How To Begin Riding A Horse

Learning to ride a horse isn’t easy. There are so many things that you need to remember and they aren’t always related to the horse. Starting should not take place before you are equipped with the right clothing and a correctly fitted helmet. Not performing simple checks from the beginning could not only put you in danger, but also potentially invalidate any claim you may have to make on your horse insurance policy. After satisfying these requirements you can move on to the next stage.

The correct method for mounting a horse.

Move to the left of the horse when you have made doubly sure that both bridle and saddle have been fitted correctly. Because the saddle might slide you should grasp the horse’s mane (the withers) after you’ve put your left foot in the stirrup. Then, with both hands on the front of the horse or on the cantle (the back of the saddle) push yourself up and, without kicking the horse, swing your leg over his back. Once you are comfortable, adjust your grip on the reins and let your legs drop down near the stirrups. If the stirrup reaches your ankle, they will be at the correct length. Then you should be able to just slide your feet into the stirrup whilst your foot is raised a few inches. It is your responsibility to balance to the horse, not the horse’s to balance to you.

When you are happily seated…

Your lower back should be relaxed whilst your upper back is straight. Avoid slouching in the saddle. Keep your head raised with your attention focused on potential hazards. Hold the left rein in the left hand and the right rein in the right hand. Make sure that the reins are firmly under all four fingers and that they go in under the little fingers. Always hold the reins in place with your thumbs against your forefingers with your thumbs up, palms down and each hand as wide apart as the neck of the horse with them just in front of the saddle and above of the horse. You slacken the reins by lifting your thumbs and letting them slide through. Shorten by taking up excess using opposite hand.

How to ride your horse.

Squeeze your lower legs when you want the horse to start a slow walk, the first gait. Stop after a few minutes to make sure that the girth is correctly adjusted. If the space between the horse and the girth is more than the thickness of one hand, the girth will have to be tightened. Continue to walk, with your heels down, chin up and a straight back. It should be possible to imagine a straight line running directly from your shoulders to your heels. A slight pull on the reins will turn the horse’s head and thus enable you to change direction. When you need to stop, simply pull back on the reins and sit deep into the saddle; sometimes you may need to lean back, then relax the reins and praise your horse. To prevent the horse from pulling when you stop, reward him by releasing the reins. Horses can jerk short reins out of your hands, so try to make them long. Practise these basic moves until you and the horse are comfortable with it all.

Trotting – the second gait – can be started as soon as you and your horse feel ready. As before, the horse will speed up as soon as you squeeze him with your legs. With a trot, you need to learn how to rise and sit with the trot of the horse. You will need to rise and sit with the movement of the horse without bumping. Since you will be employing muscles unaccustomed to such exercise, don’t be surprised at some initial difficulty! Thinking “lift, sit, lift, sit” in time to the rhythm will help you with this. Don’t sit down too heavily, as this could unsteady the horse. When you wish to slow down, sit deep in the saddle and pull back slightly on the reins. Again practise this until you are comfortable with the movements. You can attempt turning and stopping from the trot once you feel relaxed about this.

Cantering is the next step – the third gait. It will probably be necessary to practise trotting for weeks before you can do this. To move on to canter you should squeeze your outside leg when it’s back a little and then squeeze with your inside leg. It’s sometimes best to sit trot and then ask, so you are sitting ready for the canter. This means that you should be sitting back slightly; when you feel you’re sitting back, you’re about right. Whilst in a canter, you should be rocking forward backward, with your bottom slightly off the saddle. To achieve competence with this will require much practice. Ensure you are wary of your posture and heels as you practice: back on your heels and rocked forward but straight with your body.

Once you are competent with the canter you can try the gallop – the fastest gait. To achieve this you will have to exert pressure with your calves whilst you are cantering. As with the canter you should be sitting slightly forward in the saddle, with bottom off the saddle. A faster gait should not be attempted until you are very confident at the slower gait.

Swing your right leg over the back of the horse when you dismount. You won’t slip provided you keep well balanced and grip the saddle firmly. Then lower yourself down from the left side; you should try to put both your legs down at the same time, keeping your knees slightly bent to absorb the weight.

Further hints on handling a horse.

Acquaint yourself with the horse. By approaching the horse gently from the front or side and talking and stroking him you will relax him and thereby avoid being kicked. Then move towards his shoulder, so he knows you’re coming closer.

If you are new to a horse, or riding, always make sure that you have had proper rider training before you attempt anything on your own. Try to avoid riding alone; never ride alone if you are a beginner.

It’s best to get straight back on the horse even though a fall may have shocked and hurt you.

Never kneel or sit by a horse; if you are tending to them, always make sure that you are positioned so that you can jump aside quickly if need be.

Any unease you feel as a result of not being comfortable will be communicated to the horse, unsettling it.

If you pull suddenly on the bit, you will cause pain and distress to the horse. If you handle it carefully, he will be more relaxed and easier to ride.

For more tips and advice on caring for horses, horse riding and a brand new equine blog, pay a visit to the new website from AFI Horse Insurance dedicated to looking after you and your horse. As the UK’s only not-for-profit pet and equine insurance provider, Animal Friends is your ethical choice.