8 Horseback Riding Tips For Beginners
Riding a horse, especially for the first time can be a really scary yet interesting experience. It’s always exciting watching someone ride and the urge to have control over such a large animal is awesome. Learning to ride a horse like everything else requires some practical knowledge. Worthy to note is the fact that riding a horse is different from learning to ride a car because a horse isn’t mechanical. Therefore riding a horse is going to require a deeper connection. If you are keen on becoming a professional horse rider, you will first become a rookie and here are some tips to help you get on to the rookie-level. Let’s go on a horse ride!
Get Geared Up Properly
As a beginner, you don’t want to start your horse riding lessons looking unprofessional. It’s important to get properly geared up before mounting your horse for the first time. Irrespective of your riding preference (Western or English riding), you don’t want to be seen wearing skirts or shorts when riding a horse. The proper recommended outfit is fitted pants trousers, a good closed toed pair of shoes to keep your feet from slipping through the stirrups. Also, a helmet is necessary especially as a first timer, just in case. Properly dressing up is a good way to begin your horse riding lesson and makes you look like a pro.
Greet Your Horse
Unlike your vehicle you can just move at will whenever you desire, your relationship with your horse should be exceptional. You need to understand that your horse is a living creature and in the case where a new rider wants to mount it, he might be reluctant for obvious reasons. It could be that he is scared, tired or nervous about a new rider. As a newbie in horse riding, you need to establish a relationship with the horse prior to riding. Greeting your horse is important and to do this, extend your arm, offering the back of your hand for the horse to smell and wait till he touches his nose. This gesture is referred to as the ‘horseman’s handshake’ and it’s a way of asking permission to mount.
Mount Confidently
If you are nervous when mounting the horse, he might sense it and become uneasy. Your guide will assist you on how to mount confidently by holding the horse’s head while you mount on the horse. To mount, Lift your left foot into the stirrup then hold both reins with your left hand and propel yourself up with your right leg trying to mount as smoothly as possible. Also try not to push the horse down with your arms as this might hurt the horse. You may however, put your hand on the back to gain balance while mounting.
Don’t Slouch
The best position to take when you are learning to ride is to sit up straight, relax your back, be gentle on the reins, set each foot on the stirrup and hold your balance. Slouching when riding might make the horse feel like he’s carrying a heavier load and you don’t want the horse to feel uncomfortable.
Keep Your Eyes On The Road
Usually as a beginner, you are tempted to look down on the horse while riding. This is wrong on all levels and just might be a recipe for disaster. Like when you are driving a car, you would rather keep your eyes on the road than on the hood. When riding your horse, look ahead through your horse’s ears and keep a straight posture.
Be In Tune With Your Horse
When horse riding, it’s important to stay in tune with your horse to avoid being thrown off balance. Move with the rhythm of the horse and this doesn’t mean you let the horse have his way. It just means you have an understanding of how the horse moves and so you gently guide it in the direction you desire.
Be Gentle With The Reins
Your horse riding technique might depend on which style you are learning, Western or English. When riding English style, you grab the reins in each hand while western style you grab both reins with one hand. Regardless of the style you adopt, relax and try not to pull hard or your horse might get hurt. Use the reins for direction. To move your horse to the left, move the reins in the left direction and if you going the right direction, do the same thing with the right reins. Stop by pulling back gently and pushing the heels down.
Dismount Like A Pro
Once you are done riding and ready to dismount, make sure your horse is still. Preferably, someone should be holding the horse for you while you dismount. Get both feet off the stirrups, lean forward, swing over the horse with your right leg and jump off. Dismount as smoothly as you climbed. Give your horse water as a way of thanking him for coming back safe because you definitely will be getting back on him.
Enjoy a horse Ride
Riding a horse is a thrilling experience. Like in the Hollywood movies, it’s fun to do some of the stunts we see in these movies. And even though we don’t, we can do well to enjoy the practical knowledge of riding a horse like a pro. If you are keen on becoming a pro, then these tips will guide you. Let’s ride!
