camps teach children how to socialize with others and develop horsemanship skills. Some camps teach kids from taking care of them to feeding etc. In these camps, youngsters have classroom studies and seminars where they learn the basics of horse like feeding, care and riding. These programs last for three weeks. These camps will provide instruction on riding skills each day and offer other activities for a portion of each day.
Many camps focus on English riding styles. Safety is the most important activity. Riders are asked to wear helmets and boots while they are riding the horse. Safety is very important because of their sheer size which can be dangerous in certain situations. The horses that are found in the camps are well trained and they are kept at the farm throughout the year. The campers are taught the cues that are necessary to communicate with the horses. The different breeds of horses are thoroughbreds, Arabians, quarter horses and walking horses. These breeds are mostly used in the camps. Summer horse camps are most often found on horse farms. Horse farms include horse stables, pastures, and show or performance arenas. Most of them have beautiful landscapes with white board fences and other pastoral farm amenities. Campers stay in cabins. The camp has full time trainers who are experienced and keep the animals in shape so that campers get the best learning and riding experiences. The camp staff is generally qualified to provide quality instruction about horsemanship. Most of the camps generally use college students or graduates as counselors. These counselors are preparing them for careers in the equestrian industry. Certified Horsemanship association should certify each of these counselors as instructors. Every reputable camp will often give you a list of references. Talk to people who have previously enrolled in the camp who will give you an opinion about the facilities, the quality of the horses, about counselors and overall satisfaction.
Author: Mari Milian
Mari Milian is an Expert author for youth summer camps and coed camps. She has written many articles like Children summer camps, boys summer camps, overnight summer camps, horseback riding camp and music summer camps. For more information visit: paliadventures.com contact her at caterina.milian@gmail.com
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Spend Your Summer in a Horse Camp
A summer horse camp is a camp with a focus on horses-riding. The camp sessions may run from a single day to eight weeks long, depending upon the facility and the program selected.
Summer Camp Options for Horse Show Participants
Some are truly summer camps with horse riding as just one activity among traditional activities like crafts, swimming, hiking, and evenings around the campfire. Others are horse camps with riding as the main focus.
Does anyone know of a summer horse camp, you can attend w/ your horse (or even one where you use the camp’s) with emphasis on barrel racing/ games. Think weeklong clinic for games.
Horse lessons, horse camps, horse boarding, birthday parties
Join a great group of people for horse riding lessons, horse boarding, horse camps. High Country Stables has been providing horse lessons, camps, boarding.
Horse riding camps and horse boarding stables in Atlanta GA
Get discount coupons for High Country Stables and other Dallas, GA local merchants. Family oriented horse stables and barn providing boarding, horseback riding lessons, horse camps, kid camps, birthday parties, horse training and tons more.
Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls
Summer camps provide refuge from the busy over stimulated lives of modern children. … Camp Countdown ! Get a Rockbrook Camp for Girls Catalog and DVD.
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English Horseback Riding
English Horseback Riding
Although the name refers to a very specific country, English riding is a form of horseback riding that is seen all over the world. There are many different variations of English riding, but you’ll find that there are certain factors that unify it into a style that is immediately recognizable from Western riding, which is another style of horseback riding that is often seen. When you are looking at English riding, you’ll find that some things will immediately let you know what you are looking at.
When you are looking at English riding, you’ll find that an English saddle will be used, no matter what the horse is doing. The English saddle is quite flat, without the deep seat that is common to the Western saddle and without a saddle horn. This kind of saddle is designed to allow the horse the maximum amount of movement, no matter what task is in front of it, and when you realize that a horse that is being put through its paces in English riding will be doing things as varied as racing or classical dressage, you will see that that demands a great deal of movement in deed.
English riding consists of many different styles, but virtually all of the require that both hands be held on the reins. This allows more control over the horse, and it also changes the focus of this style from the horse to the rider. When you are looking at someone who is riding English as opposed to Western style, you’ll also notice that during a trot, they will tend to rise and sit with the rhythm of each stride, something that is called posting, while in Western riding, the rider will stay in the saddle.
