How To Ride a Horse For Beginners

In this blog I like to share with you how to ride a horse. Now we’re going to talk you through a few basic steps that you can practice to learn horse riding immediately. 

 

 

      

SAFTY

Let’s talk about most important thing. Your safety and protection. You should never ride your horse without a riding helmet on. You must wear a hard hat/riding helmet when riding or around horses. We recommend for your own safety that you wear a hard hat that meets current safety standards. You should always replace your hat if you have had a fall and if you haven't had a fall, it is recommended that you replace your hat every 5 years

On some rides there may be hats to hire locally but you must not rely on these hats and you should always take your own. It is important that your hat fits properly

BASIC SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR HANDLING HORSES

• Always approach the horse from the side and speak to let him know you are there.  

• Don’t make loud noises or sudden movements around horses.

• When walking round the back of the horse leave plenty of room.

• Never wrap the lead rope or reins around your hand.

• When leading the horse into a stable, always turn the horse towards you at the door before taking the headcollar off.

• When turning a horse out in a field or paddock, always turn the horse’s head towards the fence before taking the headcollar off.  If more than one horse is being turned out, leave plenty of room between each horse and ensure everyone removes the headcollars at the same time.

• Always wear sensible footwear around horses.

• Remember that jewellery (especially earrings, rings and necklaces) can get caught and could cause injury.

• Always make sure loose clothing is buttoned / zipped up and cannot flap and frighten your horse.

Getting on The Horse

The key to any relationship is trust, and that is particularly important when it comes to horses. Trust is crucial, as a horse who doesn't trust his owner may end up intentionally or inadvertently hurting that person. Like any other relationship, trust comes from a lot of hard work and time spent together. Learning how to earn your horse's trust can help you ride with confidence and build a lasting relationship with your animal.

 

• Always ask someone to hold your horse as you get on top, always check your girth. If it’s not sung enough the saddle can roll when you try to get on.

•  Hold the ends of the reins in your left hand. Just in front of the saddle but keep them loose grains are what you use to steer your horse. 

• So you’ll want to have them ready. Put your left foot in the stirrup making sure the ball of your foot is on the stirrup.

• Put your weight on your left foot and step up to a standing position your right leg should be hanging next to your left.

• Swing your right leg up and over the horse’s rump being careful not to accidentally kick them on the way. Sit down in the saddle as gentle as possible.

• Adjust your stirrup to the proper length or have your trainer do it for you. Put your right foot in the other stirrup. 

• Remember to center the ball of your foot on the stoke, not your toe of heel.

 

 How To Develop Sitting Trot From The Ground

Before you begin attempting sitting trot in the saddle, you can learn how to get the correct “feeling” from the ground.

Step 1:

•        Start by standing against a straight wall, allowing your heels, hips, and shoulders to touch it.
•        Bend slightly at the knees and rest your hands over your stomach, just underneath your                 navel.       

Step 2:

•        Now, use your tummy muscles to push your back toward the wall.
•        That represents the “straightening” phase of the sitting trot.

Step 3:

•        Next, relax your stomach muscles toward your hands, allowing your back to fall away from           the wall again.
•        That equates to the “pushing down” or relaxing phase of the sitting trot.

Step 4:

•        Now, practice performing the whole exercise while following a steady one-two, one-two trot          rhythm.
•        You may find that playing a suitable piece of music helps you to get into the swing of things.

Is a trot a run?

 

To trot is move faster than walking, but not quite at a full-out run. You might trot down the street when you hear the ice cream truck coming. People can trot — as they do when they jog or do a slow run — and so can four-legged animals, especially horses

 

 

Start Riding Your Horse

 

Now you’re all geared up and ready to go. Let’s talk about how to move your horse. It’s essential that you start with walking your horse until you’re comfortable without caring about the speed. Make sure you have both of your feet placed comfortably in the stirrups.

 Hold the reins in your hand’s property, sit properly and stay relaxed on the saddle. keep the reins slightly loose. You don’t want to pull back on your horse’s mouth as you ask them to move forward.

 

Give your horse a gentle squeeze with your lower legs to signal. He should begin walking.

 

If you have a very quiet or lazy horse, you may need to give them a couple of soft bumps with your heels.

 

Sit up tall, hold your head up straight and look between your horse’s ears. Try not to squeeze repeatedly with your legs once the horse is walking. Keep your legs long quiet and wait firmly down in your heels. Steer your horse with your reins and legs.

