If you want to take the step of learning to ride a horse, we leave you the basic notions to help you with your first experiences.

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How to ride a horse

The first thing to keep in mind is that horseback riding is a unique and fun activity, but it requires training to be able to master it correctly.

Given the difficulty, the best way to start learning is to go to a school or horse riding. There they will have horses adapted to work with students, and that will facilitate the first lessons.

What are the fundamental basic tips for riding a horse?

• No aggressiveness

The character and strength of some horses can force you to be firm in your movements when riding a horse, or to need to impose yourself on certain occasions. But none of this requires suffering, or violence towards the animal.

• Put fear aside

Nervousness, especially the first times we get on a horse, can become the worst enemy. If we are restless, we will make inappropriate movements; or on the contrary, we will be too rigid to be able to understand the animal as necessary.

Therefore, before climbing, take a deep breath and trust your monitor and your horse.

• Be aware of unexpected reactions

Keep in mind that it is a living being, and as such, it can react at any time in somewhat unexpected ways.

Therefore, we must be prepared to observe, understand, and react appropriately.

• The importance of the horse saddle and your equipment

The saddle of the horse and your equipment is essential for the safe practice of this sport.

Don’t forget your helmet, boots and suitable clothing. Also, remember to check that the horse’s saddle is correctly positioned and fixed.

• Don’t be afraid to fall

It is common to hit a bump when we are learning to ride a horse, but unless you are taking a walk-through difficult terrain, or trying to perform exercises of a higher level than you have, the fall is usually a simple scare.

 

Keep in mind, that especially if you ride on the track, the sand cushions the blow, and the teacher will stop the class as soon as they notice that you are losing your balance.

• How to ride a horse

And now that you know some of the essential notions for the experience, we will teach you how to start the adventure.

• How to get on the chair

First of all, we recommend that you have maintained a period of contact with your horse just before mounting it: combing and caressing it beforehand is a way of transmitting confidence.

Once the nerves are relaxed, you can use a mounting block to climb: it is a structure that allows you to reach the stirrup more easily (especially if you are a beginner, it will make the climb easier).

In this sense, once on top of the mounting block (always located on the left side of the animal), place the left stirrup on the left foot. All this while holding the head with the reins, holding them with the left hand (but carefully, firmly but without adding too much tension).

Once you have obtained the correct position, and using your left foot as a point of support, you should pick up momentum and pass your right leg over the rump. Once you have done this, place your right foot in the right stirrup.

Remember that, especially the first few times, the horse can move while you go up. For this reason, we recommend that you have someone hold your head while you manage to position yourself.

Once up, how do I get high?

The first thing to keep in mind is that your body is the way to connect and guide the horse. Therefore, maintaining a good position in the seat is essential for all this to work. Do not neglect this at any time, regardless of the exercise you are doing with your horse.

In general, the body should be relaxed in the saddle; And to keep your balance, you have to draw a straight line across your ear, shoulder, hip, and heel. Also, you should feel both buttock sit bones in the saddle.

With regard to the legs, they are essential to cushion the sudden movements of your body before the movement of the horse. For this reason, the knee and ankle joints must be relaxed in order to fulfill their function. To do this, place only the toe into the stirrup, keeping the heel down; leave the legs inward, without turning them; and keep your knee bent in the horse’s body.

In addition, the legs must be constantly maintained by exerting some pressure on the horse’s body: not only will they keep you attached to the saddle, but they are also necessary for galloping or trotting.

On the other hand, the reins are the way to contact the horse’s mouth from our position. But be careful, the mouth is an extremely sensitive part and misuse of them can annoy and confuse the horse.

How to ride a horse

Like the knees, the elbows must be bent, and the reins must be held with both hands on both sides of the withers. To do this, take the reins, and hold them in a fist (the right hand with the right hand; and the left, with the left), and let the loop of the reins look up, placing the thumbs on the top of the reins.

Also, keep in mind that the horse follows a certain rhythm in its gait, which must be accompanied by the movement of the pelvis on the seat, and of the arms that are holding the reins.

In this way, when the horse moves its body forward or backward when walking, trotting or galloping, we will accompany the movement. Only in this way will we form a bond with the horse and avoid unnecessary friction or discomfort.

Horseback riding is an activity with many psychological and physical benefits: it decreases spasticity (contracted muscles), increases balance, increases body strength, improves concentration, and reduces stress.

So go ahead, leave your fears behind and enjoy these fantastic animals! We also show you what is the basic equipment for riding.

After more than 40 years of experience in the field of equipment required for horse riding such as saddlery and more. We keep sourcing the best quality products at the best prices in Australia. Contact us today at Ascot Saddlery, we’ll be happy to help you.