For many people, English riding is a discipline that exemplifies the grace and power that a horse can display, and this is evident in many of the events that use this style. For instance, dressage, which is a form of training and competition, is always performed using an English saddle; dressage is a form that maximizes the horse’s potential as a riding animal, and it is aimed towards enhancing the horse’s precision when it comes to the control of the rider. Show jumping, where a horse is timed as it is taken over a number of obstacles, is another sport that uses English riding, as is polo, which involves a high degree of movement and exacting timing from both animal and rider.
While there is some discussion that is ever ongoing about whether one horse breed or another is preferred for Western or English style, the truth of the matter is that any horse can be trained to either style. Most people prefer horses trained for specific events be trained exclusively in one or the other, and it does make sense. The training in style will affect the way that the horse responds to stimulus and this can strongly affect the horse’s ability to perform as necessary.
When you are looking for information on styles of riding, think about what suits you best, and make sure that you get all of the information that you need!
Author: Susanne Malloy
Susanne Malloy is an avid equestrian and an editor for http://www.EnglishSaddleShop.com, your complete resource for new and used English saddles, riding apparel, and tack.
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Keys To Riding A Horse
Horses are majestic animals to observe. Weighing anywhere between 850 and 2000 pounds, horses are both powerful and substantial animals. Horses have been applauded for their utility over the years, but mostly, it is their grace and effortless gait that has gained them the admiration of everyone. Riding a horse is an uplifting experience that allows the rider the opportunity to feel the muscular elegance of a horse at work. The numerous breeds of horses have produced a myriad of different appearances and gaits among horses, so riding a horse can vary greatly, depending on the breed of horse one rides.
In terms of breeds, riding a horse, such as a Tennessee Walking Horse, contrasts entirely with the experience of riding a Thoroughbred. Tennessee Walking Horses are trained to have a smooth, deliberate gait, so riding a walking horse is a more tranquil and steady experience. In opposition, Thoroughbreds are famous for their speed and their agility in show jumping, and thus their gait is more natural, yet noticeable for the rider. Although riding a horse can deviate considerably, the experience of riding a horse is always magnificent and enthralling for all riders.
To begin riding a horse, one should submit to a few simple guidelines that will assist them in riding a horse both safely and enjoyably. Horses may be easily alarmed, and therefore, one should greet a horse first from the front to avoid the chance of startling the horse. Most horses revel in the grooming process, if it is performed correctly. One should always brush in the direction of hair growth on a horse when grooming them before preparing to ride them. Horses delight in rewards as well, whether it is a pat, a polo or an apple, and one can assuredly make a steadfast friend if you remember this. If you honour these simple guidelines, riding a horse will transpire both effortlessly and splendidly.
After one has completely groomed and tacked up their horse, they are now ready to ride a horse. One should mount a horse smoothly and gently, especially if it is their first horseback riding experience. Now, they are ready to embark on the compelling journey of riding a horse. As the horse walks, one can discern the gait patterns of their horse, and they can thus sync rhythmically with the muscular shifting of these impressive animals. The true athleticism of a horse manifests itself in the canter and gallop of a horse, yet beginners may find that when riding a horse, the trot is veritably a satisfying enough venture.
Riding a horse not only unites riders with the splendor of these grand animals, but it also unifies riders with nature as well. Riding a horse is a distinct opportunity that provides riders with a glimpse at the beauty of nature and the animal world, and thus riding a horse can be extremely therapeutic and relaxing. Moreover, with all the legwork riding a horse requires, riding can certainly qualify as a muscle strengthening exercise. Horseback riding can thus be an activity to gratify both the adventurers and those seeking relaxation
Please click http://horseriding-for-all.blogspot.com for more reading
Author: Sean Prenderville
Sean Prenderville is a retired Accountant and Horse Riding Instructor. Since my retirement I have devoted all of my spare time to horses and horse riding. I have over forty years experience of riding and teaching. For more information please visit http://www.horseriding-for-all.blogspot.com
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Basic Horseback Riding Techniques
My life is blessed. I have owned horses and been horse riding since I was a young girl. I can’t imagine life without them. They make me laugh, they give me love, and after a hard day at work, there is not a greater stress relief than saddling up and going for a ride. Together we share a deep bond.