 

Follow the movements of a horses head with your arms

So, how do you follow your horse’s movement?

• The first step you must take before you can work on your seat is to consolidate your position in the saddle.

• Your upper body should be held erect and straight, placed directly over your hips so that an observer can draw a straight line directly from your ear, through your shoulder and your hip, right down to your heel. That line must be perpendicular to the ground.

Learn Sitting deep and in balance

• Your seat should be deep in the saddle.

• You can achieve this by making sure that your pelvis is central, in the deepest part of the saddle, and in perfect balance between your pubic bone and your two seat bones.

• Take care not to place too much weight on your seat bones. That will cause you to sit behind the movement and incline your upper body backward.

• Conversely, if you put too much pressure on your pubic bone, you will find yourself perching on your crotch and tipping forward.

• Your back should be almost flat. Carry your head over squared shoulders, and keep your chest open and raised.

• Once you are sitting in a good balance, you must open the angle between your hip and thigh. That allows your legs to drop down almost vertically from your hip.

• The open angle is critical to developing a supple seat, as that’s what will enable you to use your hips to influence the horse’s trot. An open angle also leads to a softly draped, long leg.

• Don’t try to ride with longer stirrups. Until you are perfectly balanced, riding too long will encourage you to grip the saddle with your knees, lifting your seat out of the saddle and disrupting your balance.

Learn to Steer

• It's important you learn how to steer your horse. Steering in English style if fairly self explanatory. You keep more contact with the horse's mouth while riding English. To signal the horse to turn right, very lightly pull back with your right hand. To signal the horse to turn left, very lightly pull back with your left hand. If the horse does not respond to the lighter pulling, you can gradually begin to pull slightly harder until the horse responds. 

• You should also use your legs and body to signal a horse to move. Looking in the direction you wish to move helps. Horse's can feel your seat bones move. You should also gently squeeze your legs to signal a horse to change direction. For example, squeeze your left leg if you want your horse to turn right as the horse will want to move away from the pressure.

Learn to Groom a Horse

•  Horses are groomed somewhat differently, depending on whether they're kept indoors or outdoors. Always refer to the instructions and the guidelines given by the horse's owner. There are some general rules, however. You should usually groom a horse before riding him.

• Use a body brush to brush the horse's fur all over its body, removing the dust, sweat and loose hair from the horses coat. Use the mane-and-tail comb on the mane and tail, appropriately. 

• Next, use a dandy brush on the body and legs of the horse, removing mud and sweat. This brush has harder bristles, which shouldn't be used on the face, mane, or tail of the horse.

• Use the hoof pick to remove mud, dirt, and pebbles from the horse's hooves. If this is not done before you ride, your horse may get a sore foot and go lame.

• Use a rubber or plastic curry comb on the body of the horse for removing loose hair and mud from the horses coat. Metal curry combs are used for removing loose hair from horses that are shedding heavily.

 

 Learn to track and Bridle your horse

• Before you ride, a horse needs to be outfitted with a saddle and bridle.

• To saddle a horse, position the saddle blanket above the horse's withers and push it back toward the hind-legs to smooth the hair. Place the saddle behind the shoulder and pull the blanket into the empty area at the front of the saddle.

• Attach the cinch or girth and tighten it gently, allowing the horse enough room to exhale comfortably. You should be able to fit two fingers under the cinch or girth, but no more.

• Make sure you've got a bridle appropriate for your horse's size. Gently place the bit near the horses mouth. Most horses will open their mouths as they're used to bridles, but if your horse doesn't gently push your fingers into the sides of the horse's mouth. Slip the bit in slowly, then slip the top of the bridle over the horse's ears. Secure all the straps and buckles, buckling tight enough that you can only comfortably fit one finger under the straps.

 

How to stop your Horse

 

• The horse should stop as he feels the backward pull on the reins. As you use the rein aids, you will eventually learn to stop by using your body, seat, and legs. By stopping your body, you are cuing your horse to stop as well.

• As you gain skill and refine your aids you will push your seat deeper into the saddle, stiffen your back, close your legs on the horse slightly, and squeeze back on the reins. As soon as the horse responds and comes to a complete halt, the cue should be stopped. This doesn’t have to be forced. It sometimes helps to exhale as you ride into your halt.