While horses are second nature to me, many people are mystified by horses and horse riding. They are big animals that look intimating, and the idea of getting on a horse’s back is frightening. To many, horseback riding is intimidating, or worse, some are fearful of horses. It is not your fault. You are simply reacting to a lifetime of what you have seen and been told.
The very fundamental basis to mastering horse riding techniques starts on the ground long before you even think about getting on a horse… It begins with a good eduction about the horses mind and how they think.
We all like to humanize our pets, and it is no different with horses. We tend to transfer our ways of reasoning and our emotions to the horses. This is the first great mistake many new horse riders do, and it is the worst thing a horseman can do.
Horses are not human. They do not think, see, smell, hear, or reason like a human. This is the most important concept for you to master; For your safety on and off the ground, and for the horse’s safety.
Horse are herd animals. This means that they are genetically hard-wired to live, think and react as a pack animal. Nature has programed them to react, rather than to act. Ever seen a TV show of a herd of zebras spooked at a predator? It is no different with a horse. But this should not deter you learning to horse ride. Rather it gives you an understanding that they are different and you must "think like a horse" to master horse riding techniques. After that, the learning curve comes easy.
Author: MaryAnn Eastman
Horse riding can be fun and fulfilling for anybody, but if you don’t start with a good foundation, you just start with bad technique and habits.
That is why most people quit riding horses after a few tries. They had bad experiences with the powerful beasts that caused them to fall, be frightened or worse injured. But don’t let that scare you off. Falls and injuries can be avoided, and riding can be the best experience of your life when you have the best horse riding techniques under your belt.
So… if there is a spark of interest, or a huge fantasy to learn horse Horse Riding Secrets, then start with a good guide to teach you horse riding basics. Why hire a professional trainer before you even know if horseback riding is something you want to pursue? Read about more Horse Riding Techniques first and learn the basics. Then decide if horse back riding is something you want to pursue.
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The first step to owning a horse is, of course, to learn how to ride. So I began taking classes. Learning to ride begins with a walk. After a while, you graduate into trotting, and then cantering, and finally, you can gallop!
Free Learning To Ride Horses—E-Book and Bonus Video! advertising & online classifieds.This ad was placed with the following tags: 4th level, boarding, appaloosa, roping, western, horse, business opportunity.
Learning to ride. It is easy to notice that local equestrian Allison Richards loves horses. She speaks the language of horsemanship with confidence as I watched her guide two young riders during a recent lesson. With the years of knowledge under her belt, … Along with riding skills, Richards teaches good horsemanship, which includes stable management – grooming, basic veterinary horse care, stall cleaning and proper nutrition.
Unlock The Secrets Of Horse Riding
When you start lessons, the first thing that will affect you will be a tinge of fear when you climb on the horse’s back. You have to get used to the height from a horse’s back. You cannot learn to ride as long as you have any fear.
Age No Barrier To Learning To Ride A Horse
A Darwen riding school that runs an adult beginner’s class says that they doesn’t see age as a barrier to learning to ride a horse.
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Fear After Horse Accidents
Banish the fear of horse riding accidents and put the fun back into riding.
Almost every good rider has an accident at some point during her riding career. While some riders see accidents as a part of the sport and get right back in the saddle, so to speak, other riders lose their confidence and even experience gripping fear. Some riders are so afraid that they ask themselves whether the time and money they spend on their hobby is worth it after all!
Here’s the deal: unless you enjoy riding, then you shouldn’t be doing it. If every time you get on a horse you experience a pounding heart, dry mouth, and crushing anxiety, then I would ask you why you continue to torture yourself in this way. Especially considering that riding is an expensive, time-consuming hobby.
However, many riders continue to torture themselves in just this way. Why? Because they remember what it was like, before the unfortunate incident, to love to ride. And they want to experience that feeling again.
If you are still going out to the barn and trying to get on your horse despite having huge fears, my guess is that you want to return to the time when you loved horses. The good news is, there’s no reason why you can’t. If you take it slow and put yourself in the right situation, you can love riding again.
The first step is to figure out what is getting in the way of your enjoyment. For many people, they just can’t relax on their horse. They relive their bad situation, and this makes them tense. Knowing that you have a hard time relaxing is the first step in learning how to relax on horseback. Once you learn to relax, you’ll enjoy riding.
Of course, you can’t relax unless you are confident and comfortable. Being confident and comfortable are the cornerstones of relaxation. So how do you get confident and comfortable? By riding the right horse, and by taking lessons from the right instructor. That’s right, I said instructor. If you are so fearful of horses that you want to throw up every time you get in the saddle, it’s too much to ask that you conquer this on your own.
A good instructor is patient, kind, never demeans you, and understands that you’ve had a bad experience and need to move slowly. Since there are many riders who have faced fear, there are also many riders who help their students overcome it. To find the right instructor, ask others who have had similar problems for a recommendation. An instructor who is right for you should be downright enthusiastic about helping you get over your issues.
You’ll also need the right horse. A calm, confident, and bombproof schoolhorse is the best choice if you’ve been frightened. Even if your riding skills are good, you need to remember that the goal here isn’t to improve your riding skills. The goal is to ride without fear. The right horse will give you good experiences, and the more good experiences you have, the more your fear will recede. If you really love riding, face your fears but take it slowly. With a good instructor and the right horse you’ll be happily back in the saddle in no time.
Equine Garage Sale
Horse Tack and Items for Sale, horses and horse trailers for sale.
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Beginner Horse Riding Lesson
Beginner Horse Riding Lesson
Regardless of their age, new riding students feel more comfortable having an idea of how the first lesson will begin and what might be expected. This article gets students acquainted with the concepts of the first riding lesson. Read "Preparing for Your First Lesson" first to understand the items required for riding.
When their first riding lesson is nearly at hand, students often wonder what type of horse they will get and what they will be expected to accomplish. It’s understandable that some students have anxiety as they wonder what to expect.
Most students worry particularly about their intended mount; so, keep in mind that at respected riding schools, school horses are often characterized into groups based on their appropriateness for riding levels. Beginner riders will often be assigned the aged, semi-retired, easygoing, forgiving lesson horse whose only vice may be his pokiness. Knowing that a beginner will have little control over her hands or feet and may flop around in the saddle, the ride school will provide a safe horse for her level.
When you arrive, the school will likely ask to check your helmet to ensure that it is ASTM/SEI certified for horseback riding. If it is not or it is not a horseback riding helmet, you will need to borrow one from the ride school.
As you move about the premises, be courteous to fellow horseman. That means, no running or sudden movements near horses being handled or ridden. Leave your dog at home as barking can upset some horses. Turn your cell phone to vibrate or off. Understand that some horses are sensitive to flash photography, so before taking any pictures, ask the instructor. For parents bringing other children, there is to be no running around the horses at any time. Also note that some horses spook at strollers, so alert the barn if you intend to bring one.
Most likely, the instructor will accompany the student into the barn to get the mount. Younger children need to be reminded that they must act like a guest in someone’s house and don’t touch anything unless they ask first and to use their indoor voices. There is to be no running or yelling in a barn. Following are some guidelines to remember on your first visit to the barn:
Entering the Stall
Do not enter the stall if the horse has his tail to you. You are to enter the stall only when the horse is facing you. Do not enter the stall until the instructor tells you to do so.
Leading Your Horse from the Stall
Most facilities have the beginner horse tacked and ready to go prior to the lesson. So, you should be able to lead the horse from his stall. Before leading the horse into the aisle of the barn, call "heads up" so you don’t come crashing into someone else going down the aisle.
For small children leading horses, some facilities will ask that you keep the reins over the horse’s neck. This is because small children may let go of the horse, and if they do, there’s less of a chance the horse will step on the reins.
For older children and beginner adults, you may be allowed to take the reins over the horse’s head and lead him with the reins held in both handsright hand under the chin and rest of the reins going to the left hand at your left side. Check with the facility as to how they prefer the horses led.
Leading Your Horse to the Arena
Hold your horse directly under his chin in your right hand. By holding further back on the reins, the horse can turn and bite you. (Not that he would, but for safety’s sake, we’ll hold him the safest way.) Hold your arm straight out to him so that both you and he have your own separate paths, and he won’t accidentally step on you.
Entering the Arena
When you enter the arena, you typically lead your horse into the center of the arena and turn and face him toward the in-gate. Horses should face the in-gate so they aren’t surprised by other horses coming in and can see them approaching or other things going on around the arena entrance.
Mounting
Don’t get on the horse until your instructor tells you to and helps you. The first thing you and your instructor must do is check the equipment to ensure it is on correctly and safe for you and the horse. The instructor will check the saddle pad to make sure it is protecting the horse’s back. She will also check the girth to make sure it is tight enough that the saddle doesn’t slip when you mount. She will also check the girth again when you are mounted, especially if you’re using a very thick saddle pad. The instructor will check the bridle to make sure all the leather parts are in the right spot and secured.
Your instructor may give you a leg up or have you mount from a mounting block. Either way, you will be mounting the horse on his left side. You will take the reins in your left hand, grab a lock of main in the hand. Using your right hand to hold the left stirrup, place your left foot into the left stirrup. Then take hold of the cantle (the back of the saddle) with your right hand and swing your right leg over to the right side without hitting his hindquarters with your foot. Try not to come flopping down on his back and sit softly and quietly. (It’s hard to do your first few times, but try!)
Your instructor will then adjust your stirrups.
The Lesson
For your first lesson, your horse may be placed on a longe (pronounced "lunge") line. The line is handled by your instructor and keeps your horse on a circle around her so she can control where he goes and talk to you.
Your instructor will go over the basics of the proper seat:
Sittinglike you’re standing next to the horse with bent knees, not like you’re sitting in a chair all the way back on your butt. Sit on your seat bones.
Straight backby lifting from the base of your sternum and allowing your shoulders to stay back. Not roaching the base of your back and not forcing your back to arch unnaturally.
Leg beneath younot pushed out in front. Your heel should fall nearly under the bend in your knee. Your calf is slightly behind the girth and in contact with the horse’s side.
Heelflexed down, allowing your weight to drop down into your heel. The stirrup iron should be on the ball of your foot.
Handsholding the reins. Hold your hands like fists with thumbs facing up. The reins will run either: through the bottom of your fist, out the top under your thumb or in through the ring and pinkie fingers and out through the top under your thumb. Hands should be over the horse’s withers (his shoulder) and angled to the angle of the shoulder (in between thumbs up and angled slightly toward each other.) Hands are held slightly apart from each other and are to make a straight line through the reins to the bit in the horse’s mouth.
Headup and eyes looking ahead.
In your first lesson, you will be taught how to make the horse walk. You will also be taught how to make him turn and stop. You may even get to trot in your first lesson! And, if you trot, your instructor may start teaching you how to post (if riding english). At the end, you’ll be taught to dismount by taking both feet out of your stirrups and swinging your right leg around his back and sliding down the left side. Or your instructor may teach you to "kick free" in dismounting by keeping your left foot in the stirrup until you swing your right leg over, then kicking free your left foot of the stirrup then jumping down to the left side. Regardless of how you are taught to dismount, you will always do so facing the horse and off the same side that you mounted from–the left.
That’s all you will likely do in your first lesson. It may not sound like a lot, but you will be spending a bit of time just getting used to balancing on a horse, maintaining and correcting your position, keeping with his rhythm and basically getting a feel for where your hands, feet and legs are. It will be a lot to think about, and you’ll probably be tired afterward. Good luck with your first ride and happy trails!
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